Data Plan Combo??

[joyandme]

I am thinking about purchasing a Blackberry Torch 9860 AND a Blackberry Playbook when my contract runs out.  I understand that the tethering plan is required for the Playbook.  So would I have to pay the data plan for my phone PLUS the tethering plan for the Playbook?

[ilikewireless ACE - Professor]

If the Playbook is a WiFi only device, no data plan is required. Basically you use the data plan & tethering plan of any hotspot device like a Blackberry Torch. Any WiFi only device like the Playbook connects for free.

[joyandme]

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ilikewireless wrote:
If the Playbook is a WiFi only device, no data plan is required. Basically you use the data plan & tethering plan of any hotspot device like a Blackberry Torch. Any WiFi only device like the Playbook connects for free.

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OK, then what is all the discussion and complaints different places on these and other boards about not being able to use the Playbook with AT&T's services?  One post said the Playbook is useless because you can't connect with AT&T's service.  These were mostly older posts, so did something change???

So if I already have a data plan on my BB phone, then I don't have to pay additional to use my Playbook as a WIFI with it?  Is that correct?  I'm totally confused!

[ilikewireless ACE - Professor]

I was incorrect in saying that you could tether the Playbook. I am sorry :-(

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"There are known knowns. There are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns."
   - Donald Rumsfeld

[ilikewireless ACE - Professor]

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joyandme wrote:

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ilikewireless wrote:
If the Playbook is a WiFi only device, no data plan is required. Basically you use the data plan & tethering plan of any hotspot device like a Blackberry Torch. Any WiFi only device like the Playbook connects for free.

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OK, then what is all the discussion and complaints different places on these and other boards about not being able to use the Playbook with AT&T's services?  One post said the Playbook is useless because you can't connect with AT&T's service.  These were mostly older posts, so did something change???

So if I already have a data plan on my BB phone, then I don't have to pay additional to use my Playbook as a WIFI with it?  Is that correct?  I'm totally confused!

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I'll add a little more and then you can wait for the experts to give you the full explanation.

I just learned that there is a Blackberry Bridging App and there's WiFi. I was earlier unaware of the Bridge until I read further.

I believe you can use WiFi but not the Bridge(AT&T blocks it), unless something changed recently. The functionalities of the two are not the same but I am not able to give you the details.

I think you may connect the Playbook WiFi to BB phone's hotspot feature if you want. That will cost you data plus tethering - the $15 data plan does not include tethering. If you go to AT&T shopping site, it will tell you how much to pay if you want to tether any device(incl Playbook) to your BB phone.

Let's wait for the experts to give you the full answer.

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"There are known knowns. There are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns."
   - Donald Rumsfeld

[joyandme]

Thanks.  I was talking to a friend this morning who advised me against getting anything Blackberry because the company is not doing well.  So I don't know what direction I want to take now.

[ilikewireless ACE - Professor]

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joyandme wrote:

Thanks.  I was talking to a friend this morning who advised me against getting anything Blackberry because the company is not doing well.  So I don't know what direction I want to take now.

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You're welcome

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"There are known knowns. There are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns."
   - Donald Rumsfeld