Can you use a BB for just e mail and surfing with out voice.

I have a cell phone but I'm wondering if I purchased a BB do I have to activate it with a phone number or can I just buy it, get the email and web package and not bother with a phone number?

I'm with Bell Canada

Thanks

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry 8700g: BlackBerry8700/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

I believe you can just get a data plan without voice, at least I can with T-Mobile. You will need to check with Bell to see if they have data-only plans.

Thanks.........Bell does offer the data plan with out voice it's 25 dollars a month for 4 megs, I wasn't sure this meant I could use a BB with out using a phone number.....

Wirelessly posted (SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/I607FG1 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 320x240) UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

odds are there will be a phone number attached that is how the network sees your device

4MB is not very much! You mention "surfing" - I think you will use this up pretty quick. I don't browse much (mainly this forum and ESPN), and send a few Emails a day - and I used 15MB last month.
Don

Thanks for the info.........

I did call Bell and a number must be attached.

Don, are you surfing via the BB or using it as a modem for your laptop?


I was assured that surfing using the BB would hardly use up any data but if I used it as a modem I would go through it quick.

Basically I would go trough 10 to 15 e mails a day, some on line banking and this site.

Cheers

We supply BlackBerry devices with Data only, no voice attached. It is cheaper to purchase devices with voice + data plans. We have users on Nextel/ AT&T and Verizon and all have just Data accounts, no voice. It is possible.

Thanks jsconyers...........unfortunatly Bell wants a number to go with it.


That being said.......I have asked a Bell rep a question and two days later I phone and ask them the same question only this time I get a different answer...........so maybe I'll ask again and see what they say lol

Via the BB - I took this info from my last cell bill. I remember with my last phone (Moto Razr) it would tell me the amount of data used after each browser session was closed, and a google map for example, would be 2 or 3MB. The BB doesn't show that (or if it does I don't know how to find it), so I don't know exactly where all of my usage is from. Also, when you send an Email w/ attachment - does the size of the attachment count as data usage? I don't know the answer, but most of my messages do have "moderately sized" attachments.

I have an AT&T unlimited data (no text message) package for $24.99 - $25 for 4MB seems crazy! Good Luck!
attachments.
Don

They always have a number assigned - T-Mobile for example, will allow you to have that number be "voice barred" so no phone calls (except 911) can be made.

The devices do have a number attached to them. The cell provider uses this information. They just disable all voice services. You will not be able to make a call even though there is a number attached to the device. All you should have is data services. If this makes sense to you

Hi Don

As far as I know all attachments count as usage, so if you get a 1 meg attachment it will use 1 meg, maybe thats where you are getting all the usage.

Andi, I will ask bell if I can just use my existing bell number with the BB and have it voice blocked. That way if I go out somewhere on my days off I can just bring my flip phone (with the same number) instead of brining along a 600 dollar BB.