[rlowell]

Group:


I've been a Sprint user for approaching ten years now. All has been mostly good.

I just took a new job that started a week and a half ago. And I've been informed that all employees at our company must use a Blackberry for push e-mail.

They told me I can keep my existing cell number with Sprint and do business over it. I intend to do that. I have a grandfathered (Free and Clear 1000 for $40 + Unlimited PAM for $40) service plan. And I make good use of my 3G data service. I want to keep all that as is.


Most of my coworkers have Blackberries on AT&T. And I can activate one of these for $50 ($45/month, unlimited data, plus $5 for not having a voice plan).

My boss suggested (knowing I'm on Sprint already) that my billing would be simpler (he's right) if I get a Blackberry with Sprint.

My questions are:

1. I don't really understand the difference between having a Blackberry and having a Blackberry with Smartphone Enterprise. I see that the latter costs more. I know my company has a server set up to route push e-mail. And I've been told I need this more costly option. Are any of the $30 data plans mentioned in question #2 inclusive of this? If not, what's the best deal to get what I want?

2. How do I add a cost-effective (either Sprint Pro Pack or Sprint RelayStore plan) data plan for a Blackberry on my grandfathered plan? I don't want to screw that up.

Thanks in advance.

rlowell

[Daniel G.]

Well, last I heard they can add BlackBerry service without changing your plan. Because your company wants you to setup a Berry for their server, you would need to ask for the BlackBerry Enterprise Service, then your IT would need to help you set it up and the company gets to pretty much control how you access internet, e-mail, and other data services. Now if the company uses a basic email (like Gmail), then BlackBerry Internet Service would fit better and be a little cheaper.

Either way, I highly recommend the Tour. The new ones they ship now have a good working trackball, the SIM card slot is unlocked allowing you to use pre-paid in other countries you might travel to, and it has a EVDO rev A radio.

If you can hold off till next year, Sprint should be getting a version with a trackpad, and built in wi-fi.

[rlowell]

Daniel G., on 31 October 2009 - 07:54 PM, said:

Well, last I heard they can add BlackBerry service without changing your plan. Because your company wants you to setup a Berry for their server, you would need to ask for the BlackBerry Enterprise Service, then your IT would need to help you set it up and the company gets to pretty much control how you access internet, e-mail, and other data services. Now if the company uses a basic email (like Gmail), then BlackBerry Internet Service would fit better and be a little cheaper.

Either way, I highly recommend the Tour. The new ones they ship now have a good working trackball, the SIM card slot is unlocked allowing you to use pre-paid in other countries you might travel to, and it has a EVDO rev A radio.

If you can hold off till next year, Sprint should be getting a version with a trackpad, and built in wi-fi.

Thanks, Daniel.

I've been a little paranoid about adding any new service to my existing plan. But I'll give it a try.

I think I'll get the Tour.

rlowell