You must have a BB data plan (a.k.a. bolt on in the UK) for these RIM related services to work. We have several UK members so perhaps they can better explain the bolt-on.
Here are two links from our FAQ - did you see them in your search?
What do I need a Data Plan for? - BlackBerryFAQ
Buying a BlackBerry off eBay - BlackBerryFAQ