[ksatterwhite]

For starters, I have just joined.

I've been using a Treo 600 for a bit. But, I've decided to give BB a try. I just ordered the 7290 from Tmo.

For those on Tmo with a BB...what plan did you get? Did you get one of the "BB" plans that has minutes, net, and unlimited msgs? Or, did you go with one of the national plans and add "Unlim BB". Adding the Unlim BB does not come with unlim msgs.

I decided to go with the 1000 w/ free nts & wknds promo and add the 400 msgs & Unlim BB.

I really wish the BB add-on came w/ unlim msgs.

[Bawdygard]

I got the same on a 7100t, but haven't received my first bill yet.

[Soapm]

I have the same as you and also wished the BB plan came with unlimited MMS/SMS... But it's better than trying to figure out the Cingular puzzle???

[cbotd]

Doesn't t-mo offer unlimited messages for $4.99?

[kevpmcl]

For $14.99 you get unlimited messages. $9.99 gets you 1,000 messages and $4.99 gets you 400 messages. It would be nice if they did include sms messaging in with the data plan at no additional cost but the data plan t-mobile has is still a steal in my opinion.

[niteskolar]

$15 a month for unlimited messaging is flipping ridiculous. I got unlimited BB and 1000 messages.

[lgp2004]

I have a BlackBerry 7730 with T-Mobile. I have the 1000 anytime nationwide minutes with unlimited SMS, e-mail, and internet. I also have the insurance, and that runs me about $80/month.

[legendl]

I have the 1000 anytime, plus night and weekend for 39.99 , I know they are 45.99 now but I had it locked in for a long time when it was going on promotion back then.
I added the 19.99 unlimted web and email, however, I am going to avoid using SMS as I do not plan to even pay 4.99 a month for 400 messages.

I just loaded the BB IM so I can pin my friend for free. I am trying out IM+ right now for my yahoo and MSN IM right now and that's going pretty good.
I like the fact that it is a one time payment instead of a annual subscription.

So, SMS is not really necessary for me for now.

LL

[BauerJB]

Is there a way to instant message on T-Mobile without paying SMS charges? I started using T-Mobile's Yahoo! and AIM client, and figured out very quickly that each message carries the same price tag as an SMS.

In reality, data is just data. The fact that mobile phone companies charge extra for text messages is more a business practice than a technical necessity, right? Would there be software out there that could instant message through a protocol that avoids SMS charges?

[joginder]

i have not figured this out but there are 3rd party tools/softwares that you can install on the Bb and your messages will be free because they use MDS protocol. Also PIN messages are always free because they come under your data plan.

[dhm001]

Data may be data, but the systems that carry the data are considerably different. I use SMS (Small Message Service) messaging all the time especially for AIM. I have installed several commercial AIM packages on my BB and they all suck. SMS messages are extremely reliable and come in on the BB even while you are talking on the phone. Cingular uses SMS for paging, so if you want people to be able to page you it’s a must. Also, if you want to send a message to someone with a regular cell phone SMS is a must.

That being said SMS messages are limited in size, so they are only useful for certain types of communications. But once you start using SMS messages you start to realize that it is an extremely powerful form of communication.

[Soapm]

Originally Posted by dhm001

I use SMS (Small Message Service) messaging all the time especially for AIM. I have installed several commercial AIM packages on my BB and they all suck. SMS messages are extremely reliable and come in on the BB even while you are talking on the phone..

Have you tried Ramble, it' reliable for me and sends your messages via gprs so it saves you on SMS usage. Best of all, it's free. It can't send while you are on a call though.

Originally Posted by dhm001

Also, if you want to send a message to someone with a regular cell phone SMS is a must...

Not a must, you can send SMS to a regular phone in an email format. Again, this uses gprs. http://www.blackberryforums.com/show...light=teleflip