[pengrus]

I am going to China in two days. Just wanted to learn some housekeeping tips before I leave.

I do not plan to use T-Mobile (BB7230) Voice Roaming plan in China since it is very expensive. I only want to use the Data Roaming plan over there.

So I brought a separate phone with me which can be used with local SIM card. I cannot use the T-mobile Sim card for both ROAMING data and NON-ROAMING voice, right?

Anything else that I need to pay attention to?

Thanks for your help!

[sting0r]

Your right, you do need to different sim cards. You could also call or email t-mobile and get them to unlock your blackberry so you can buy a prepay sim locally in china. They are good at unlocking if you have been with them for a few months. Just tell them that you are travelling on business and your company requires you to use a local sim while you are there. I seem to remember someone talking about the possiblitiy of being able to use a prepaid data sim to access email on a blackberry as well via gprs, you may want to try that too. Might be able to save you a few bucks on the roaming data.

[sting0r]

Found the link I was talking about, it's from a discussion on rimroad. Doesn't look like anyone confirmed it's possible. Here is the link: http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/show...hlight=prepaid

Mark R., perhaps you want to comment on the BYOA as it was your original thread.

[pengrus]

Thanks, I will look into that in a minute.

I just called the T-Mobile and requested the following:

1. Enable DATA Roaming
2. Temporariely disable Incoming & Outgoing calls but keep the voice mail (or, do not enable VOICE Roaming),

I was told the above is not possible. The roaming is for the whole account, so both DATA and VOICE will be roaming once set up. Therefore, if someone calls me, I don't pick up and they left a voice mail, I will get charge of $2.99/minute for the voice minute used.


Is there a way to ONLY enable data roaming?

[sting0r]

Give them a call back and give this a try. Switch to a data only plan, the 39.99 blackberry plan should do the trick. This will disable your phone service. Then when you get back switch back to whatever plan you have. Don't think you will loose your number, but not totally sure, ask them if you will still retain your existing number if you decide to get voice again.

[pengrus]

That IS an excellent idea!!!

Yes, I remember that you can still set up the voice mail for that BB number even though it is DATA only plan, and you get charged 20 cents per minute....

Let me try...

[sting0r]

Hehe, good thing you can change plans with out signing another year contract . They must have roaming on the data only blackberry plan, so it should work. Let us know how you make out though, it may come in handy for someone else in the future.

[Skive]

Do they not support call barring on the phone itself then like all the european gsm carriers do then?

[pengrus]

They have call baring, then you lose the voicemail. I still want to keep the voice mail.

[thegallier]

Anybody any experience with blackberry 7750 or 7250 in china. Verizon seems to have some roaming agreements with chinese carriers.

Thanks

[Jonathan Slivko]

Originally Posted by pengrus

Thanks, I will look into that in a minute.

I just called the T-Mobile and requested the following:

1. Enable DATA Roaming
2. Temporariely disable Incoming & Outgoing calls but keep the voice mail (or, do not enable VOICE Roaming),

I was told the above is not possible. The roaming is for the whole account, so both DATA and VOICE will be roaming once set up. Therefore, if someone calls me, I don't pick up and they left a voice mail, I will get charge of $2.99/minute for the voice minute used.


Is there a way to ONLY enable data roaming?

IIRC, #2 is accomplished with a Voice-Blocked Data Only Plan (they have them now) from T-Mobile.

[Jonathan Slivko]

Originally Posted by sting0r

Hehe, good thing you can change plans with out signing another year contract . They must have roaming on the data only blackberry plan, so it should work. Let us know how you make out though, it may come in handy for someone else in the future.

Not quite the case, unless your going from 1 plan to a non-promotional plan (read: no free nights and/or weekends), then you don't have to resign. But, if you do change to a promotional plan, you do.

[Jonathan Slivko]

Originally Posted by Skive

Do they not support call barring on the phone itself then like all the european gsm carriers do then?

IIRC, my 7100t has a DND (Do Not Disturb) function on it.

[Jonathan Slivko]

Originally Posted by sting0r

Give them a call back and give this a try. Switch to a data only plan, the 39.99 blackberry plan should do the trick. This will disable your phone service. Then when you get back switch back to whatever plan you have. Don't think you will loose your number, but not totally sure, ask them if you will still retain your existing number if you decide to get voice again.

Actually, it's $29.95 for Data Only (Voice Barred or not), $39.95 is only if your on SmartAccess (SmartAccess BB Unlim. - which can't be used outside the US anyways). As far as switching plans and retaining your number, yes you do retain the number.

[Jonathan Slivko]

Sorry for the post flood.

[Nelson]

Hi

If you buy a phone in US and want to use a China SIM card, then, you have to DECODE the phone you purchased in US, otherwise, you can not use it.

Nelson

Originally Posted by pengrus

I am going to China in two days. Just wanted to learn some housekeeping tips before I leave.

I do not plan to use T-Mobile (BB7230) Voice Roaming plan in China since it is very expensive. I only want to use the Data Roaming plan over there.

So I brought a separate phone with me which can be used with local SIM card. I cannot use the T-mobile Sim card for both ROAMING data and NON-ROAMING voice, right?

Anything else that I need to pay attention to?

Thanks for your help!

[JojiV]

One of the things that may work is to have your voice calls forwarded to a local number. Can be done from 'Phone-Options-Call Forwarding', just before departing from US. This way you will not get the calls, but can still get mail.

Originally Posted by pengrus

Thanks, I will look into that in a minute.

I just called the T-Mobile and requested the following:

1. Enable DATA Roaming
2. Temporariely disable Incoming & Outgoing calls but keep the voice mail (or, do not enable VOICE Roaming),

I was told the above is not possible. The roaming is for the whole account, so both DATA and VOICE will be roaming once set up. Therefore, if someone calls me, I don't pick up and they left a voice mail, I will get charge of $2.99/minute for the voice minute used.


Is there a way to ONLY enable data roaming?