[chokaay]

A Realistic BlackBerry Plan Cost Analysis (T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon)

In my (and another family member's) interest in purchasing a BlackBerry device (specifically the Curve and/or Pearl), I did a cost comparison on "roughly" equal plans from the top 4 major carriers and thought I'd post it on T-Mobile Signal for the benefit of other people as well:


CRITERIA:
Needed AT LEAST >600-700 Anytime Minute Nationwide Individual Voice Plan* (the more the safer), 200-300 Text Messages (the more the safer), and Unlimited BlackBerry Email & Data (EDGE is fine... I'm still using GPRS with my RAZR).


CHOICES:

1) MY T-MOBILE "GRANDFATHERED" PROMOTIONAL PLAN: 1000 Anytime Minutes ($39.99/mo) + Unlimited N&W + 300 TEXT Messages ($2.99/mo) + Blackberry Internet & E-Mail Add-On ($19.99/mo) = $62.97/mo + tax.

2) T-MOBILE GET MORE 1000 PLUS: 1000 Anytime Minutes ($49.99/mo) + Unlimited N&W + 400 TEXT/MMS Messages ($4.99/mo) + Blackberry Internet & E-Mail Add-On ($19.99/mo) = $74.97/mo + tax.

3) T-MOBILE MYFAVES 600: 600 Anytime Minutes ($49.99/mo) + Unlimited Calling to 5 People (NO N&W) + 400 TEXT/MMS Messages ($4.99) + Blackberry Internet & E-Mail Add-On ($19.99/mo) = $74.97/mo + tax.

4) AT&T NATION 900 MINUTES (or AT&T NATION 900 UNITY**): 900 Anytime Minutes ($59.99/mo) + Unlimited N&W + Unlimited M2M (AT&T customers only) + Rollover + 200 Starter Messaging Add-On ($4.99/mo, $0.10/msg over 200) + BlackBerry Personal Data-Only Plan ($34.99/mo) = $99.97/mo + additional $0.10/msg over 200*** + tax.

5) SPRINT POWER PACK 900**** (no Curve or Pearl): 900 Anytime Minutes ($59.99/mo) + Unlimited 7pm N&W + Unlimited M2M (Sprint customers only) + 300 Text Messaging Add-On ($5.00/mo) + BlackBerry Unlimited Email and Web ($49.99/mo) = $114.98/mo + tax.

6) VERIZON BLACKBERRY AMERICA'S CHOICE EMAIL & MESSAGING 900 (no Curve or Pearl): 900 Anytime Minutes ($119.99/mo) + Unlimited N&W + Unlimited M2M (Verizon customers only) + Unlimited BlackBerry Email & Data + Unlimited Messaging***** (didn't see any lower option for BB) = $119.99/mo + tax.


ANNUAL COSTS (plan only):

1 YEAR COST******
1) $62.97 x 12 = $755.64 + tax********.
2/3) $74.97 x 12 = $899.64 + tax********.
4) $99.97 x 12 = $1,199.64*** + tax********.
5) $114.98 x 12 = $1,379.76 + tax********.
6) $119.99 x 12 = $1,439.88 + tax********.

2 YEAR COST
1) $62.97 x 24 = $1,511.28 + tax********.
2/3) $74.97 x 24 = $1,799.28 + tax********.
4) $99.97 x 24 = $2,399.28*** + tax********.
5) $114.98 x 24 = $2,759.52 + tax********.
6) $119.99 x 24 = $2,879.76 + tax********.


RESULTS (plan only):

1 YEAR COST SAVINGS*******:
1) $0.00.
2/3) $144.00 + tax difference********.
4) $444.00*** + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME A LOT!
5) $624.12 + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE!
6) $684.24 + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE!

2 YEAR COST SAVINGS*******:
1) $0.00.
2/3) $288.00 + tax difference********.
4) $888.00*** + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME A LOT!
5) $1,248.24 + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE!
6) $1,368.48 + tax difference********. <=== SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE!


NOTES:

*Before committing to a single carrier, please make sure you get coverage/signal in ALL THE PLACES YOU NEED IT! Even though price IS an important factor... being able to use your phone WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT IS MORE IMPORTANT! (What's the use of a phone if you can't use it when you need it? Now, using your phone in places you want it is slightly different, and should be treated and considered as such.)

**AT&T Unity gives you UNLIMITED AT&T Landline calling... unfortunately I don't know anyone that uses AT&T Landlines, so that won't make that much of a difference to me.

