Hong Kong and Macau - Blackberry in HK?

My wife and I are traveling to Hong Kong in a month or so. She has a Sprint Blackberry World Phone that she's planning on bringing to use over there. Our main reason for wanting to bring this phone is to be able to access data and most likely use Google Maps in order to get directions. Since the phone should already be unlocked, what's the best prepaid data plan to go with (unlimited)? We wouldn't need any of the additional blackberry features.

Also anyone have any experience using this phone in HK?


Thanks!

No idea about Sprint (and you should check that it's actually unlocked - big difference between "world phone" and "unlocked world phone") but if it's quad band GSM (which they all are if Sprint is GSM), there's no problem using it in HK. I don't think any BB in N American is tri-band UMTS so you can't access the 3G network.

Just go into the local 7-11 and just pick one of the pre-paid SIMS. I think they're mostly about the same.

You can only get SMS and voice on a pay as you go SIM card in a BB.

If you want/need full BB data service you need to sign up for a BB data plan which involve you un-registering your BB with Sprint and re-registering it with the provider in HK. There is minimum charge and minimum commitment term.

It would end up easier and lower cost to buy a Roaming Voice/Data package from Sprint for HK.

I believe most blackberry can use regular data plan (including prepaid) without subscribing to BIS service. You need to configure the APN, and use an alternate browser such as Opera Mini. Of course you don't get push e-mail but can otherwise access email via the web.

Maybe carriers are different, but I have T-Mobile BB Bold and previously used BB Pearl. With "BIS AddOn" I get unlimited data plus push e-mail in US. I add "International Roam" when I go abroad (but only for days I need it--$19.99/month or 67cents/day) and get the same unlimited data and email service. BB Bold GPS works well in China; web browsing is possible, but speed doesn't compare to computer on WiFi. Of course voice service is costly, but why bother with pay-per-use SIM cards when unlimited data is so cheap? I won't have experience in HKG until October.

Sprint is CDMA and not GSM.....

With "BIS AddOn" I get unlimited data plus push e-mail in US. I add "International Roam" when I go abroad (but only for days I need it--$19.99/month or 67cents/day) and get the same unlimited data and email service.

I'm not familiar with BIS AddOn - when I'm in Asia, turn on unlimited email service from TMO for $19.99 but data is charged by kb or mb usage and pretty expensive.

One option is getting HK prepaid data service but you need unlocked gsm and not cdma phone [sprint won't work]: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/1250035-prepaid-3g-data-hong-kong.html.

The Sprint Blackberry 8830 World Phone is dual CDMA/GSM and the GSM sim slot is unlocked so you can absolutely use it in Hong Kong.

I'm not familiar with BIS AddOn - when I'm in Asia, turn on unlimited email service from TMO for $19.99 but data is charged by kb or mb usage and pretty expensive.

One option is getting HK prepaid data service but you need unlocked gsm and not cdma phone [sprint won't work]: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong/1250035-prepaid-3g-data-hong-kong.html.

Must be some difference in plans! When I first started using BB abroad, I was very cautious, as I had heard horror stories of four-figure phone bills. I have grown very bold and now whip out my phone for GPS or browsing without a thought. I've never been charged for data for "International Roaming."

Thank you guys, I'll go ahead and take phone to HK and see what they tell me when I get there. We're planning on using the BB mainly for data services and will have another phone for making calls (old Moto Rizr unlocked). It seems that the plans for 3 seem to be the best for people that use the phone more for data than calling?

For voice, the cheapest are from PCCW and Peoples. HKD 0.05/0.12 per minute local on the specific cards. If you mainly call LD to US, they each have one that charges HKD 0.25/min flat rate local or LD to ~30 countries including US.

Make sure you buy the right card.

Must be some difference in plans! I've never been charged for data for "International Roaming."

When was last time you tried that? TMO always had written policy but only recently [last 6+ months] started enforcing....and people are now getting smacked hard!

I came back on 8 Aug with no charges. Will return on 13 Sep and report if there is a problem. I have heard that TMO "learned" how to charge people some time last year, but so far so good for me.

To the OP, how long are you going to be in town for?

Also, will you be calling back to the States and if so, how much?

Finally, do you mind having data and phone calling on the same phone?

Actually, another question, do you want data just for google maps or to access web browser, email (non BB email mind you), etc?

