[kirkgrau]

Have an 8120 for myself and college age daughter talked me into getting a curve for her. Now younger daughter is looking for a BB as well as wife. T-mo's BB data plan costs ~$20 per month which did not seem too bad for my own use, but now looking at ~$80 monthly makes me wonder if there are any alternatives.

TIA,

Kirk

[TroyDBrown]

With T-Mobile you have 3 options:

1. No Data plan: No Email, PIN, BBM, Browser, IM
2. Email Only $9.99: Email, PIN and BBM only
3. BB Data $19.99: Includes it all.

There is a 4th option which is generic data for $5.99 a month but you are so limited and have to go out of your way to do this I do not endorse it.

[kirkgrau]

I guess I am thinking more along the lines of setting up my own small BES system. Trying to get a handle on what trade offs might be involved and how the costs might stack up. Also what I might lose in terms of functionality from the T-mo services.

Kirk

[TroyDBrown]

You can setup your own BES, but you would then need to pay T-Mobile $29.99 for each phone accessing BES.

On top of having to run your own server, Exchange Server and BES software purchased from RIM. That would run probably $1500 to start with all that.

[kirkgrau]

That's what I was looking for. I certainly don't need to take on that academic exercise just to spend more cash and not end up with anything other than more headaches. If I could have eliminated or reduced the monthly outlay, I might have looked at it since I already have an SBS server running.

Thanks,

Kirk

[TroyDBrown]

Yep, by doing BES T-Mobile charges $29.99 a month instead of $19.99 for BIS

[fully]

dont forget about the new blackberry unite software. upto 5 handsets can connect and it's free!!!

[NJBlackBerry]

Unite does not replace BES.

[budnfrida]

Do you need to have the BES service on the T-Mobile account to use Unite or can you stick with the 19.99 plan?