***For the purposes of this analysis, let's assume the customer NEVER goes over 200 messages so he/she doesn't have to pay any OVERAGES for this cost comparison. If he/she DID, then this option would cost MORE due to overages.

****Unsure if Sprint allows the BlackBerry Add-On to be added to SERO plans, but I've heard it couldn't. I could be wrong though....

*****Couldn't find any lower Verizon messaging plan for BlackBerries on their website to bring the cost down.

******Some carriers do NOT have a 1-Year Contract anymore (like AT&T), thus their 1-Year price is for reference only and NOT representative of what you would pay in a 1-Year Contract. T-Mobile DOES have 1-Year Contracts still, but the handset/device you get with a new activation will cost $50 more than with a 2-Year Contract.

*******Based on MY T-Mobile "grandfathered" plan! Everyone else should calculate their OWN cost savings based on their OWN current plan.

********When I say "tax", I mean all the taxes, fees, and miscellaneous charges that cellular carriers put on the bill. These charges differ by state, county, and even city. In my experience, taxes and fees add up to roughly 12%-24% of your total wireless bill, but could be more or less than that based on your billing location. Therefore, the actual COST (and COST SAVINGS) that you are being billed for (and are getting) will be EVEN GREATER (but the actual amount will differ by location).


EDIT: I should probably point out that to go from a "regular" voice plan to a "useful" BlackBerry Voice + Email + Internet Plan will cost AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL $239.88/YR + TAX ($19.99/mo x 12 months). For frequent international travelers that need the additional $19.99/mo International E-Mail Add-On, it will cost AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL $479.76/YR + TAX ($19.99/mo + $19.99/mo x 12 months).

[g_patrick89]

Great analysis! this should be stickied for quick reference

[AndrewD]

Awsome information, thanks for providing it

[chokaay]

Thanks for all the compliments!

In addition to stickying, maybe Admin should create a BlackBerry Sub-Forum (as well as a SmartPhone/PDA Sub-Forum as well). There seems to be a lot of posts regarding these and it looks like the General Discussion forum might need some organization and clean-up...

[g_patrick89]

Originally Posted by chokaay

Thanks for all the compliments!

In addition to stickying, maybe Admin should create a BlackBerry Sub-Forum (as well as a SmartPhone/PDA Sub-Forum as well). There seems to be a lot of posts regarding these and it looks like the General Discussion forum might need some organization and clean-up...

Great idea

[greenblood]

Wirelessly posted (Dell X50v and/or SE K790a: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320))

T-Mobile has the lowest price for internet tethering, even lower than Sprint SERO
if it's 3G, it's a big steal.....

[kinjutsu11]

With Verizon, you can get 10mb worth of data for $24.99, if there are light email users.

[chokaay]

Originally Posted by kinjutsu11

With Verizon, you can get 10mb worth of data for $24.99, if there are light email users.

That may be true, but for both email and data 10MB would be too little for a BB (at least for me, since that's the whole purpose of switching to a BB... to push all my emails and use the Internet). Plus $24.99 is still more than T-Mobile's $19.99 BlackBerry add-on for Unlimited Data & Emails!

Now if Verizon had a SMALLER text messaging add-on for BlackBerry users, I could factor that in to lower the price comparison...

[volkl23]

I think you should have the Sero Plan on there from Sprint (everyone can get it now), because I think it even trumps the cheapest TM offering by far.

WHOPPING 1250 ANYTIME MINUTES + 7PM NIGHTS + FREE UNLIMITED M2M ($49.99) + FREE UNLIMITED TXTS WHICH INCLUDES MMS + FREE WEB/ DATA ACCESS

That's right! All that for $49.99!! You don't need 1250 minutes. Try all that above, but with 500 minutes for just $29.99.

The yearly/bi-annual savings are very substantial even compared to TM, when you factor in unlimited text, free web/data access, unlimited M2M, and 7pm nights.

Just to let you know, I'm a happy TM customer before all the flames start pouring in!

[kinjutsu11]

Originally Posted by chokaay

That may be true, but for both email and data 10MB would be too little for a BB (at least for me, since that's the whole purpose of switching to a BB... to push all my emails and use the Internet). Plus $24.99 is still more than T-Mobile's $19.99 BlackBerry add-on for Unlimited Data & Emails!

Now if Verizon had a SMALLER text messaging add-on for BlackBerry users, I could factor that in to lower the price comparison...

Oh i agree, no doubt, just posting that there was another option for the light users, I had to do some digging to find it though! What a pain. Either way, T-Mobile's BB options kick all the carriers to the curb, especially since there is no 3G Blackberry, there aren't too many differences in speed for internet/email downloads.