I am looking into upgrading to the new 8820, but I was wondering if anyone knows if the WiFi will work without the data plan. I was hoping to be able to pick up an 8820 without the data plan and only use the WiFi, since most of the time I'm near a WiFi signal.

Has anyone else tried using the 8820 WiFi without a data plan? or know if it will work? I've read some articles that have said that AT&T would lock down the WiFi so it can only be used with a data connection, but most of these were written before the 8820 was released so it was more speculation than fact.

Thanks for your help!

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

I am not certain but if we have any 8820's left at work I till test it and see what happens then report back

jay, first, welcome to the Forums.

This might work, I have only seen one user here confirm it...
http://www.blackberryforums.com/wifi...abler-uma.html

Feature enabler is on TMobile. Not sure if AT&T has a similar feature. I do believe you can use wifi without a data plan. You won't be able to get any blackberry features like push email, BBMessenger, etc.

I could establish internet wifi access not even putting sim card, browser was working fine
More than that, my BB could load and sync contacts, emails, calendar, notes from my laptop Outlook

Hey guys,
Thanks for all your quick replies.
Excellent. I'll probably be picking one up this weekend, I'll let you know if I have the same results. Thanks again

-jay

Check this out! You can get email and BBMessenger plus other apps to work....

http://www.blackberryforums.com/wifi...data-plan.html

Kris

Did anyone ever confirm that you can access Wi-Fi without a data plan? I really need to get my hands on smart phone w/ Wi-Fi since I rarely leave wifi areas. Please let me know. Also can someone give me a little clarification of what I can't do on Wi-Fi that I would be able to do on Edge/3g.

Thanks!

Hey Roar,
Yes, I was able to get to get WiFi working without a data plan, but so far I can only get the Blackberry browser to work. I've heard that google maps will work without the data plan, but I haven't been able to get the gmail application working (I get an error saying it needs a data plan to work). You can still check your mail using the browser, but it's not like the bb push email where you get notified about every new message.

I read somewhere (I'll try to find the link) that if you get the Blackberry data plan for just one day, you'll get the Service Books and then the gmail app should work (and maybe some of the other apps that require the data plan). I haven't tried this yet, but I'm thinking about it--I'll let you know if it works.

Also, if anyone else has gotten gmail or any other apps to work using only WiFi please let me know

You MUST have a BB data plan for gmail and Google maps to work. It must show capital EDGE or GPRS in the upper corner.

Not quite true. You can still get those apps to work with only TCP and no bb data plan if you have the apn settings for your carrier entered. Then you can use standard gprs cell phone plans and get access to gmail and gmaps. Getting access to it with just wifi may not work, though.

Ok, so this is probably a stupid question, but I just wanted to make sure. If I use the wi-fi without a BB data plan, will I still get charged by the KB by AT&T?
Thanks

You won't get charged. BUT, make sure that you are in Wi-Fi mode when you start browsing, otherwise you'll end up with a head banging bill from AT&T.

When you mean wi-fi mode, do you mean when I am connected to my router? I guess what I want to know is if I am connected to a network through wi-fi how do I know that (some) packets are not being sent or received via EDGE?

Well, I used the wi-fi for a bit and I am getting charged / KB by AT&T. I know I heard of someone who had gotten it to work without getting charged (I can take out my SIM card and use the wi-fi like that, but that's inconvenient), does anyone know?
Thanks

make sure the browser is set to wifi. when you go into browser configuration you can set it to wifi. if you are really paranoid i guess you can turn your mobile network off, while browsing on wifi.

Thanks. I had my browser configuration set to wifi mode already. For some reason when I had previously turned the mobile network off, it didn't let me access the internet. It works though.

????