To the OP, how long are you going to be in town for?
I'll be in HK for 20 days, also visiting Shanghai and Beijing for a week or so

Also, will you be calling back to the States and if so, how much?
I don't think I'll be calling the States with my cell phone unless it's an emergency, I have setup Skype to use with my laptop

Finally, do you mind having data and phone calling on the same phone?
I don't mind having data and phone calling on the same phone, but from what I've read there's some give and take where you can either have really good data plan, or a really good calling plan.

Actually, another question, do you want data just for google maps or to access web browser, email (non BB email mind you), etc?
Mainly for google maps, but being able to access the web and do some browsing would be a plus as well.

In that case, I suggest you get the CSL One2Free card:

http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp

Its HK$78 for the week for data. Stick it in your blackberry and change the APN.

As for actual calling, its all pretty damn cheap, doesn't matter which service you go with. Yes, one service may be cheaper than another, but in reality how many calls are you going to actually make?

For example, with the CSL prepaid sim local calls are HK$0.30 a minute.

In that case, I suggest you get the CSL One2Free card:

http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp

Its HK$78 for the week for data. Stick it in your blackberry and change the APN.

As for actual calling, its all pretty damn cheap, doesn't matter which service you go with. Yes, one service may be cheaper than another, but in reality how many calls are you going to actually make?

For example, with the CSL prepaid sim local calls are HK$0.30 a minute.

Thanks! This may work out really well as we plan to stay one week first in HK before going to Beijing and Shanghai. Can this be picked up at the airport or is it easier at convenience stores such as 7-11?

Thanks! This may work out really well as we plan to stay one week first in HK before going to Beijing and Shanghai. Can this be picked up at the airport or is it easier at convenience stores such as 7-11?

I understand there is a CSL shop at the airport. Google Hong Kong airport and look at the shopping directory.

This has been mentioned several times here.

You can get a Blackberry SIM card from CelloMobile.com and have unlimited data in Hong Kong. You will have it set up before you leave and pay a fixed daily fee.

http://www.cellomobile.com/EmailDevice.aspx

I understand there is a CSL shop at the airport. Google Hong Kong airport and look at the shopping directory.

The CSL store at HKG uses one of their brand names - "1o1o". CSL owns both 1o1o and one2free.

In that case, I suggest you get the CSL One2Free card:

http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp

Its HK$78 for the week for data. Stick it in your blackberry and change the APN.

As for actual calling, its all pretty damn cheap, doesn't matter which service you go with. Yes, one service may be cheaper than another, but in reality how many calls are you going to actually make?

For example, with the CSL prepaid sim local calls are HK$0.30 a minute.

Sorry to revive this thread but I'm now in HK and are having problems actually getting a sim card for the BB. We stopped by different carriers and they've all said that i would need to sign a contract in order to get internet service for the Blackberry. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Sorry to revive this thread but I'm now in HK and are having problems actually getting a sim card for the BB. We stopped by different carriers and they've all said that i would need to sign a contract in order to get internet service for the Blackberry. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Don't tell them you are using it for a BB, just tell them you want a data sim card.

In that case, I suggest you get the CSL One2Free card:

http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp

Its HK$78 for the week for data. Stick it in your blackberry and change the APN.

As for actual calling, its all pretty damn cheap, doesn't matter which service you go with. Yes, one service may be cheaper than another, but in reality how many calls are you going to actually make?

For example, with the CSL prepaid sim local calls are HK$0.30 a minute.

how do you change the APN

Sorry to revive this thread but I'm now in HK and are having problems actually getting a sim card for the BB. We stopped by different carriers and they've all said that i would need to sign a contract in order to get internet service for the Blackberry. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Did you get it to work? I had a global data plan from Verizon on my BB. My e-mails came through in HK, but I couldn't get foursquare, internet, or google maps to work. I purchased a SIM at 7-11 and was able to make calls and send SMS, but still couldn't figure out how to get the data connected. Tech support may have been able to help if I spoke Cantonese or Mandarin, but I didn't have much luck with English.

I purchased a SIM at 7-11 and was able to make calls and send SMS, but still couldn't figure out how to get the data connected. Tech support may have been able to help if I spoke Cantonese or Mandarin, but I didn't have much luck with English.

You search on the internet for "Blackberry without BIS".

Tech support are not supposed to tell you how to use internet on BB without BIS.