Be careful if you're on Blackberry plan

rajivekeshup · 18th September 2007, 17:41

Some very scary news!

I was at Etisalat Business Centre (Khaleej) this morning and this is what I saw.

An individual walked in, took his number and sat himself down. We were all waiting to see customer care. He was Livid, with Etisalat bill in hand and iPhone in the other.

Upon sitting with the customer care rep, he exploded demanding to know why his bill from last week to this week was AED 450 more!!!!

After the customer care looked at it, he calmly asked, sir are you on the Blackberry plan? he replied yes, he said 185? he said yes? he said where is ur blackberry? The man replied its at home I am using it in my new phone instead, the customer rep said, that is your answer. Etisalat will charge you for every kb additional usage on the mnet package despite being on blackberry unlimited as its meant for Blackberry and no other phone. So while its available to use, there is a price to pay!

He was shocked, got up and said I would like to see a manager in regards to this rubbish!

The customer care replied, he's not in today ... is there anything I can help you with.

He stormed at left.

Bottom line is, and I cant confirm if this is actually happening, but check your bills for unusual MNET activity.

if you do notice the rise ... you'll know why!!!

Magnus · 18th September 2007, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajivekeshup

Bottom line is, and I cant confirm if this is actually happening, but check your bills for unusual MNET activity.

if you do notice the rise ... you'll know why!!!

I'm not surprised. The key there, I think, is the Blackberry part. If you're on a Blackberry plan it only works on actual Berry handsets or with the Berry software on another handset. Any non-Berry traffic is charged at normal rates, I think. And any data on the iPhone is clearly not Berry-traffic so it would be charged on top of his Berry plan.

Samberino · 18th September 2007, 17:56

Data Access and Telecom here in the middle east is pathetic to say the least. One would imagine you are in a 3rd world country playing catch-up with the way IT is progressing over here.

Too much to pay for too little. Once again we are being humped into submission. Its any wonder people only use their phones to make calls and send text messages.

Bollox!!

dandantheitman · 18th September 2007, 19:15

A quick google indicates that in the US there are many people running the blackberry data plan on a hacked / unlocked iphone with no issues. However they don't have the Fear / Uncertainty and Doubt of Etisalat / Du.

I had to change from my blackberry plan to at&t iphone - iplan

when I switched, but I did it through official channels

Dan

senthil03 · 18th September 2007, 19:51

I guess the telecom operator here can get away with these kind of prices is because there is no competition. Dubai should atleast have 4 operators then we can see prices coming down till then...one has to get used to being ripped off..

Samberino · 19th September 2007, 09:32

Lets get things in perspective people. A blackberry is a mobile communications device that uses a standard SIM card and accesses data, not by some special blackberry exclusive method, but rather by EDGE over GPRS (exactly the same tech. as the iPhone).

With etisalat, what you are paying for is a data plan (though they don't want to sell it to you like that). As ridiculously priced as it is, I am seriously contemplating subscribing to it, as what point is having an iPhone if you are not gonna be connected, right?

Magnus · 19th September 2007, 09:35

But isn't it only with a Berry device (or Berry software on other device) and a Berry plan, that you get the unlimited data?

rajivekeshup · 19th September 2007, 09:44

Yes. Only when you have a berry intially can you get the plan going cos they ask you for your berry number

After that you can use it on others at the cost of AED0.02/KB which is ludicrous!

Samberino · 19th September 2007, 10:03

Not at all. Google it if you have any doubts. The berry is running on its own phone OS, and like the iPhone has apps on there that require internet connectivity. What defines the blackberry devices is their always connected nature, so to say; how do they acheive that: using GPRS/EDGE.

When the berry needs data access, it reaches out and utilizes whats available (if any). There is no software validation/verification. Similar with the internet here in the UAE; whether on broadband or dial-up, Etisalat don't check your OS before allowing you to connect.

Remember, the EDGE protocol over GPRS is a 2.75G network and not to be confused with 3G. EDGE speeds here in the UAE are quite accptable, just a shame bout the darn costs.

rajivekeshup · 19th September 2007, 10:10

But Samberino, packets sent out from BB vs iPhone differ enormously which is why Etisalat can verify whats what and bill you for iPhone usage and not for BB usage, as was the case with the gentleman at Customer care.

