[ErinsDad]

I need to replace a old Blackberry curve and want to buy a newer BB Bold from Ebay but AT&T is telling me that I will have to buy the Data plan since I will be updating the phone. They tell me that once I stick my sim card in the new phone it will allow them to start charging me the Data plan!

Can they do this? I am not buying the phone from them so can they really tell me I have to have the Plan

Thanks

ErinsDad

[rambo47]

They can, and they absolutely will charge you for a data plan. If you want to use AT&T's network, you play by their rules. Both Sprint and Verizon won't activate a BlackBerry if you don't have the proper plan in place. I'm not sure about T-Mobile. They're the most lax about data plans.

[Dubdub]

I agree with Rambo.

AT&T periodically scans IMEIs on their network and if they find a device that requires a data plan, they will add it. Took 26 minutes to find my BB 9000 when I plugged in the SIM to make sure it still worked.

[ErinsDad]

OK, So here is another part of the story, We have been grandfathered in with our current BB's on not having the data plan and so replacing my Curve with a used Bold would allow them to charge the Data plan on that one device?

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by ErinsDad

OK, So here is another part of the story, We have been grandfathered in with our current BB's on not having the data plan and so replacing my Curve with a used Bold would allow them to charge the Data plan on that one device?

Yes, if you tell AT&T about it... which I would advise you against.
Just buy the used Bold, put your SIM card in it, enjoy. Don't even let AT&T know you did it.

(Not to say they won't automatically add a data plan at some point in the future.)

[rambo47]

Generally speaking, changing the device opens the door for the carrier to change your plan and remove "grandfathered" features. Like Penguin3107 said, it might make it harder for them to detect the change if you simply swap the SIM card from old BB to new BB, but you can't count in it lasting forever.

[ErinsDad]

That really sucks that we like to use the BB but cant because AT&T wants to gig us for more money just to use the BB phone and not use the Data plan!

[Dubdub]

Keep in mind that you aren't the only person in that same boat. There are a lot of BB users who want the device for the keypad and texting.

[ragorman]

Part of the issue is that the BB refers to RIM's servers for almost all of it's data. Not all, but most. This has to be paid for by someone, and ATT isn't going to let anyone slide- even if it is connected thru wifi.