[obeythelaw]

Well, you can preorder the Pearl on VW and will be available on November 8. I'm tempted to do it, but really want to see it in the flesh at a VW store. I think I'm going to hold off. Also, it says that its $150 for a 2 year agreement which seems reasonable to me considering its a BB. But what about those that aren't eligible to get it at that price. What will be the full price for this phone?

[jseah]

My guess is that the full "retail" price of the phone will be somewhere just over $400 (probably around $450?). That sounds in line with the retail pricing versus contract pricing of the other model BB's. I just placed a pre-order for this phone...will be my first Blackberry and it cost me $99. $299 for the two year contract, less $100 for my NE2, and less $100 for the advanced device credit. The thing which stinks is that Verizon offers a $100 online discount, but you cannot use the online discount AND the NE2 credit, so the system automatically gave me just the NE2 credit.

And starting today, Verizon dropped the price of their Blackberry data plan. They got rid of the 10MB plan and lowered the BIS to $29.99 a month. The price of BES is still at $44.99 a month.

[FlyerNo9]

I just pre-orderd mine... $107.56 out the door, tax included.

Contract Renewal: 2-year contract
Due Now
--------------
1 BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone -regularly $299.99 $199.99*


Advance Device Credit: -$100.00
Included accessories for BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone:
Lithium Ion Battery (900mAh), USB Data Cable,
BlackBerry Pocket (no warranty), BlackBerry Travel Charger,
3.5 mm 4 Pole Stereo Headset,
Documentation Kit (including BlackBerry Tools CD),
VZAccess Manager CD (including User Guide),
Quick Reference Guide


Monthly Access
--------------

Phone Feature(s):
Blackberry Solution Unlimited Data Usage $44.99

Decline Insurance Free

Text, Picture & Video Messaging (Pay Per Message) Free





*An instant online discount has been applied to the phone price and cannot be combined with mail-in rebate offers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY OF CHARGES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recurring monthly access & service charges: $44.99

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total one-time charge on your first monthly bill: Free

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due now: detail of total charges to be billed to credit card

Subtotal: $99.99
Tax**: $7.57
Shipping: Free

Total charges to be billed to credit card: $107.56

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FlyerNo9]

Originally Posted by jseah

... And starting today, Verizon dropped the price of their Blackberry data plan. They got rid of the 10MB plan and lowered the BIS to $29.99 a month. The price of BES is still at $44.99 a month.

I talked to the 'Live Online Chat' lady while I was placing my online order and she said that the $29.99 plan was only for 10mb a month. So I stuck with my $44.99 plan. If you are right why wouldn't I switch to the $29.99 plan?

[bensmom243]

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

Advance Device Credit: -$100.00




*---------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the Advance Device Credit and how do I get it? Also, my NE2 should be $100 but it is only showing up as $50, can I call and talk to someone and preorder the Pearl? I am eligible for the NE2 but the lowest price when I try and Pre-Order is $249.

[FlyerNo9]

Originally Posted by bensmom243

What is the Advance Device Credit and how do I get it? Also, my NE2 should be $100 but it is only showing up as $50, can I call and talk to someone and preorder the Pearl? I am eligible for the NE2 but the lowest price when I try and Pre-Order is $249.

I'm not sure where the ADC came from but it negated my NE2 credit. They wouldn't allow me to apply the NE2 and the ADC.

[jseah]

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

I talked to the 'Live Online Chat' lady while I was placing my online order and she said that the $29.99 plan was only for 10mb a month. So I stuck with my $44.99 plan. If you are right why wouldn't I switch to the $29.99 plan?

She got it wrong. Starting November 1, Verizon revamped their data plans. The BES data plan for connecting to an Exchange server is still $44.99 for unlimited. However, they did away with the 10MB plan and replaced it with BIS which is unlimited for $29.99. The BIS is designed solely for web access and email NOT through an Exchange server. If you are planning to use the Pearl for your work email through the Exchange server, you need to go with the more expensive plan. The price drop is supposed to compete against the cheaper data plans offered by their competitors.

Read the press release announcing the lower price unlimited plan here

http://www.blackberryforums.com/blac...dma-pearl.html

[jseah]

Originally Posted by bensmom243

What is the Advance Device Credit and how do I get it? Also, my NE2 should be $100 but it is only showing up as $50, can I call and talk to someone and preorder the Pearl? I am eligible for the NE2 but the lowest price when I try and Pre-Order is $249.

A little over a year ago, Verizon changed their NE2 program. Under the current rules, if your plan is more than $79.99 a month for the 3 months prior to you qualifying for the NE2 credit, then you get $100. If your plan is less than $79.99, but more than $39.99, then for the 3 months prior to you qualifying for the NE2 credit, then you only get $50.

