Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and need
the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be sending
text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly not be
downloading music or video recordings.
I do expect to be able to plug in a USB or serial cable and copy stuff
into or out of my PC.
Any "gotchas" I haven't thought of?
My "new every two" rolls around in December. I'm just trying to plan ahead.
At 17 Sep 2009 23:27:53 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
> Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and need
> the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be sending
> text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly not be
> downloading music or video recordings.
They've omitted WiFi from a few, I believe, but other than that, no, I
don't think so.
Why not use it for email, etc.? They're going to make you take a $30/month
data plan with it regardless...
> I do expect to be able to plug in a USB or serial cable and copy stuff
> into or out of my PC.
>
> Any "gotchas" I haven't thought of?
>
> My "new every two" rolls around in December. I'm just trying to plan
> ahead.
A used (or full-price new) BB on PagePlus might be a better fit if you
don't want/need mobile data. You'd lose your NE2 discount and any subsidies,
"Richard B. Gilbert" <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:z-qdnYnB2Lc0YC_XnZ2dnUVZ_jqdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and need
> the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be sending
> text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly not be
> downloading music or video recordings.
>
> I do expect to be able to plug in a USB or serial cable and copy stuff
> into or out of my PC.
>
> Any "gotchas" I haven't thought of?
>
> My "new every two" rolls around in December. I'm just trying to plan
> ahead.
Basically no! The latest model, Blackberry Tour, is fully functional except
to WiFi. Reportedly future Blackberries will have WiFi. The Tour comes
with the latest version of Blackberry Destop Manager and you can transfer to
and from the "phone" via bluetooth or USB. Lots of after-market apps
available. Why wouldn't you want email, since Blackberries are known for
that? Just wondering. You can always try it for 30 days and return it if
not to you liking.
Additionally, Storm 2 (with WiFi) should be out by then with enough time to
read some reviews about it.
Todd Allcock wrote:
> At 17 Sep 2009 23:27:53 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
>> Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and need
>> the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be sending
>> text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly not be
>> downloading music or video recordings.
>
> They've omitted WiFi from a few, I believe, but other than that, no, I
> don't think so.
>
> Why not use it for email, etc.? They're going to make you take a $30/month
> data plan with it regardless...
>
Does it do Newsgroups?
I don't send or receive a lot of mail. I do read several newsgroups.
At 18 Sep 2009 09:11:50 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
> >> Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and need
> >> the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be sending
> >> text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly not be
> >> downloading music or video recordings.
> >
> > They've omitted WiFi from a few, I believe, but other than that, no, I
> > don't think so.
> > Why not use it for email, etc.? They're going to make you take a
> > $30/month
> > data plan with it regardless...
> >
>
> Does it do Newsgroups?
>
> I don't send or receive a lot of mail. I do read several newsgroups.
Sorry, I'm a Windows Mobile guy, not a Crackberry guy, so I don't know what
Blackberry progams are available for NNTP. A very cursory Google search and
a quick check at Handango (a software store for mobile devices) came up
empty. You should be able to access Usenet groups via groups.google.com on
the 'berry's webbrowser, but that's kind of clunky.
FWIW, I'm posting this from my WinMo phone now (on T-Mobile) using a
freeware
program called QMail, and I've also done it from my Verizon (on PagePlus)
WinMo handset using the same software.
>Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and
>need the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be
>sending text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly
>not be downloading music or video recordings.
>
>I do expect to be able to plug in a USB or serial cable and copy
>stuff into or out of my PC.
>
>Any "gotchas" I haven't thought of?
>
>My "new every two" rolls around in December. I'm just trying to plan
>ahead.
Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
plan.
> In article <xn0gfavlbezyvh001@reader.albasani.net>,
> "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
> > plan.
>
>
> Even the Pearl Flip 8230? I don't want a data plan. I just want a
> good thin flip phone that can text easily and has Bluetooth with
> voice recognition.
>
> The v9m is just about perfect but is no longer available.
I already tried it online and even went through the customer service.
If there's some sort of nefarious way to activate it then I don't know.
> In article <xn0gfavlbezyvh001@reader.albasani.net>,
> "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a
>> data plan.
>
>
> Even the Pearl Flip 8230?
Yes.
> I don't want a data plan. I just want a good thin flip phone that
> can text easily and has Bluetooth with voice recognition.
Then don't get a BlackBerry.
> The v9m is just about perfect but is no longer available.
badgolferman wrote:
> Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
>
>> Does Verizon cripple its Blackberry phones in any way? I want and
>> need the PDA features of the phone. I will almost certainly not be
>> sending text messages or e-mails. Likewise I will almost certainly
>> not be downloading music or video recordings.
>>
>> I do expect to be able to plug in a USB or serial cable and copy
>> stuff into or out of my PC.
>>
>> Any "gotchas" I haven't thought of?
>>
>> My "new every two" rolls around in December. I'm just trying to plan
>> ahead.
>
> Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
> plan.
>
I think I probably have a "data plan" now! My wife and I each have a
Motorola RAZR V3m; a smart phone that can send and receive e-Mail, surf
the web, etc. We don't use them that way but I think we could. The
lack of a qwerty keyboard on the RAZR V3m would make it a real PITA to
use. I get along fine with a 21" boob tube; the 2-1/2" diagonal display
would present a real problem.
The phone before the RAZR was a Motorola 9868W (I hope I recall the
model correctly). I had not yet retired and computers I was responsible
for used to send me text messages when they needed professional help.
At 20 Sep 2009 19:58:11 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
> > Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
> > plan.
