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How can I get a Blackberry Curve without paying for the expensive service plan?

M

mitchafi

Golden Member
I've decided the phone I want is a Blackberry Curve. I already have a contract that is $40/month with AT and T and suits me perfectly. I don't need anything more, as all I do is talk and text message minimally. I will also want to use internet minimally on WiFI if that is possible. Is the cheapest route to just buy a curve, pay to unlock it, then switch in my current phone's AT and T sim card (can I even do this?)? I definitely do not want to pay the termination fee for AT and T as it is ~$200 and I am satisfied with the service. TIA.
 
Well, first you would have to buy a T Mobile curve, as ATT's doesnt support Wi Fi (unless I missed it). Then you would unlock it. But...where are you going to get one without a contract? *IF* TMobile sells you one without a contract, you will pay full retail (I dont think they will though). EBay maybe? Lots of unlocked phones there.
 
One of my co-workers has the Pearl and he doesn't have to pay for BIS and data. He just uses his as a phone. Unless something is different with the Curve..
 
You could always findone of ebay or amazon that is already unlocked and has all the features you want. then just stick your sim card in and go.
 
I hope to get a used one on craigslist so that I can check it out in person before I buy and maybe save money. Blackangst1 mentioned that only Verizon's version offers WiFi? I was under the impression that the phones were exactly the same but just had different service providers? Am I wrong?

-Mitch
 
I need a new phone and looks like i could get a BB pearl for free with my verizon New Every 2 thing, but most of the features would go unused because I won't pay $80 a month for a data plan, and I don't text.
 
Originally posted by: mitchafi
I hope to get a used one on craigslist so that I can check it out in person before I buy and maybe save money. Blackangst1 mentioned that only Verizon's version offers WiFi? I was under the impression that the phones were exactly the same but just had different service providers? Am I wrong?

-Mitch
Click to expand...

No wi-fi with Verizon's version.
 
And Verizon's version would be CDMA instead of GSM so it would not work on AT&T network. The only GSM providers in the US that would work are AT&T and Tmobile.
 
i have the data plan with verizon. no wifi. if you want data, it'll definitely be more expensive than you're paying now.
 
Originally posted by: mitchafi
Just to clarify, if I want a curve with WiFi to work with my current att plan the only way possible is for me to:

Buy a T-Mobile curve and get it unlocked/buy an already unlocked T-Mobile curve?

Based on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...of_BlackBerry_Products the ATT curve has a built-in GPS (of no use to me) but no wifi.
Click to expand...

Based on the Blackberry website, yes, you are correct. AT&T's 8310 is GPS, not WiFi.
http://na.blackberry.com/eng/d...,P583#tab_tab_features

T-Mobile's Curve 8320 has WiFi but no GPS. To use it with AT&T, you'd need an unlocked one.

Or, if you can wait a bit, you could get a Blackberry Bold on AT&T with both GPS and WiFi:
http://www.wireless.att.com/bu...center/blackberry9000/

I don't see any other reason to prefer a Curve over a Bold except price... (and the fact that you can get a Curve now...) Once it's available, you may be able to talk a store rep. into the Blackberry Bold phone without the plan. They have the ability to do these kinds of things (although the Bold will be so new, you might have problems convincing them), but whether they will or not depends on how desperate they are for a sale, and how persuasive they are. My advice is to show up in an AT&T store near the end of July and ask nicely. 🙂 There's pressure to make sales numbers look good, they might be able to work out a deal that you are happy with. The rumors say that the Bold will launch in mid-July... so only a few weeks from now... if the rumors are true.

Otherwise, buying an unlocked 8320 is going to be expensive... probably around $300-400 on Ebay.
 
T-Mobile T-Zones Web $5.99 uses the same APN as blackberry. (wap.voicestream.com)

I believe if you have the CSR add the T-Zones feature and the T-Zones plan, knowingly that you're on a Blackberry, it'll work. You might have to use Opera Mini.

Should do additional researching on this.
 
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