How To

How to Compare Blackberry Messaging Plans

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(3 Ratings)

There are several different Blackberry messaging plans available that fit the needs of different users. Make sure you compare Blackberry messaging plans before you buy. Use these steps as your Blackberry messaging plan buyer’s guide.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Computer with Internet access
  1. Step 1

    Check out several different providers. All the major cellular service providers have Blackberry plans. Browse their plans, taking note of the specific Blackberry data plans and Blackberry messaging plans.

  2. Step 2

    Weigh the benefits of “unlimited” plans. Try to calculate the per message cost against the monthly fee and think about how many text messages you send per month on average. If you are a high volume message user, an unlimited plan can save you a lot of money but if you only send ten or twenty a month, it might be best to stick to a different plan.

  3. Step 3

    Look for included text messages in plans. Many plans include a certain number of text messages free when you subscribe for a data or voice plan. Pay close attention to the number of included text messages and find out how much you are charged for every additional text message after that.

  4. Step 4

    Understand multimedia messages. Although pictures, voice clips and video clips are attached to a text message, most carriers will charge you extra for so-called multimedia messages. Look to see if they are included in the plan, and if not look to see how much each one costs.

  5. Step 5

    Look for in-network messaging plans. Some carriers let you send free or cheaper text messages to users on the same network. Look for a price per message for messages sent to anyone as well as in-network.

  6. Step 6

    Be aware of upgrade discounts. If you already have a plan, your provider might offer you discounts for upgrading your plan. Keep an eye out for good deals.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you are thinking about a particular plan, do a Web search on it or post on a forum to get some user feedback.
  • The best way to choose the right plan for you is to know your usage habits. Take a look at past phone bills to get an idea of what you need from a plan.
  • E-mails, instant messenger programs and other Web features don’t count as text messaging. This usage falls under data and you’ll be charged according to bandwidth.
  • Find out if you get charged for incoming texts and calls. Factor this in to your usage, as it doubles the amount of messages you use.

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