has any one ever used a BlackBerry with Cingular / AT&T without a blackberry data plan?
I want to know if I carry a BB with MediaNet only, will the Gmail app still work.
I wanted to get a BB for personal use and no BES or BIS is needed.

when i say MediaNet, i am talking about Cingulars $19.99 unlimited data plan that is for smartphones.

I think that you need a BIS to get any kind of data access. That will give you web browsing (data) plus access to your GMail accounts or AOL or whatever you are using. BES is for corporations (Blackberry Enterprise Service) and BIS is for individual use (Blackberry Internet Service).

No, it won't work.
Without a Blackberry Data Plan, you will not have any e-mail capabilities, including GMail. The MediaNet plan is useless on a BlackBerry.

If you get a BlackBerry handheld, then you should also get at least the BIS plan.

that stinks...isn't the cheapest BIS plan $34.99?

I thought it was $29.99, but that might be T-Mobile.
No matter how you slice it, it's necessary if you have a BlackBerry.

It is $29.99 with a voice plan..BIS. It gives you all the bells and whistles for a individual...You sometimes have to ask specifically for it, but it is still available.

Wirelessly posted (8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

TMo's BB Data Plan unlimited is $19.99.
But, yes you must your carrier's BB Data Plan for internet, email, data, etc., as they stated above.

Okay, I'm paying $150 month (2 extra lines) guess I'd better re-examine my stuff !!!

lol, mine is way more than even that... 3 lines, 2 BB Data Plans...

Just because a carrier has a cheaper plan, it doesn't mean you should run and switch. You need to do your homework and find out if the cheaper provider has the coverage you need where you will use the phone. A cheap plan is too expensive if it doesn't work for you.

i have been a Cingy customer for several years. (7)
i was just hoping to save a few bucks when i switch jobs in a few weeks.

I'm wondering if you can pin someone or receive a pin if you have no data plan. Yesterday, my wife's phone died. I have an extra 8100, so I gave it to her to use as her phone. She has no data plan, as she has real no need for internet use. It would be nice to pin her though. Is this possible?

I've tried, but so far it has not worked, though the phone (8100) may still think it is tied to my BES account at work. My 8800 is now the active phone on the BES.

Thanks!

Photios

No, you cannot.
You need a Blackberry Data Plan to be able to use PIN messaging.

No. No data plan, no PIN messages. PIN are data. Data is under the BB "Data" Plan. It's all good.

If you wonder if your 8100 is still under an IT Policy--check Options > Security > General Settings. Look at bottom under Services, what is listed there. If anything, you still an IT policy on the BB.

How do I remove the IT Policy on my BlackBerry? - BlackBerryFAQ

If you're looking to save money a device with a data plan isn't a good idea regardless of the cost of the data plan...

Wirelessly posted (7130e: BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I can't I'm imagine even having a bb without a data plan. A regular phone would probably be better if the internet isn't going to get much use.

Wirelessly posted (NakedBerry: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry7250/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

I couldn't use a BB without a Data Plan, but you can buy second hand Blackberrys so cheap that I could see someone wanting one for texting and other PDA functions. The keyboard and OS is great on these devices.

T-Mobile's BB Data Unlimited Plan WITHOUT a Voice Plan is $29.99 a month.