Verizon Blackberry Pearl 8130

[Gilmors]

I had a chat with a Verizon wireless service representative. I'm sorry ahead of time if this is the wrong thread, but figured beings I'm looking primarily at the Blackberry Pearl that it would be ok. I have listed my questions at the bottom.

Chat InformationPlease wait for a Verizon Wireless sales representative to assist you with your order. Thank you for your patience!
Chat InformationA Verizon Wireless online pre-sales specialist has joined the chat. You are now chatting with Heather
Heather: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. May I help you with your order today?
You: Hello, I tried to find this chat option on your website previously, but never could find it
You: Thank you for inviting me!
Heather: How can I help you today?
Heather: Your welcome.
You: I currently have a contract with VZ, which expired quite some time ago and i'm on a month to month basis right now
Heather: Great!
You: I have the america's choice 450min plan with the 250 text messages which costs me around $55 a month
You: Now, I'm happy with my phone and the plan itself
Heather: How can I help?
You: I'm apparently also eligible for a free upgrade to a new phone
You: I was looking at the Blackberry pearl 8130
Heather: You will have to purchase a data package with this phone.
You: Yah, the Email and Web for BlackBerry® $29.99 Monthly
Heather: That is correct.
You: I also understand you have some type of guarantee contract where if you're not happy with the contract you can switch back within a certain amount of time. I like the blackberry pearl mainly because it's small and doesn't weight much, but i'm not crazy about the data/internet package you have to purchase
Heather: Your satisfaction is guaranteed on any equipment you purchase from Verizon Wireless. We provide a 30-day satisfaction guarantee on any product you purchase from Verizon Wireless online. You only pay for the service you've used. See Verizon Wireless' Return/Exchange Policy brochure for details.
You: Yah, thats it
Heather: Great!
You: So, if i end up not liking the blackberry phone or the plan. I can switch back to my old phone with the previous plan?
Heather: That is correct.
You: Any charges or fees for that besides the "service I've used?"
Heather: The restocking fee.
You: What would that be?
Heather: $35 restocking fee.
You: Ok, that's not bad
You: Now another question
Heather: Sure, ask any questions that you may have.
You: Say i sign up for a 2 year contract and end up liking the blackberry phone, but i find that i have no use for the data/internet package. Can i remove the data package from the plan after a certain period or time frame has passed?
Heather: As long as you have the phone you will have to have the data package.
Heather: Are you wanting to make your purchase online today?
You: and there's no way around that? I have to keep the data package even if i never use it or go on the internet with the phone?
Heather: That is correct, it is required with this phone.
You: It depends on the answers that i receive whether i will upgrade or not
Heather: We do have PDA's that do not have the data package requirement.
You: I'm looking primarily for something that's light weight under 4oz
Heather: The following devices do not require an unlimited data feature: Palm Centro, VZW SMT 5800, VZW XV 6900, and the Samsung SCH-i760.
Heather: We have the Samsung SCH-u340 for free and it weighs under 4 oz.
Heather: The weight of that phone is 2.82 ounces with standard battery
You: I currently have the Motorola E815, which i believe has more features than that phone and is more durable.
Heather: Please hold on while I check that information.
You: Alright
Heather: What features are you looking in for your phone to have?
Heather: I have not heard from you for a few moments. Would you like me to keep this chat session open for you?
You: lightweight, newer style, camera, i text on occasion when my fiancee text me, but have a 250 text message plan and stay well below that still. I was thinking about a phone that has the capabilities such as internet, but don't know how useful it will be for me. That's the major think that i really liked about the Blackberry Pearl 8130. It had the new technology with a nice screen and keyboard layout and had the ability to go on the internet. I don't want to be stuck with the internet though if i don't use it. I also have friends who have phones from Sprint and Alltel that have the blackberry pearl and don't have the data packages
You: Which is why i assumed it was possible with Verizon as well.
Heather: Please hold on while I check that information.
You: That's really the make it or break it deal. I love the phone, but don't want to be required to have the data package if i don't find it necessary or useful.
Heather: Unfortunately it requires it.
You: What's the general purpose of a phone though?
You: let me revise that
You: What's the general purpose of having a phone though?
Heather: Just to be sure that I understand what you are asking, can you please rephrase your question?
You: Ultimately, what is a phone designed to do?
Heather: To use for calling and whatever you want to use it for.
You: But you're saying that the Blackberry pearl can't be used for that purpose(to make a phone call) unless it's used with a data package to access the internet?
Heather: That is correct.
Heather: A recent change in policy requires all pda’s or smartphones launching on or after 11/14/2008 to have a subscription to a price plan with unlimited email or a data feature with unlimited email. We still offer devices that do not require the addition this feature.
You: Before that date it was possible to use a PDA/smartphone such as the blackberry pearl to make a phone call without a data package?
Heather: That is correct.
You: What if i sign up for a 2 year contract and have the pearl for 3 months and decide i want to remove the data package from the plan. Can i do that at that time?
Heather: No you can not as long as you have that phone you will have to have the data package.
You: So ultimately, if i wanted to remove the data package. I would have to switch back to my old phone which didn't require a data package?
Heather: That is right.
Heather: Is there anything else that I can assist you with today?
Heather: I have not heard from you for a few moments. Would you like me to keep this chat session open for you?
You: I'm sorry, i don't think i will be upgrading at this time and may look elsewhere at a different business who allows the pearl to be purchased without the internet.
Heather: Thank you for visiting Verizon Wireless, I look forward to speaking with you again. Have a great day!
Chat InformationYour chat session has been ended by your Verizon Wireless online agent.

I currently have a Motorola e815 with the AMERICA'S CHOICE II 450 ANY UNL N&W AND UNL IN CALLING $39.99
Contract: Month to Month

Monthly access charge: $39.99
Monthly allowance minutes: 450 general
Per minute rate after allowance: $0.45 peak , $0.45 off-peak
250 Text/Picture Messages

I'd like to upgrade to the Blackberry Pearl as it's a sleek lightweight phone and it has the capability to access the internet. What i don't like, is that with Verizon I'm required to purchase a data package with this phone.

Can anyone provide some insight on what i should do, or possibly a cell phone company who has the same national coverage as Verizon, but doesn't require a data package plan with the blackberry pearl phone?

[Stryker]

More likely than not, to use the BlackBerry the way you want to, you will have to purchase a data plan.

[r0k]

I had a Treo 650 without a data plan. The data was so slow, I didn't run up a big bill even with pay as you go. And Verizon's pay as you go plan allows you to run up $1200 in charges in one day if you're not careful!

I agree with Stryker, if you have a phone with a camera and send an MMS, it counts against your data plan. For a while, I had verizon block my data feature. They went overboard and blocked all the phones our family was using. It meant the kids could no longer send picture MMS. So if you want the BB phone and the ability to send picture MMS, you will need the data feature.

This isn't entirely Verizon's fault. The BB data connection stays on all the time and runs in background. If they let you use pay as you go for data, chances are you would be a lot more pissed at them than you are about requiring the $29.99 data plan. There are two BB data plans. The BIS plan costs $29.99 a month and the BES plan costs $45 a month. The BES plan is for business users and allows them to back up their phones over the air to their company's BES server. The BIS plan allows you to back up OTA to google contacts or whatever as well as to receive BIS push email. But you can't set up BES email on the $29.99 plan.

This situation is kind of like asking the power company to build you your own substation but trust you that you will never turn it on and go ahead and charge you normal residential rates. The substation winds up turning itself on automatically and the power company ends up shutting off your service after only one week because you owe $1M in electric bills.