Travel Technology - Blackberry required data plan with Verizon?

Earlier this month, BamaVol Jr#3 replaced his EnV with a Blackberry Curve that we bought on eBay. We took it to the local Verizon store to make the switch. I got this month's bill yesterday and there is a $29.99 data plan (unlimited email & web) charge on my bill. I called to ask what it was and they told me it is required for all Blackberrys. Truth? I wasn't told this when we added it to my plan and I didn't sign anything. Ethical?

I would seriously question it if they didn't subsidize the equipment. I'd also make sure that they didn't slip in a contract when there was no equipment subsidy. You should be month to month.

Your first point of reference should be the contract itself. See if customer service will fax it or email it to you. Then break out the magnifying glass and go over it and see how it is written.

You'll probably be able to get this charge reversed, but the question will be next month.

Well, here's a question. Do you intend to use data & email on your blackberry? If so, you could fight it - but then why? You'll have to buy the plan anyway.

For reference, on AT&T it costs $30 for the personal email plan, $45 for the enterprise plan, and $60 for data & laptop tethering. That price seems perfectly normal by comparison.

Earlier this month, BamaVol Jr#3 replaced his EnV with a Blackberry Curve that we bought on eBay. We took it to the local Verizon store to make the switch. I got this month's bill yesterday and there is a $29.99 data plan (unlimited email & web) charge on my bill. I called to ask what it was and they told me it is required for all Blackberrys. Truth? I wasn't told this when we added it to my plan and I didn't sign anything. Ethical?

You cannot activate any smartphone on Verizon without a data plan effective November 2008. The $30 plan on your son's Curve is for BIS (Blackberry Internet Service, i.e. personal email and web), and is in addition to whatever voice plan you obtain.

I wasn't told this when we added it to my plan and I didn't sign anything. Ethical?

Bad form on the folks in the store for not explaining it correctly but you are required to have a data plan on the device.

You cannot activate any smartphone on Verizon without a data plan effective November 2008. The $30 plan on your son's Curve is for BIS (Blackberry Internet Service, i.e. personal email and web), and is in addition to whatever voice plan you obtain.

That was my experience last November when I upgraded and my daughter wanted my old BB for use just as a phone.

It is possible to put devices running WinMo into VZW service without a dataplan if they are unsubsidized. Whether there's something Blackberry-specific, I can't say.

I would continue talking to VZW customer service about this.

Earlier this month, BamaVol Jr#3 replaced his EnV with a Blackberry Curve that we bought on eBay. We took it to the local Verizon store to make the switch. I got this month's bill yesterday and there is a $29.99 data plan (unlimited email & web) charge on my bill. I called to ask what it was and they told me it is required for all Blackberrys. Truth? I wasn't told this when we added it to my plan and I didn't sign anything. Ethical?

I also bought a BB Curve on Ebay last March, switching from a Voyager. When I called customer service to activate it, the agent pulled my account info up and asked what kind kind of phone I was activating. I replied a Curve and she immediately told me of the need to change my rate plan to include data and ran through my options. I had already done my homework, so this wasn't a surprise. In my case, the agent was very upfront about it. Maybe you can call and explain the situation to customer service and see if they'll give you some kind of credit or switch you to a different plan since they screwed up at the store.

It is possible to put devices running WinMo into VZW service without a dataplan if they are unsubsidized. Whether there's something Blackberry-specific, I can't say.

I would continue talking to VZW customer service about this.

This certainly used to be the case, but I believe VZW no longer allows any smartphones, including WinMo devices, without a data plan.

This certainly used to be the case, but I believe VZW no longer allows any smartphones, including WinMo devices, without a data plan.Perhaps it's a matter of terminology. The one I'm aware of is considered a PDA phone by VZW and was recently activated.

Metro PCS will activate Verizon phones on its network and I think you don't need a data network. They reflash the firmware to their system. I'm willing to bet that most stolen CDMA phones in the US go to live on that network.

Appears that any (Verizon) pda/smartphone is charged the 29.99 per month and include unlimited internet and email. Sometimes the sales folks don't explain it properly claim there is no change to you regular bill, and they are correct but only in reference to minutes. I have a VZW Window Mobile phone and love it, definitely worth the extra $30