Visiting USA... Blackberry question

[nd_eric_77]

I will visit my family in the US for the first time in 2 years in December. Like nearly everybody here (and nearly nobody there), I am hooked on BBM. But of course, I do not still have any kind of handphone data plan in America. Can anybody recommend a way by which I could purchase a one-month prepaid SIM with Blackberry Internet Service included for travel in the US?

[Nimbus]

T-Mobile has a $50 monthly prepaid plan with unlimited talk, text & web (100MB at 3G speed). For an additional $10 a month you get BIS.

[nd_eric_77]

T-Mobile has a $50 monthly prepaid plan with unlimited talk, text & web (100MB at 3G speed). For an additional $10 a month you get BIS.

So I assume that I get this by going to a T-Mobile store?

[Nimbus]

So I assume that I get this by going to a T-Mobile store?

Yeah. They are selling the prepaid plan with a full-priced phone, but I don't see why they would refuse to sell the plan by itself.

[nd_eric_77]

One follow-on question: If I were to just want to do BBM, would my IndoSat SIM allow me to do that by connecting via Wifi?

I can BBM when only connected via Wifi here in Jakarta, but was curious whether the carrier forces the bbm to only work via Indonesian IP addresses when connecting via Wifi.

[Nimbus]

One follow-on question: If I were to just want to do BBM, would my IndoSat SIM allow me to do that by connecting via Wifi?

I can BBM when only connected via Wifi here in Jakarta, but was curious whether the carrier forces the bbm to only work via Indonesian IP addresses when connecting via Wifi.

I don't know for sure, but I think it will work over wifi as long as you have BB data plan with Indosat. It's easy enough to test: keep your Indosat SIM card in your BB, then after you land head to a starbucks for wifi. If it doesn't work, then your next stop is T-Mobile.

[etoiluna]

One follow-on question: If I were to just want to do BBM, would my IndoSat SIM allow me to do that by connecting via Wifi?

I can BBM when only connected via Wifi here in Jakarta, but was curious whether the carrier forces the bbm to only work via Indonesian IP addresses when connecting via Wifi.

yes it will work perfectly fine with wifi, i never bother to buy a local sim card for my BB whenever i travel overseas

[nd_eric_77]

I don't know for sure, but I think it will work over wifi as long as you have BB data plan with Indosat. It's easy enough to test: keep your Indosat SIM card in your BB, then after you land head to a starbucks for wifi. If it doesn't work, then your next stop is T-Mobile.

yes it will work perfectly fine with wifi, i never bother to buy a local sim card for my BB whenever i travel overseas

Thank you both for your replies! This is one less thing to think about. I will compare the costs of getting a SIM plus data plan vs. getting a cheap disposable phone for the voice and txt and just using my bb with Wifi where available.

[Nimbus]

Thank you both for your replies! This is one less thing to think about. I will compare the costs of getting a SIM plus data plan vs. getting a cheap disposable phone for the voice and txt and just using my bb with Wifi where available.

Walmart sells a refurbished phone for $25 that includes 750 minutes from a company called NET10. If it's still available, it's a great deal.

Me, I can't live for a month without a smartphone, so I would pay the $35 difference to keep all the features on the road (email, google search, gps, etc.)