john banks

I have a Blackberry 8800 that I was paying £5 a month for including reasonable use push email and internet access, but I paid for calls and SMS. It was subsidised by questionnaires that took about 5 or 10 mins a week to complete. It worked well for me, but clearly the provider was not managing to sell the questionnaire results to pharmaceutical companies in the present climate, so has gone bust.

I have been offered options to continue which will not be competitive. I still have the Blackberry device.

Questions:

1. I know I can get a PAYG or contract sim only deal from say Vodafone, but presumably I will lose the Blackberry Enterprise Server/push email/GPRS internet usage, or can you buy a contract that includes these BES facilities I'm used to?

2. I actually prefer Windows Mobile as I can program in VB.net for it and have an old XDA I that I have linked through a serial cable to datalog my Evo I'm a little tempted to go for a new Windows Mobile that does 3G, ideally with touch screen. Any suggestions on devices/contracts for included internet use/email but not really much usage on outgoing phone calls?

Iwan

What network is your Blackberry on at the moment? You might have issues with it being SIM locked to a particular network.

I just phoned Vodafone about this question yesterday, IMO they have the cheapest deal at the moment.

Cheapest and most flexible option would be, take out one of their SIM only packages, then add the Blackberry Addon for £10 a month. The Blackberry addons aren't on the website so its best to ring them and ask a sales person.

Pay Monthly SIM Only Plans - Mobile Phone Price Plans - Vodafone

O2 do similar deals, take out whatever tariff is best, then there's a Blackberry Unlimited Bolt-On for £10 a month extra.

john banks

Thanks, I'm on Vodafone and like their coverage here in the sticks, but could always unlock if necessary I presume.

With the Blackberry addon at £10 per month in addition to whatever other standard costs there are, I might be better with a new phone and contract. I'm not wedded to the Blackberry in particular, although fast, unmetered, mobile internet access is nice.

Iwan

One thing you have to be aware of, is that the Blackberry is probably registered with your networks (i.e. Voda for you) Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) portal. This is where you have to register your Blackberrys IMEI and PIN, then log in and configure your email accounts etc.

I'm on O2, so if I had a new Blackberry I'd use O2's portal into BIS (https://bis.eu.blackberry.com/html?brand=o2mailuk), but since my second hand Blackberry was previously registered on Vodafone's BIS portal, I had to create an account on Vodafones portal (https://bis.eu.blackberry.com/html?brand=vodauk).

I'm on O2, but if I followed the O2 link on my Blackberry it took me to the O2 BIS portal, which then told me my Blackberry was already registered with another network. So I had to use the Vodafone portal to configure my email even though I'm on O2.

Hope that makes sense!