[ZeroKool]

OK. I'm trying to find the cheapest way for me and my wife to have phones. I currently have a BB 7250 on Verizon from my work that is free. Unlimited voice and data.

I've been doing some thinking and this is what I've come up with.

I live in the STL area and t-mobile / ATT / and Verizon have good coverage whereever I am.

I'm looking at going with T-mobile and getting a RED 8100 for her for only $50 with 2 year activation. Then getting some sort of unlimited data plan. I'm about ready to call t-mobile and see what they suggest but I'd figure I'd check with the people who actually who what their talking about first. You all.

I'm going to use IM+ for skype on the 8100. I currectly have unlimited in/out on skype for home use. I figure if I get the smallest voice plan they (tmo) have / unlimited data / and have her use skype for any REAL calls along with the tmo "5faves" she should be fine.

Any recomendation? what do all you t-mobile people have?

I can also add her phone to a BES if that would help out at all. I notice that tmo rates for being on a BES is more $$ than using their BIS. I think I'm confused about that.

[JSanders]

Zero, sounds like a well thought out plan to me. You can get a SMALL voice plan for her.

Bottom line is you can change that the plan at anytime, so give it about 3 months to see how the real voice usage is, and adjust.

[ZeroKool]

Thanks

[Wishdemon]

Hey Zero,

Can you let us know what experience is using skype on your bb? Im thinking about doing this when I do some international traveling and I just wanted to make sure that I could not use any actual voice minutes and just use data (as long as I have an international data plan).

Thanks

[ZeroKool]

You can DL the 7 day trial (skype for the BB) and pay for a little bit of skype credit if you don't have skype setup.

From what I hear the NEW skype for the BB uses only data and does not need the desktop to be running. I have yet to really play with it though and check my tmo bill for certain charges. I will be doing that very shortly and will update. Thanks

BGR posted this yesterday. Confirms what I was thinking.

SkypeOut Calls From A BlackBerry : The Boy Genius Report

the comments say something different though. REad em. Kinda sucks.