RIM is popping bottles in Waterloo, celebrating tiered data pricing

By on Jun 2, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Favorites June 2, 2010

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Tiered data plans have been part of RIM’s long term strategy, and we safely assume the boys and girls in Waterloo are pretty happy at the news this morning. RIM let us know that:

These new pricing plans will translate to savings for BlackBerry customers due to the industry-leading efficiency of the BlackBerry platform. Thanks to RIM’s longstanding focus on wireless data efficiency and investment in related technologies and infrastructure, the BlackBerry platform is significantly more efficient than other mobile platforms and this leads to a major advantage for users with tiered pricing plans

Additionally, to put this in perspective, BlackBerry consumers use about 54 MB of (compressed/optimized) data per month on average (compared to data usage averages that are 3-5 times higher for other brands) according to Consumer Reports, “which suggests that the large majority of BlackBerry consumers will now qualify to use the $15/month data plan.”

Mr. Jim Balsillie chimed in with a quote as well:

“AT&T’s strategic pricing move is great news for BlackBerry smartphone customers,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “We envision a day when all mobile phones are smartphones and we believe AT&T’s new service plans, together with RIM’s leading portfolio of BlackBerry products and services, will help attract a much broader range of consumers.”

We were initially told that these new data plans didn’t affect BlackBerry plans yet, but it seems they do in fact cover every AT&T smartphone. We’ve reached out to RIM to find out more information about the Enterprise BlackBerry data feature.

UPDATE: One of our AT&T guys tells us the $45 AT&T Enterprise BlackBerry plan drops to $40/mo. So much for a 200MB Enterprise plan for $20/month…

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  • Sam

    With how backwards Blackberry’s are, there could be a 250kb/month limit and you’d be fine with any blackberry. Heck their browser is basically text only so I’m not surprised they are happy. Save money. Get a blackberry. Internet pictures and video are overrated.

    • Mike M

      You’re an idiot! And you’re clueless!

  • http://gizmofusion.com Valace2

    pathetic. companies should not celebrate that carriers are limiting their customers. It should be the goal of all companies to offer their customers the absolute best that they can. That fucking webkit had better be good.

    • BBG

      It is good business to keep your eye ahead of the ball. RIM did that. This is great news, not just for RIM but for BlackBerry users. It’s not a celebration of people being charged more, but one of “yes, we hit it on the head”. Good business that’s all. The good news is others will follow that lead and that RIM is watching the big view.

  • Karlh

    Cheaper and cheaper data plans. This could be a good advantage over the iPhone.

  • Bustin Jieber

    Blackberrys use WAY less data because they can barely do ANYTHING other than TEXT.

    • Mike M

      Have you ever used one? FOOL!

      • Sam

        Stop being a BB whipping boy, Mike. Man up! Grow a pair for God’s sakes.

      • BBG

        Let me guess, you’ve won numerous awards for tact and charm?

    • iMiiTH

      Oh god.

  • Len

    I love how biased BGRs articles are. RIM popping bottles in Waterloo? Can you get anymore fanboy than that?

    The fact that a Carrier changing their pricing policies has automatically led to people saying how it may benefit BlackBerry is a big win for RIM. RIM has also put good entry level smartphones in the market which goes well with this tier data pricing initiative.

    The fact is that when it comes to smartphones, MOST consumers are uneducated and most follow the trend or what their friends are getting. Do you honestly think most people go online and read reviews to see which phone to purchase? lmao. The best way, and at the moment perhaps only way for BlackBerry to compete is through competitive pricing. Outside of techies, gadget freaks, and spoiled children, most people place the biggest emphasis on pricing.

    Why do you think the biggest font on the store signs is pricing? I don’t see signs saying “GIMPED MULTI-TASKING WITH OS 4.0! COMING SOON!” cuz honestly, no one gives a sh*t.

    • John C FU

      We have a winner!!!!!

  • michael

    Blackberry is a messaging device, nothing more. They are not competition for Apple, Android, and Palm. Blackberry are very good at what they do but to compare to other smartphones makes no sense. They are not one in the same. Want both services? Buy two separate devices.