The Advanced Device Credit is an extra $100 credit that you can qualify for if you sign up for a 2 year contract on a voice and data plan that is more than $79.99.

[jseah]

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

I'm not sure where the ADC came from but it negated my NE2 credit. They wouldn't allow me to apply the NE2 and the ADC.

I guess at the end of the day it really doesn't matter. The shopping cart when I placed my order showed me getting the ADC, but not getting the online discount.

[jseah]

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

Decline Insurance Free

I'm curious why you declined the insurance? I normally don't get insurance (I'm pretty gentle with my phones), but I have had heard stories about problems with the "joystick" on the Pearl failing.

[FlyerNo9]

It never even crossed my mind to get phone insurance. I have had 6 blackberries and I've never had any manufacturing problems.

[FlyerNo9]

Originally Posted by jseah

She got it wrong. Starting November 1, Verizon revamped their data plans. The BES data plan for connecting to an Exchange server is still $44.99 for unlimited. However, they did away with the 10MB plan and replaced it with BIS which is unlimited for $29.99. The BIS is designed solely for web access and email NOT through an Exchange server. If you are planning to use the Pearl for your work email through the Exchange server, you need to go with the more expensive plan. The price drop is supposed to compete against the cheaper data plans offered by their competitors.

Read the press release announcing the lower price unlimited plan here

http://www.blackberryforums.com/blac...dma-pearl.html

My company does not have a BES but we do Outlook Exchange. That being said I guess I still need the $44.99 plan... right?

[jseah]

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

My company does not have a BES but we do Outlook Exchange. That being said I guess I still need the $44.99 plan... right?

I believe that is the case. The new plan only allows email through POP3 and IMAP.

[Kormac]

If the distinction is like other cariers (T-Mo US, for example) - the cheaper plan is for non BES e-mail. If your company has a copy of BlackBerry Enterprise Server and has CALs for each device, then you need to go with the more expensive plan (BES supports Exchange Server, GroupWise, and Notes/Domino).

If you do not have BES server, you can go with the cheaper plan (even if your company uses Exchange, GroupWise, or Notes/Domino as the e-mail server.)

You gain advanced functionality with BES server (quicker sync, internal application access, schedule/tasks sync, continuous backup of e-mail, tasks, calendar, call logs, and IT policy enforcement) that you don't get through BIS. If you don't want the advanced functionality, then you can go with the cheaper plan. *As long as your IT department allows external access to your e-mail servers* At where I work, we do not allow POP/IMAP access to our internal server, so using BES is the only way to go.

So unless your company has BlackBerry infrastructure installed (or a restrictive firewall policy), you don't need the more expensive plan.

Kormac

Originally Posted by FlyerNo9

My company does not have a BES but we do Outlook Exchange. That being said I guess I still need the $44.99 plan... right?

[scheule523]

Just preordered mine

As an FYI because I know this has been a discussion, if you want to use a BB on Verizon without the data or BB plan, you CAN do it. All you have to do is go through the checkout process and select a plan, and after you place the order call up their customer support at 1-800-922-0204 and cancel the data plan. I was speaking with one of their techs on the live chat feature and she walked me through it.

[Wakefield103]

For those that pre-ordered... Did you get an email after saying when it woudl ship?

[redhandeddenial]

fyi the pearl is no longer a "preorder" on vzw's website

[Hanwei]

I pre-ordered mine this afternoon... and I JUST got a shipment email from them! It already shipped! I'm very excited.

[obeythelaw]

I'm confused. Who can get the $249 price? Only new VW customers? I tried purchasing it and at the end you have to choose new number, etc. Can those of us who are already with VW still get the BB Pearl for the lesser amount. I don't care about signing up for a new 2 year agreement. Also, where is this new unlimited plan? All I see is the 79 and 99 plan. Unlimited email and web browsing for 29.99 on top of my 39.99 voice plan is great. The question is, will I have to pay extra for VZ Nav?

[redhandeddenial]

Originally Posted by obeythelaw

I'm confused. Who can get the $249 price? Only new VW customers? I tried purchasing it and at the end you have to choose new number, etc. Can those of us who are already with VW still get the BB Pearl for the lesser amount. I don't care about signing up for a new 2 year agreement. Also, where is this new unlimited plan? All I see is the 79 and 99 plan. Unlimited email and web browsing for 29.99 on top of my 39.99 voice plan is great. The question is, will I have to pay extra for VZ Nav?

vz nav will be @ an additional cost