Its a sad sad sad state of affairs!

18th September 2007, 17:41	#1 (permalink)
rajivekeshup Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 61	Be careful if you're on Blackberry plan Some very scary news! I was at Etisalat Business Centre (Khaleej) this morning and this is what I saw. An individual walked in, took his number and sat himself down. We were all waiting to see customer care. He was Livid, with Etisalat bill in hand and iPhone in the other. Upon sitting with the customer care rep, he exploded demanding to know why his bill from last week to this week was AED 450 more!!!! After the customer care looked at it, he calmly asked, sir are you on the Blackberry plan? he replied yes, he said 185? he said yes? he said where is ur blackberry? The man replied its at home I am using it in my new phone instead, the customer rep said, that is your answer. Etisalat will charge you for every kb additional usage on the mnet package despite being on blackberry unlimited as its meant for Blackberry and no other phone. So while its available to use, there is a price to pay! He was shocked, got up and said I would like to see a manager in regards to this rubbish! The customer care replied, he's not in today ... is there anything I can help you with. He stormed at left. Bottom line is, and I cant confirm if this is actually happening, but check your bills for unusual MNET activity. if you do notice the rise ... you'll know why!!!

18th September 2007, 17:56	#3 (permalink)
Samberino Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 14	The Bottom Line... Data Access and Telecom here in the middle east is pathetic to say the least. One would imagine you are in a 3rd world country playing catch-up with the way IT is progressing over here. Too much to pay for too little. Once again we are being humped into submission. Its any wonder people only use their phones to make calls and send text messages. Bollox!!

18th September 2007, 19:15	#4 (permalink)
dandantheitman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC. Posts: 722	Different Plans Makes Sense A quick google indicates that in the US there are many people running the blackberry data plan on a hacked / unlocked iphone with no issues. However they don't have the Fear / Uncertainty and Doubt of Etisalat / Du. I had to change from my blackberry plan to at&t iphone - iplan when I switched, but I did it through official channels Dan

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18th September 2007, 19:51	#5 (permalink)
senthil03 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 355	I guess the telecom operator here can get away with these kind of prices is because there is no competition. Dubai should atleast have 4 operators then we can see prices coming down till then...one has to get used to being ripped off..

19th September 2007, 09:32	#6 (permalink)
Samberino Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 14	Lets get things in perspective people. A blackberry is a mobile communications device that uses a standard SIM card and accesses data, not by some special blackberry exclusive method, but rather by EDGE over GPRS (exactly the same tech. as the iPhone). With etisalat, what you are paying for is a data plan (though they don't want to sell it to you like that). As ridiculously priced as it is, I am seriously contemplating subscribing to it, as what point is having an iPhone if you are not gonna be connected, right?

19th September 2007, 09:35	#7 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,397	But isn't it only with a Berry device (or Berry software on other device) and a Berry plan, that you get the unlimited data?

19th September 2007, 09:44	#8 (permalink)
rajivekeshup Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 61	Yes. Only when you have a berry intially can you get the plan going cos they ask you for your berry number After that you can use it on others at the cost of AED0.02/KB which is ludicrous!

19th September 2007, 10:03	#9 (permalink)
Samberino Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 14	Not at all. Google it if you have any doubts. The berry is running on its own phone OS, and like the iPhone has apps on there that require internet connectivity. What defines the blackberry devices is their always connected nature, so to say; how do they acheive that: using GPRS/EDGE. When the berry needs data access, it reaches out and utilizes whats available (if any). There is no software validation/verification. Similar with the internet here in the UAE; whether on broadband or dial-up, Etisalat don't check your OS before allowing you to connect. Remember, the EDGE protocol over GPRS is a 2.75G network and not to be confused with 3G. EDGE speeds here in the UAE are quite accptable, just a shame bout the darn costs.

19th September 2007, 10:10	#10 (permalink)
rajivekeshup Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 61	But Samberino, packets sent out from BB vs iPhone differ enormously which is why Etisalat can verify whats what and bill you for iPhone usage and not for BB usage, as was the case with the gentleman at Customer care. Its a sad sad sad state of affairs!