Blackberry without a data plan -- What you can do

[Berry One]

You can go and buy data plan. No, really. Do us all a favor. Do yourself a favor.

[John Clark]

Phone, SMS, PIM. Pretty simple.

[aiharkness]

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

My perspective on this is many people are coming to the blackberry not knowing and not being told that it is different, and thinking it's a phone or a pda like they are used to. And a lot of them get mad and say something like, "Well, my treo did it. I'm shocked that the high tech blackberry doesn't." Many times I want to say: Spread the word, blackberrys are different. Look into it before you buy one.

[John Clark]

I understand the frustration with this. However, many people don't need, or don't want, or can't get a BB data plan or any data plan. Someone that just wants to know what they can do with it, I have no problem with. Those that want all the features that the data plan brings but don't want to pay, I have little patience for. Lets just be careful to discern between the two. I agree with the above. The CSR's in the store helping people decide what device to buy, many times have no clue what a BB is or does or what it needs. It's education. I have no use for a cheater but am happy to help anyone learn about the BB.

[Cory Scheuer]

i have no comments

as most would know i used to be one of those but as soon as fido brought the BB connect ohhh man i jumped on that... never been happier, its a shame tho that canada doesnt have cheaper BB plans... i think thats where more of these guys are coming from is because who wants to pay 60 bucks extra a month for data when they have the 12 dollars for like 20 mbs.... i mean come on... so i can somewhat understand where they are coming from but at the same time they have to realize that they need the BB data...

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8800/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

To be honest I have 2 BBs one has data plan the other doesn't but I can if I want it. Just wanted to try a bb without the data to see what I can do with it. In and of itself the BB is a good phone, the calender works well to schedule and keep track of many appts and bill pay schedules. It can synch with outlook for contact info and such!

I can see why people want a BB without data!
I am a Sales rep and sell plenty without data plan but I also educate the customer on what they may or may not be able to do with it

[rambo47]

Getting a Blackberry without a data plan is cool. What is not cool is coming here and whining about lack of services, or asking how to get around no data plan and scam the system to get these services for free. And what really gets my knickers in a bunch is when some tosser insists "there just HAS to be a way...." even after being told many times there just isn't a way. That's when I need a time out.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8100/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Rambo

I to am very tired of these type characters

[DallasFlier]

Originally Posted by rambo47

Getting a Blackberry without a data plan is cool. What is not cool is coming here and whining about lack of services, or asking how to get around no data plan and scam the system to get these services for free. And what really gets my knickers in a bunch is when some tosser insists "there just HAS to be a way...." even after being told many times there just isn't a way. That's when I need a time out.

YES! "There just HAS to be a way, my uncle's best friend's brother's banker's secretary's boyfriend says you can do it!"

Umm, then why are you here asking HOW rather than out already DOING it?

JC - I think we need a FAQ page we could direct users to, that details what can and can't be done without any data plan, and with a non-BlackBerry data plan. It seems like a new thread on this from some noob pops up almost daily lately.

[JSanders]

like this:
What do I need a Data Plan for? - BlackBerryFAQ.com

does it need updating/adding to?

[ndub33]

Porche without an engine-what can you do?

[Paul Bowles]

As mentioned above the biggest issue is that people just aren't aware that it is needed. They trust their service provider to tell them about these things but a lot of the time they don't. They they end up feeling all pissed off because they have a new phone which cant do what their old one did unless they pay extra.

The reason that most people get annoyed about the data plan is not the fact that they need to pay for it but that they where not told about it before hand. Its all very easy to say that they should research it better but in my experience most BB users (who aren't a forum member) are pretty technophobic and are more likely to call their carrier up and ask them about it then to look it up on the net.

On the flip side though if you find out you have a BlackBerry and no dataplan either live without it, send the BB back or pay up for the data plan.

[DallasFlier]

Originally Posted by JSanders

like this:
What do I need a Data Plan for? - BlackBerryFAQ.com

does it need updating/adding to?

Good start, but I'd say yes it needs updating/adding to. It currently says simply "data plan" and the questions/answers here of late have become more complex. It needs to discuss the difference between a generic data plan and a BlackBerry data plan, and what you can do with each. I'd say a simple three part list:

With NO data plan you may:

• make phone calls
• send/receive text SMS messages
• NOT use any instant messenger program that anyone has found so far
• use the device as a standalone PIM
• NOT send or receive any information over the internet, in any way shape or form, despite what you heard about it being possible

With a generic data plan in addition you may:

• use a third party browser like Opera Mini, but NOT the resident BlackBerry browser
• may get email either via a web interface (using Opera) or other third party app, but NOT BlackBerry push email
• use a number of third party applications that require net access, including some instant messenger programs, as long as they're available to install from DM because:
• canNOT install apps OTA because that requires the resident browser
• canNOT use BlackBerry messenger or do PIN-->PIN messaging

With a BlackBerry data plan you may do all of the above plus:

• receive true BlackBerry push email from up to 10 different email accounts
• use the resident BlackBerry supplied browser to access the internet
• install applications OTA via the supplied resident browser
• use BlackBerry Messenger and send PIN-->PIN messages

The above might need to be amplified to expand upon many of the bullet points to explain further what they are, but I would like to see that kind of format, then we can all just start referring alllllllllllllllllllllllll these requests straight there.