  • peteo

    I thought BB new web browser base on webkit was supposed to be awesome!, I guess with these new data plans it wont.

    • iMiiTH

      Nah, it will. It’ll be as fast as an iPhone but wont blow up AT&T’s network at the same time.

      • Gee

        yea but with bb’s hardware, dont expect the performance that you’re hoping for.

  • tech junkie for life

    It’s funny I checked my past 4mths data usage on my bold and it’s 200-300mb on average. I must be doing it wrong!

    • Bill

      i have been consistently over 400 since i got my 9000 back in september, and it has stayed the same since i got my 9700. owell.

  • jon

    I’m really doubtful about this – yes, it’s true that Blackberry owners use a lot less data, but is it really because of their technology? Or is it instead that Blackberries aren’t very good at consuming data other than email and text messages?

    When I switched from Blackberry to iPhone, my data usage went up probably 10-20x simple because the web is so much better and more useful than on a BB.

    • iMiiTH

      Plus the fact that all data, unless configured otherwise is routed through BIS. Compressed and optimized, resulting in 3x + less data consumption. Plus you most likely bought the iPhone so that you could use the applications that the iPhone has to offer, which just so happen to be very data inefficient.

  • Express

    “So much for a 200MB Enterprise plan for $20/month…” Oh BGR you forget about BES Express. It will allow you to use BES (minus a few lesser used features) with any plan including your new 200mb for $15

  • 3 Phones Jugglin

    BIG…ASS…CHAIN…..fitting for Oprah. Classic

  • John B

    I have not used over 200MB since buying the iPhone 3Gs. I would like to switch to the $15 plan and save some money, but then I would loose my ‘unlimited,’ then again will I ever need it?

    • tech junkie for life

      Think in two years what 200mb will get you with the strides mobile devices are taking, we will miss the $30 5gb plans we have now take my word for it.

  • Mark

    I was thinking about getting an iphone to mess around with. I mean nothing compares to android. But i use 7 gigs a month. guess that wont work if i go to ATT

  • Geepers

    If I was able to use the apps and browser that other high-end-spec phones have, I would be pumping A LOT more data through my bb. For most sites (especially sites that I need to turn Javascript on for) I often just get sick of waiting for it to load and just resort to waiting until I get home and use my comp.

  • Brokerboy

    So rims archaic os is suddenly revolutionary?

  • joe stedman

    RIM makes $6.00 a month for each and every Blackberry active phone from all US carriers. Do you think the carriers are going to drop their monthly pricing. NO WAY!!

    This looks like AT&T has turned against the network guzzler Iphone….

    And for the schmucks who rum RIM your day is coming! you have screwed over 100′s of 1,000′s of customer who have purchased your phones that have been flaw’ed with bugs, memory leaks, defective trackballs. Poor designed products like the Storm 1, and the TOUR that only had a one year run!!!!!!

    AT&T SHAME ON YOU!
    Steve Jobs, thought you were smart but you alined yourself with AT&T and got kicked in the ass!

    And RIM your just fools!

  • joe stedman

    RIM makes $6.00 a month for each and every Blackberry active phone from all US carriers. Do you think the carriers are going to drop their monthly pricing. NO WAY!!

    This looks like AT&T has turned against the network guzzler Iphone….

    And for the schmucks who rum RIM your day is coming! you have screwed over 100′s of 1,000′s of customer who have purchased your phones that have been flaw’ed with bugs, memory leaks, defective trackballs. Poor designed products like the Storm 1, and the TOUR that only had a one year run!!!!!!

    AT&T SHAME ON YOU!
    Steve Jobs, thought you were smart but you alined yourself with AT&T and got kicked in the ass!

    And RIM your just fools!

  • Dupree

    BlackBerrys use much less data because they are so bad at using data. If you want lots of emails, BlackBerry is the leader of the pack. If you actually want a pocket computer, BlackBerrys are a dead tech

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