AT & T migration to Cingular? and Unlocked Blackberry questions?
Jul 12, 2006, 11:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
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Posts: 5,611
AT & T migration to Cingular? and Unlocked Blackberry questions?
Anyone tell me why I shouldn't? I am getting a BBerry 8700 and they tell me that I have to migrate.
I am weighing this or buying an unlocked one.
Anyone buy one unlocked and from who?
I usually deal with Simoncells.com but they have no Blackberrys.
Please and Thank you,
Jon
I am weighing this or buying an unlocked one.
Anyone buy one unlocked and from who?
I usually deal with Simoncells.com but they have no Blackberrys.
Please and Thank you,
Jon
Jul 12, 2006, 1:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG gold; otherwise just base in everything so far, but learning!
Posts: 489
Originally Posted by BDLORD
Anyone tell me why I shouldn't? I am getting a BBerry 8700 and they tell me that I have to migrate.
I am weighing this or buying an unlocked one.
Anyone buy one unlocked and from who?
I usually deal with Simoncells.com but they have no Blackberrys.
Please and Thank you,
Jon
I am weighing this or buying an unlocked one.
Anyone buy one unlocked and from who?
I usually deal with Simoncells.com but they have no Blackberrys.
Please and Thank you,
Jon
Be careful with third party vendors for one reason-- if you terminate your contract, you may not only owe the cellular company a termination fee, but the reseller usually has their own fee.
fuzz
Jul 12, 2006, 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: A Southern locale that ain't the South.
Programs: Bah, HUMBUG!
Posts: 8,014
Yes you can unlock 'em but without backend support you won't get full functionality. If you want push email etc, you will need to go with a BlackBerry plan and will need the carrier specific hardware. It may be possible to 'flash' an unlocked device and make it carrier specific, but what's the point? If you just want to use it for POP3/IMAP email an unlocked unit work fine.
You MAY not have to migrate if you currently have BB service on your AT&T SIM... in that case you'd need to buy an 8700g outright from Cingular and unlock it (~$75 at gsmphonesource.com) and then configure the settings to work with the legacy AT&T service (which I believe is possible).
IMO it's just a TON of work that's not worth it unless you have a rate plan that's not offered anymore. If you simply want to stay out of contract, it is possible to do this. Purchase the 8700g outright, and tell Cingular you wish to migrate over on a month-to-month basis. The equipment will assuredly cost more than if you sign a contract and the rate plan you need may not be available on a monthly basis.
T-Mobile also sells the 8700 so you may wish to consider porting over to them if you are unhappy with Cingular.
You MAY not have to migrate if you currently have BB service on your AT&T SIM... in that case you'd need to buy an 8700g outright from Cingular and unlock it (~$75 at gsmphonesource.com) and then configure the settings to work with the legacy AT&T service (which I believe is possible).
IMO it's just a TON of work that's not worth it unless you have a rate plan that's not offered anymore. If you simply want to stay out of contract, it is possible to do this. Purchase the 8700g outright, and tell Cingular you wish to migrate over on a month-to-month basis. The equipment will assuredly cost more than if you sign a contract and the rate plan you need may not be available on a monthly basis.
T-Mobile also sells the 8700 so you may wish to consider porting over to them if you are unhappy with Cingular.
Jul 12, 2006, 2:26 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1.5 Million Mile flyer, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hertz 5* and PC since 1985
Posts: 5,611
Originally Posted by kanebear
Yes you can unlock 'em but without backend support you won't get full functionality. If you want push email etc, you will need to go with a BlackBerry plan and will need the carrier specific hardware. It may be possible to 'flash' an unlocked device and make it carrier specific, but what's the point? If you just want to use it for POP3/IMAP email an unlocked unit work fine.
You MAY not have to migrate if you currently have BB service on your AT&T SIM... in that case you'd need to buy an 8700g outright from Cingular and unlock it (~$75 at gsmphonesource.com) and then configure the settings to work with the legacy AT&T service (which I believe is possible).
IMO it's just a TON of work that's not worth it unless you have a rate plan that's not offered anymore. If you simply want to stay out of contract, it is possible to do this. Purchase the 8700g outright, and tell Cingular you wish to migrate over on a month-to-month basis. The equipment will assuredly cost more than if you sign a contract and the rate plan you need may not be available on a monthly basis.
T-Mobile also sells the 8700 so you may wish to consider porting over to them if you are unhappy with Cingular.
You MAY not have to migrate if you currently have BB service on your AT&T SIM... in that case you'd need to buy an 8700g outright from Cingular and unlock it (~$75 at gsmphonesource.com) and then configure the settings to work with the legacy AT&T service (which I believe is possible).
IMO it's just a TON of work that's not worth it unless you have a rate plan that's not offered anymore. If you simply want to stay out of contract, it is possible to do this. Purchase the 8700g outright, and tell Cingular you wish to migrate over on a month-to-month basis. The equipment will assuredly cost more than if you sign a contract and the rate plan you need may not be available on a monthly basis.
T-Mobile also sells the 8700 so you may wish to consider porting over to them if you are unhappy with Cingular.
Jul 13, 2006, 9:58 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2002
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 177
Originally Posted by BDLORD
I actually have a T-Mobile BBerry and am migrating over to my Business AT&T account. They told me in order to do this I need to bring eveything over to Cingular.
Jul 13, 2006, 11:22 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 140
Originally Posted by fuzz
incoming text is free (on Cingular it costs even for incoming) and my nights start at 7 pm for free. Plenty of minutes per month included.
Free incoming messages, better cost per minutes, etc .. won't be cancelling this plan for a while ^
Jul 13, 2006, 11:55 am
#9
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,025
Originally Posted by smoothtakeoffbumpylanding
Free incoming messages, better cost per minutes, etc .. won't be cancelling this plan for a while ^
Jul 13, 2006, 1:40 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
depends
yes, there are good deals from the ATT plans. I have 1500 minutes NW, NW, free incoming text, which is a biggee for me.
I ported though, and ATT plan to a blackberry about 1.5 years ago though, it was not a problem and I did not have to move it to cingular. I DID have to pay 40$ a month for unlimited data and continue to.
I ported though, and ATT plan to a blackberry about 1.5 years ago though, it was not a problem and I did not have to move it to cingular. I DID have to pay 40$ a month for unlimited data and continue to.
Jul 13, 2006, 8:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Just off the Main Line
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT 2MM, DL Lifetime GM 2MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, HH Diamond, IHG Amb Diamond
Posts: 881
Originally Posted by cblaisd
Same here. But I keep expecting Cingular to up the ante and force people to switch by announcing that on x date ATT sims will no longer work.