BlackBerry Forums Support Community

Buellrunner · 03-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Got my first Blackberry, and Im enjoying the device. I called Fido to find out if they can track my data use when my Bold 9700 is cellular radio off, but WiFi on and connected to my home wireless router (or any other for that matter).

The rep said that it may end up on my bill. Is this correct? Is this allowed? I dont understand how it could be justified considering they are not providing me the data.

Any help would be cool,

Device - Bold 9700 Unlocked AT&T model

Noodle22 · 03-10-2010, 05:50 PM

You shouldn't be charge unless you are using their networks data. But keep in mind, most BlackBerry features require the data plan and will not work with wifi alone.

Buellrunner · 03-10-2010, 05:53 PM

Wirelessly posted

Most of my apps seem to work well and so my email, bbm, and my browser...

aiharkness · 03-10-2010, 06:12 PM

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Is your blackberry data plan unlimited, or capped?

Buellrunner · 03-10-2010, 06:17 PM

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Its the 1GB data plan

aiharkness · 03-10-2010, 06:26 PM

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Until someone who knows comes along, I'll speculate that all blackberry data counts against your cap, whether wifi or mobile network. That's what Noodle was saying, I believe.

The fact is, you aren't just paying for data, you are paying for the blackberry services. Think of the device as just the appliance used to access that service. So, it makes sense to me that BBM, BIS email, blackberry browser, and so forth would count against your cap. But I would expect that hotspot browser, non-blackberry network data would not count.

Buellrunner · 03-10-2010, 06:29 PM

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Oh - well that sucks. I thought that using wifi when I travel would be a free alternative....

aiharkness · 03-10-2010, 06:59 PM

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The good news is messages and email use comparatively small amounts of data. I expect you'll be fine.

dankarlinski · 03-11-2010, 06:21 AM

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If your on wifi, it shouldn't use data... You arnt using the cell towers to get to the blackberry network, how can they charge you??

dc/dc · 03-11-2010, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankarlinski

Wirelessly posted (White and Nerdy)

If your on wifi, it shouldn't use data... You arnt using the cell towers to get to the blackberry network, how can they charge you??

But you do hit the BlackBerry APN...

aiharkness · 03-11-2010, 06:30 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dankarlinski

Wirelessly posted (White and Nerdy)

If your on wifi, it shouldn't use data... You arnt using the cell towers to get to the blackberry network, how can they charge you??

Do you use wifi? If you turn off mobile network and just use wifi, do you not still get your PIN messages, BBM, BIS messages, app world ...

Does the mobile service provider keep the entire amount you pay them for BIS data, or does some percentage pass on to RIM?

Seems to me RIM is due their fee for blackberry data regardless of how it is delivered to the blackberry. Should the carrier eat it just because it was delivered over wifi, or should the user pay for what they are using?

If the OP finds his wifi data is counting against his cap, that's how it makes sense to me. He is paying for blackberry data service, period.

As I say, I would be surprised if non-RIM data counts against his limit.

Buellrunner · 03-11-2010, 07:42 AM

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Would using the Blackberry browser be considered "non RIM data"? Does the info that flows to my handheld browser go through RIM before it gets to me?

rambo47 · 03-11-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buellrunner

Wirelessly posted

Would using the Blackberry browser be considered "non RIM data"? Does the info that flows to my handheld browser go through RIM before it gets to me?

The BlackBerry Web Browser uses BlackBerry data. You can use a browser like Opera Mini (but not download anything) over WiFi without a BlackBerry data plan. So it depends on which browser you use.

http://www.blackberryfaq.com/index.p...eric_Data_Plan

hrbuckley · 03-11-2010, 09:47 AM

It is difficult to track data usage on a blackberry, but with my Bold 9000 I make most use of it for heavy data activity at work, home, or other locations where I have Wi-Fi access. I have a Rogers 1GB BES plan but rarely go over 100MB. Since this includes very heavy OTA install testing when at work either pushing from the BES or pulling from a website I am sure that my total data Wi-Fi + wireless has to be more than 100MB. So in the Rogers case I am confident that Wi-Fi use does not count against the data cap. Other carriers may be different of course.

aiharkness · 03-11-2010, 10:12 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hrbuckley

It is difficult to track data usage on a blackberry, but with my Bold 9000 I make most use of it for heavy data activity at work, home, or other locations where I have Wi-Fi access. I have a Rogers 1GB BES plan but rarely go over 100MB. Since this includes very heavy OTA install testing when at work either pushing from the BES or pulling from a website I am sure that my total data Wi-Fi + wireless has to be more than 100MB. So in the Rogers case I am confident that Wi-Fi use does not count against the data cap. Other carriers may be different of course.

The key, though, is that your heavy data use activities are not to/from the RIM network. Correct?

Just curious. When you are doing what you are doing, is it with the hotspot browser, or the blackberry browser. (I left out 3rd party because I take it you are doing OTA installs.)

hrbuckley · 03-11-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aiharkness

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The key, though, is that your heavy data use activities are not to/from the RIM network. Correct?

Just curious. When you are doing what you are doing, is it with the hotspot browser, or the blackberry browser. (I left out 3rd party because I take it you are doing OTA installs.)

No, my heavy use data would be via BlackBerry Browser (BES) or Internet Browser (BIS), both through the RIM operations centre except when I'm on the Wi-Fi hotspot that is local to the BES and using the BlackBerry Browser.

I never use the Hotspot Browser. If you have a BB data plan it is redundant.

aiharkness · 03-11-2010, 01:22 PM

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Well, I'm totally confused again.

By the way, there is at least one reason to use the hotpot browser: when downloading large podcasts that would not be possible with the internet browser download size limit.

hrbuckley · 03-11-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aiharkness

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Well, I'm totally confused again.

By the way, there is at least one reason to use the hotpot browser: when downloading large podcasts that would not be possible with the internet browser download size limit.

True.

oasissux · 03-12-2010, 12:59 AM

I'm with Fido and I only have the email/IM data add-on. I use Wi-Fi all the time and it's free. I can't see how they could charge you for something I'm getting for free.

rambo47 · 03-12-2010, 07:59 AM

BlackBerrys are not like other phones or smartphones. All BlackBerry data is routed through RIM's servers so even if you get it to your device via WiFi, stuff like email and BBM pass through the RIM's infrastructure. You can use an alternate browser like Opera Mini and bypass the RIM infrastructure, but you won't be able to download stuff like ringtones or pictures.

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