[Vigile]

I have ATT service and a 3G iPhone but just bought a new Bold last night at Best Buy with the intent of switching the SIM card between both phones when I needed the benefits of either. The Bold on work trips, the iPhone for home use.

When I switched the SIM card from the iPhone to the Bold, the phone worked (as expected), but I can't connect to the Internet nor can I seem to get email working. I get a 403 Forbidden error when trying to get to any web site.

I went into the BIS website and created an account with this PIN/IMEI but it said I needed to "register" the phone on the network.

Is what I want to do possible? If so, how should I go about doing it?

[mgerbasio]

Technically, you'll need to activate BIS and iPhone data service on the account. I got that answer from AT&T thinking I'd do the same thing. I want an iPhone for nights and weekends! Of course, each service is $30 which wasn't a good option.

From what I've read (howardforums.com, forums.cingular.com) you can activate BIS on the account. Then, pop the sim in the iphone and you'll be able to get calls and use data except no visual voicemail. AT&T told me if do this, they could tack on the iphone plan to the account. My response was since the sim is in an iphone, do they then credit me for the BB plan that I'm not using - they didn't have an answer.

Regards-Michael G.

[gfrancis306]

You will need to have either the iPhone data plan or the BIS plan on your account, whichever phone you're using at the time. Blackberries cannot access email functionality or internet capabilities without the BIS plan activated on the account, hence the 403 error.

your iphone will net you huge overages if used without an iphone data plan, my roomate got one and for the first day he didn't add the plan, still had a BIS plan on his account. he called customer service a little after 12 hours' use of the iphone downloading programs, etc., and they luckily credited him the usage fees, somewhere in the range of $1100.

[apple85]

Exactly as what's been said before... You need to go to an ATT Store or call the 800 number and have them re provision your account for a Blackberry. I switched from an iPhone 3G to a Bold and it's been ugly. I still can't get tech support to get my MMS fixed...

[sch911]

Despite what others have said.... If you convert over to the BIS personal data plan you can do what you want. The iPhone will work using the BB data pan just fine. No need to switch back and forth. I do exactly what you want to do with my 8GB iPhone 2G and my Bold.....

[gfrancis306]

Originally Posted by sch911

Despite what others have said.... If you convert over to the BIS personal data plan you can do what you want. The iPhone will work using the BB data pan just fine. No need to switch back and forth. I do exactly what you want to do with my 8GB iPhone 2G and my Bold.....

i wonder....

[sch911]

Originally Posted by gfrancis306

i wonder....

I suggest you try it yourself. The only thing you don't get on the iPhone side is the visual voice mail. Everything else works just fine.

The only other caveat is that the iPhone must have been previously activated on your account. Once activated, you switch data plans (which can be done at any time) to the BB personal plan and you're set to go.

I will say that since I got my bold I haven't had any urge to switch back to the iPhone at all.....

[gfrancis306]

Originally Posted by sch911

I suggest you try it yourself. The only thing you don't get on the iPhone side is the visual voice mail. Everything else works just fine.

I will say that since I got my bold I haven't had any urge to switch back to the iPhone at all.....

BB Curve + iPod Touch here, can't imagine having it any other way

[rambo47]

I don't know about iPhones, but when I switch from my Bold to a Nokia N95 I get full MEdia Net data the moment I insert my SIM card. It's like MEdia Net is included in the Blackberry BIS plan.

[benisntfunny]

Originally Posted by rambo47

I don't know about iPhones, but when I switch from my Bold to a Nokia N95 I get full MEdia Net data the moment I insert my SIM card. It's like MEdia Net is included in the Blackberry BIS plan.

This is the same experience I had. I could use any phone I wanted with BIS as my internet plan. I only eventually dropped it because I no longer had a blackberry and was able to downgrade to MediaMax for cheaper.

However switching between phones as the OP has suggested seems a bit silly and tedious.

Why wouldn't you just setup timing for your email accounts to not get work email at certain time and get rid of the iPhone because it's junk anyway.