> >
>
> I think I probably have a "data plan" now! My wife and I each have a
> Motorola RAZR V3m; a smart phone that can send and receive e-Mail, surf
> the web, etc. We don't use them that way but I think we could. The lack
> of a qwerty keyboard on the RAZR V3m would make it a real PITA to use. I
> get along fine with a 21" boob tube; the 2-1/2" diagonal display would
> present a real problem.
A data plan ("mobile web") for dumbphones like your RAZR is $5/month, IIRC.
A data plan for smartphones like a Blackberry is $30/month.
> The phone before the RAZR was a Motorola 9868W (I hope I recall the model
> correctly). I had not yet retired and computers I was responsible for
> used to send me text messages when they needed professional help.
Text messaging doesn't require a data plan. Using your phone's browser or
POP/IMAP email client does.
Todd Allcock wrote:
> At 20 Sep 2009 19:58:11 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
>
>>> Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
>>> plan.
>>>
>> I think I probably have a "data plan" now! My wife and I each have a
>> Motorola RAZR V3m; a smart phone that can send and receive e-Mail, surf
>> the web, etc. We don't use them that way but I think we could. The lack
>> of a qwerty keyboard on the RAZR V3m would make it a real PITA to use. I
>> get along fine with a 21" boob tube; the 2-1/2" diagonal display would
>> present a real problem.
>
>
> A data plan ("mobile web") for dumbphones like your RAZR is $5/month, IIRC.
> A data plan for smartphones like a Blackberry is $30/month.
>
>
>> The phone before the RAZR was a Motorola 9868W (I hope I recall the model
>> correctly). I had not yet retired and computers I was responsible for
>> used to send me text messages when they needed professional help.
>
>
> Text messaging doesn't require a data plan. Using your phone's browser or
> POP/IMAP email client does.
>
>
I've never used either. It's a phone and, to a much lesser extent, a
PDA. I'm already paying for e-mail, newsgroups, and web access at home.
I can wait till I'm home to use this stuff.
At 22 Sep 2009 11:49:54 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
> >>> Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
> >>> plan.
> >>>
> >> I think I probably have a "data plan" now! My wife and I each have a
> >> Motorola RAZR V3m; a smart phone that can send and receive e-Mail, surf
> >> the web, etc. We don't use them that way but I think we could. The
lack
> >> of a qwerty keyboard on the RAZR V3m would make it a real PITA to use.
I
> >> get along fine with a 21" boob tube; the 2-1/2" diagonal display would
> >> present a real problem.
> >
> >
> > A data plan ("mobile web") for dumbphones like your RAZR is $5/month,
IIRC.
> > A data plan for smartphones like a Blackberry is $30/month.
> >
> >> The phone before the RAZR was a Motorola 9868W (I hope I recall the
model
> >> correctly). I had not yet retired and computers I was responsible for
> >> used to send me text messages when they needed professional help.
> >
> >
> > Text messaging doesn't require a data plan. Using your phone's browser
or
> > POP/IMAP email client does.
> >
> >
>
> I've never used either. It's a phone and, to a much lesser extent, a
PDA. I'm already paying for e-mail, newsgroups, and web access at home.
> I can wait till I'm home to use this stuff.
I realize that- I was only pointing this out because you said earlier 'I
think I probably have a "data plan" now!' and I was simply suggesting that:
a) you should cancel it if you do have one, since you're paying for
something you obviously don't use, and:
b) the data plan you have now, if any, will not be sufficient for the
Blackberry you're considering buying a few months, which will require a $30
plan.
"Richard B. Gilbert" <rgilbert88@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:q5CdnaNxP5sBbCXXnZ2dnUVZ_rqdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Todd Allcock wrote:
>> At 20 Sep 2009 19:58:11 -0400 Richard B. Gilbert wrote:
>>
>>>> Any Blackberry you activate with VZW will require purchasing a data
>>>> plan.
>>>>
>>> I think I probably have a "data plan" now! My wife and I each have a
>>> Motorola RAZR V3m; a smart phone that can send and receive e-Mail, surf
>>> the web, etc. We don't use them that way but I think we could. The
>>> lack
>>> of a qwerty keyboard on the RAZR V3m would make it a real PITA to use.
>>> I
>>> get along fine with a 21" boob tube; the 2-1/2" diagonal display would
>>> present a real problem.
>>
>>
>> A data plan ("mobile web") for dumbphones like your RAZR is $5/month,
>> IIRC.
>> A data plan for smartphones like a Blackberry is $30/month.
>>> The phone before the RAZR was a Motorola 9868W (I hope I recall the
>>> model
>>> correctly). I had not yet retired and computers I was responsible for
>>> used to send me text messages when they needed professional help.
>>
>>
>> Text messaging doesn't require a data plan. Using your phone's browser
>> or
>> POP/IMAP email client does.
>>
>>
>
> I've never used either. It's a phone and, to a much lesser extent, a PDA.
> I'm already paying for e-mail, newsgroups, and web access at home.
> I can wait till I'm home to use this stuff.
>
There is no point paying for services you don't use. Verizon offers a
variety of plans that include phone minutes only (with txt messaging on a
pay per use...now $0.20 each I believe), various plans that include phone
minutes and texting, and, of course, the data plan. I suspect you already
knew this. Some people still use their cell phone as a phone only, and
that's just fine. But there are a large number of us that find the
additional services provided by adding a data plan very useful. "Waiting
until I get home" is not always timely or convenient. My point is that each
user should study and select the plan that is right for them.
Verizon Blackberry 
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