I asked this very question back in February, but, seeing how RIM recently announced that Cable & Wireless recently introduced a pre-paid BlackBerry option in the Caribbean, I figured that I would aske the question again.
What do you think? Would a pre-paid BlackBerry Plan fly here in the States?
Based on my personal usage, I’d pass. Cheaper to do an unlimited plan. Most BB users are heavy users, so I can’t see people using a pay as you go plan unless they need that one to two emails a day ASAP.
I think it’s a bad idea – more convienence for the customer, but criminals will love BlackBerrys to be free. They are the device of choice for them since they cannot be hacked and are hard to monitor – many news articles have been written regarding this.
Overall, nice idea, but not a good one.
I think it would fly off the shelves here. I can tell you now, I would keep my data plan and have one thats pre-pay. I’m a extremely heavy e-mail and text message user. I make on average maybe 5 phone calls a month, i’m serious. My associates are generally heavy phone users, but use little of the e-mail and text features. All in all, if RIM wants the mobile market share like Microsofts OS share of the PC market then they have to offer all the features of every other phone out there. My windows mobile phone can be used as a pre-pay phone.
@Lee: Why not get a $35/mo Blackberry plan from AT&T and ditch the voice plan? With data only, voice costs $.40/min. If you use 10 minutes a month, you’re getting your voice and data for $40/mo. Not bad!
with no-contract what are we talking about if we want all the features listed? and how is the reception of the phone and the coverage area? bottom line is it cheaper than a contract deal if I don’t use more than 100 minutes a month?