Unlimited Everything Plans Could Bolster BlackBerry Sales

I was just reading over on BGR how Sprint’s Simply Unlimited Plan does include the BlackBerry (there was confusion on that) and it got me to thinking, the such plans by Sprint and other carriers may actually increase the number of consumers buying BlackBerrys.

There is no doubt that one bar to BlackBerry ownership for many consumers is that the BlackBerry service above and beyond what you pay for everything else is too expensive. Unlimited plans that are inclusive of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) are much more attractive. The argument that other smartphones will cost you less each month pretty much goes away.

It would be interesting to see if carriers see an uptick in BlackBerry sales after implementing an unlimited plan similar to Sprint.

Written by Robb Dunewood on March 3rd, 2008 with 6 comments.
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6 comments

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Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com hellno
#1. March 3rd, 2008, at 1:40 PM.

Who’s paying for the BIS service? How long can the service provider take on that extra cost? IMO fair is fair, and $99 completely and truly unlimited carrier voice service an carrier data service is one thing, but RIM is a extra charge on top of that.

Does this cheapen the value of BIS?

Could this overload RIM’s servers even more?

Don’t think you ever get something for nothing, somewhere, somehow we’ll be paying for it. Perhaps $99 “unlimited” is still making them money? even with the higher use and the BIS? but with Sprint Hemoraging $$$ at a very quick rate I don’t see the balance to keep the service provider going long term with “unlimited” deals which the carrier still has to pay 3rd parties for service.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Robb Dunewood
#2. March 3rd, 2008, at 1:59 PM.

My guess is BlackBerry users use the internet less since the checking of their email runs through BIS. I doubt that it is a wash, however,it probably is not enough more for Sprint not to offer the service without increasing the price for BlackBerry users specifically.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Amy Wygen
#3. March 3rd, 2008, at 2:33 PM.

Does anyone know if this plan includes the ability to use your phone like a modem for you laptop?

I don’t use my phone enough to warrant the $99 plan by itself but I would save about $20 per month if I could get rid of my broadband wireless access card which I also have through Sprint.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com bluehorseshoe
#4. March 3rd, 2008, at 2:58 PM.

@ Amy,

No go on the modem usage with Sprint.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com bluehorseshoe
#5. March 3rd, 2008, at 3:07 PM.

As for the Sprint plan of unlimted usage, etc. I wouldn’t touch them. I’d rather pay the extra $$$ for better service, etc. Never used Sprint, and from reading the countless negative posts and hearing and witnessing their terrible customer support, I think I’d pass on whatever they’d offer. When I think of wireless carriers, I think of VZW, AT&T, and TMO. But I guess if you need to use them, so be it. It’s cheaper than before.

As for increasing BB sales, I’d agree to a certain point. Question is…is email that much more important than other alternatives out there, like an iPhone which offers multimedia or a Windows device? Gmail can be accessed on practically any phone. BB will always stay strong on the corporate side, and acquire a portion of the consumer market that is obsessed and focused on email, but for other functions, BB needs to offer more than just hopping on an unlimited plan. Just my opinion. :)

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Sean
#6. March 20th, 2008, at 9:06 AM.

Does this cover users using a BES? Our local sprint store told me that we would have to pay an extra $20 fee per phone because we use a BES…. doesnt make sense to me…

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