Ok here is the deal...

I canceled my data plan and have been getting email and the ability to use BBMessenger since... I have only been able to get / use these features when connected to Wifi...

Called T-Mobile and they said I have been fully deprovisioned... Called RIM and got a call back from a WiFi specialist... Here is what he said...

You NO LONGER need a data plan with the 8320 to get email or use BBMessenger as long as you are connected to W-Fi.... He did say that they are currently debating as to if BBMessenger will count as a text message or be free as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi...

Bottom line is that ALL 8320's can get email and use BBMessenger without a data plan as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi...

I thought it odd that as soon as I would walk in the door and connected to Wi-Fi I'd get all the days emails... Then I got a BBMessenger message and decided to call and have them investigate...

The RIM guy said I was the 1st to discover this.... :woot:

Kris

Sweet. I'd say you need the "feature enabler" though. Not sure how they could change BBM from data to sms, either.

You are correct sir... That is what I was told... I forgot to post that in the original..

Great find! I wonder if the same is true with the AT&T 8820? My understanding is when connected to wifi, email is delivered over the wifi connection.

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

Lunk thanks!

Quite awesome

Go check out ur iphone in off topic I found a pic

No idea how they'd be able to make BBM a SMS if no data plan and data if you have one.... He said T-Mo was in discussion with RIM about it...

Pretty awesome...

I am probably the 1st to discover this because I am the 1st to have a bran spanking new 8320 without a data plan... LOL... I a broke hobo what can I say...

After further review....

Called back today as this made NO sense to me.... I can't see how you could get email or BBm with out a data plan, Wi-Fi or not this is tied into RIM's server... Asked to speak with a RIM supervisor and got a call back...

I was not provisioned on T-Mo but was still provisioned on RIM's server.... So I was getting the email pushed and BBM was working even though T-Mo had no clue... They deleted everything, started new and then I did a wipe...

Guess what??? No mo email, no mo BBM...

The dude I spoke to yesterday must be new or in training as it is now obvious he was lost....

I just could not understand how email or BBM would work... The RIM supervisor said he has no clue how everyone missed the fact that I was still provisioned on RIM and not on T-Mo... He said I should have kept quiet and I would have got service till the end of time....

Kris

^^^ Now that's an honest person!! So, even RIM told you you should have kept quiet!

Kept quite???? could have been better. one time I remember asked my carrier to give me data only plan but no voice. later on I called them and asked if I could just have the voice mail so if people call it goes straight to voice mail. they did it. now when someone calls me goes direct to VM. BUT BUT I made unlimited calls for 2 and half months and no charges for it.
interesting**

Is the email only plan considered a data plan? The reason i asked is because when I look up my bill I noticed my SMS has gone down drastically (as far as usage) and it appears that going with a blackberry (my first) I am saving a ton of oney even with these add on plans. It shows I am only using 200 minutes and my month is almost up (connected to UMA/WiFi while at work and home). This is to show savings on both Voice and Messaging. It's like an open network, a free for all with this phone.

Luigi

Wrong place, sorry

Hi LunkHead,

I recently bought a 8320 for the reason that it's Wifi hence I hope NOT to subscribe to my local's Blackberry data plan, so i can still browse website without having to pay for BB's data plan.

I've been trying to get the wifi to work for days on end, and I think if you could kindly help me with settings, I would be really really greatfull.

By the way, I'm a residence of Singapore, and recently, we're having a island wide free wifi network. Hence my reluctance to sign up with a plan.

Help!

sherc,
you'll definitely have to post more about your software version and settings for people here to be able to help you...

I have a 8120 with E-Plus ( a new company here in Germany) i put the sim in at the shop when I bought it as I was filling out the paper work, and I put the sim in backwards lol. but I was already at home and on the net with it before I figured that out. I may have to try taking my sim out agian and see if I can send an email over wifi .

Wirelessly posted (BB 8860: BlackBerry8320/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

You most definitely can't send an email over wifi without the sim card in. Sending email requires a data plan, even over wifi, and that requires a data plan. With no sim card (no data plan) your wifi logo will be faded. When it hoes bold it means you are connected to RIM for BB data.

You can surf the net via wifi but no BB data applications will work without a BB data plan.

Do you know if I could get the data plan and keep it for say a week, then call T-Mobile to get off of the data plan and get the enabler added on (i have it now w/o data plan) and see if this will work?

When you wipe your handheld, you just wipe your service book with it, That's why the handset doesn't work.

If the problem is only in downloading service book, though, you dont need your own dataplan. you can get around that by borrowing someone's BB-dataplan-enabled SIMcard and push your service book (From BIS, for example) then switch back to your no-data-plan card.

I operate some 100+ blackberry and myself use an 8320 curve.

We use 4 different carriers (Singtel, Starhub, Indosat, Telkomsel) in two different countries.

For price reason (Singtel and Starhub bundles their BB with plan, the other two doesnt) we got most of our handset from Singtel and Starhub (and one vodaphone, one Tmobile, you got the idea), but we use it fine in other networks.

We often have to activate handset with simcard from different carrier, and often activate multiple handset using the same card, the IT staff's (in turns). We sometimes does this EVEN BEFORE we got the data card that will finally be used to run the service.

a few days ago I tried turning off my mobile network and leave my curve on wifi only. It stops receiving email for a while, but after some 30 minutes, it starts getting email again. from BES and from BIS-enabled-Gmail. (Let me retest that now.)

So, I don't think you need a dataplan to get email, you just need to know someone who does. What you need is a PIN, that comes with each blackberry. Use that PIN to activate your BIS, and you're set.

OK, its confirmed.

I switched off my blackberry's mobile network and verified that the signal is at OFF. I am still connected via my office's WIFI.

I then use my laptop's outlook to send myself an email from my BES enabled office mail to my BIS enabled gmail. 5 seconds later, my blackberry's gmail account receive the email. 30 sec later, my blackberry's BES side reported the outgoing mail in the sent folder.

I tried replying in gmail (again via laptop) and the same things happens, first the BB detects the gmail sending the reply, then (faster this time) the email shows up in my BES inbox in my BB.

I tried sending both direction using my BB, at it works too, with about 2 sec response time.

So, I can assure you, you can get your email (I havent tried the BBmessenger) without a dataplan.

Hi Donald,

Can you give me more pointers regarding this? I have a friend who has an unlimited data plan whose SIM I could borrow.

Thank you!