[super_scout]

I don't really know what I'm doing in here. Hopefully I'm posting this correctly...

I currently own a Sidekick II (bought on Ebay) and have never signed a contract or had any sort of plan. Never even been in a phone store. I've just been buying T-mobile To Go minute cards. I get unlimited text and airtime for $1 a day, and it's 15cents a minute for phone calls, I believe.

My question being: can I do this same thing with a Blackberry? I've been scouting them out already on Ebay, but it just occured to me that the cards I've been using may not work on a Blackberry. Is there any way I can buy one used online and just buy cards @ the store without getting any sort of plan?

[Berry One]

No.

[takeshi]

You can use a BB on prepaid. You just won't be able to do anything other than make voice calls, SMS and sync/transfer via USB.

[Dawg]

Just stick with what you are doing and pass on the BB. Its designed to use a BB data plan to use 90% of the features on the device

[Grant H]

You dont really need a data plan to have these phones shine. Some times I wonder why I even have data on mine. Dont use it on the net much and emails are nice to have but I really dont care if I get them on my phone. Once in a while it helps out but thats about it.

The phone doesnt need data to shine.All I really use are contact, calander, password keeper, sms, mms and camera.

Its a sweet OS for a normal user without a data plan, plus actually a great phone!

[Dubdub]

Hmmmm. I believe you need the BB data plan for MMS? I don't use it, but I think I remember reading that someplace.

[tel-x.com]

TMobile Flexpay
You can do a $9.99 unlimited email add on
$19.99 unlimited data and email add on (no text or pict)
$19.99 unlimited text, pict, TZones and email addon (no BB browser)

Plans start at $29.99 and depending on what market your in you could have a promo running in your area but thats for you to find out on your own.
No contract to sign.

-TelX

[rachamphetamine]

Speaking as one who started with a SKII prepaid as well about two years ago and now have the 8800, you really will want the data plan. Yes, I cringe every month when I see the amount I have to pay, but if you're switching from a Sidekick where you have (basically) the same things available, you will notice them missing.

T-Mobile has quite a few affordable options, Flex Pay being one. The 59.99 (I think, someone please correct me if I'm wrong since I can't check) a month plan has 1000 any time minutes (no night/weekend) and unlimited email, data, and SMS texts which is quite the deal.

[takeshi]

Originally Posted by Dubdub

Hmmmm. I believe you need the BB data plan for MMS? I don't use it, but I think I remember reading that someplace.

Supposedly depends on the model. Some of the newer ones are apparently MMS-capable without a BB data plan. I can't confirm or deny as I don't use MMS.