i am about to purchase a blackberry 7520 with nextel. upgrading from my i730. i am most interested in the web on the phone and instant messanger AIM. does anyone have any background with how these fuctions work and how well they work? i am just going to get the basic data plan package so i will not be using the email fuction. any information you could give me would be great. thanks

another question? is there anyone one here that uses blackberry with nextel. i have to basic data plan will that cover me using instant messenger (AIM) and the web or would i have to get the actual blackberry email service 2. thanks again

The only way I found to access AIM is on Tekniwap.com on my phone then sign into AIM. The only thing is it doesnt send you a net alert when you receive an instant message. So, unless you keep refreshing the page, it is usless!

I have heard of some third party instant message programs, but you have to pay $35-$45 a year for them. I dont use AIM that much without being near a computer, so I cant justify that cost.

You can find those at www.handango.com

That's right. The only way to get AIM on a BlackBerry without a BlackBerry plan, is via the SMS text messaging system or WAP. However, Nextel BlackBerries doesn't have outgoing SMS text messaging, so you're stuck with WAP. Which is rather inconvenient.

If you want a luxurious AIM experience, with the ability to run "always-on" nonstop 24/7 in the background, and without needing to refresh a WAP page, you should consider a BlackBerry email plan, which will give you access to superior chatting client such as Verichat:

BlackBerry Instant Messaging FAQ
(the best AIM for BlackBerry!)

A BlackBerry plan will allow you to get HTML browsing with full color images (and tables/Javascript too) using Reqwireless Webviewer 4.0 at http://www.reqwireless.com

And who knows, you may find the email much more useful than you thought. You may want to use your BlackBerry email as a separate "emergency email" address. BlackBerry is famous for having pager-style email without needing to check email - the email is automatically pushed to the BlackBerry, which means emails can show up on your BlackBerry in just 5 seconds after someone clicks "SEND" on their desktop computer. If you are afraid of spam, you can just make sure you only use a separate address and only give it to your friends and coworkers. You'll get addicted to the BlackBerry convenience relatively quickly. Even if you only do 4 or 5 emails per day, you'll wonder what you did without it! BlackBerry has no real email size limit -- Many people can even email eBooks/shopping lists/bus route timetables/etc to their BlackBerry and read from the BlackBerry when they step out! You'll think up uses that you never thought of!

so pretty much the only way to recieve instant messanger and good web cabalilities is to get the email service plan? how fast is the internet on blackberry with this plan? is there any other cellphone prociders that offer this kind of service for that price.

i talked to many different sales reps for nextel and get different stories from all of them. so that could be one reason why i am so confused. thanks again for the info. its really help me since i am very new to all this information

i think i hit it i have the 7520 myself with out the plain, the e-mail and text area don't work with out the bb plain i also put my 730 sim in but i think i will get the bb plain.... with wap can someone tell me how 2 access it....
thanks