Exclusive: All (GSM) Blackberry Plans reviewed

Ed’s Note: Our overworked brains ditched us. Sorry for the goof up, we have added the plans and edited the story accordingly.

When TeleGyaan did an exclusive review of MTNL’s 2G/3G plans, one of our avid readers voiced his opinion and asked us to look at other operators in the landscape. Given the reader-friendly blog we are, here is a post comparing all the GSM – Blackberry plans on offer::

• BIS/ BES P-I (for individual/enterprise users)
• Monthly rent: Rs.299/ 425
• No free usage
• Data charge: 30p/40p per Kb

• BIS/ BES P-II (for individual/enterprise users)
• Monthly Rent: Rs. 499/ 625
• 500 Kb of free usage 
• Data charge: 15p/ 20p per Kb

• BIS/ BES P-III (for individual users)
• Monthly Rent: 999/ 875
• Unlimited data usage

We Say: Though the plans might be somewhat in line with that of MTNL, monthly charges as well as variable data usage charges are comparatively lower. However the operator is offering you the best speeds available in the country – 3G speeds. 

Our Pick: If you can shell out a thousand bucks, the unlimited plan is the one for you. It will make sure that your Blackberry is used optimally. 

• Prosumer Lite 299
• Monthly Rent: Rs.299
• Unlimited Access to 10 email accounts
• Prosumer Service
• Monthly Rent: Rs.1099
• Unlimited email and internet access

We Say: Kindly note that these plans offer 2G (EDGE) speeds. If you’re an email and a messenger junkie, Prosumer Lite is the thing to go for or else the full fledged Prosumer plan will keep you busy with access to social networking sites, stocks et al.
 

Airtel plans are on the lines of Vodafone’s but there’s one more plan added to the basket:

• Plan 1 (Only Email and IM)
• Monthly Rent: Rs.299
• Unlimited Access to 10 email accounts
• Plan 2
• Monthly Rent: Rs.499
• Free Usage: 500KB; extra usage at 50paise/KB
• Plan 3
• Monthly Rent: Rs.1099
• Unlimited

We Say: 2G speeds again. Again, the decision is pretty simple to make. More Email = Plan 1 or if you’ve got a decent surfing go for the unlimited one. The plan sitting in the middle actually does not make sense. Even though they have tried to give some relief to moderate surfers 500KB and a 50p charge after that is like…forget it!
 

Loop Mobile has two Blackberry plans for its users::

• Plan #1 
• Monthly Rent: Rs. 499
• Free data usage: 500 kb
• Data charges: 10p/ Kb

• Plan #2
• Monthly Rent: Rs.999
• Unlimited data usage

We Say:Loop has just got it right. If you’re looking to surf as well as do email on your Blackberry, I think they offer at very competitive prices.

Here is another operator, which has planned to play it simple and straight:

• Monthly Rent: Rs.899
• Unlimited Blackberry services 

We Say: Take it or leave it seems to be the motto of Idea. They offer single plan with no barrier and I guess they win in terms of rent when it comes to unlimited usage.  

 

The Final Verdict

Firstly, we feel that none of the plans, except the unlimited plans, offer great value for money, especially the data charges for all plans and the strange funda of half an Mb of free usage. 

If you need speed with your Blackberry service i.e. a 3G service to power your Blackberry, you have two options BSNL and MTNL. With the latter – MTNL being priced too high, we would recommend going for BSNL’s unlimited plan. 

If 2G is fine with you, we would definitely go for Vodafone or Airtel’s smart plans – Rs.299 unlimited, which will offer you the basic benefits at an affordable price. After all, Blackberry is all about emailing.