If you are looking for the ultimate smartphone but you do not want to commit to a contract, you could get one of a range of pay as you go Blackberry phones from a number of different network service providers. Most of the reputable service providers offer Blackberries and most other phones on pay as you go.
If you do not want to sign up for a contract you can still get all the benefits and services for a monthly fee. The great thing about pay as you go is that you will not be tied into paying a large monthly fee and if ever you want to stop using the Blackberry services, you can simply stop paying the fee and you will not have to worry about closing an account.
What is pay as you go?
Pay as you go involves buying a cell phone and a sim card and then buying your own airtime whenever you need either through online banking or at one of the many stores that sell airtime vouchers. Operating via pay as you go means that you control all your costs and you only buy the airtime that you need when you need it. The only drawback to using the pay as you go option is that if you would like a new phone, you will have to pay cash for it. This can be very expensive.
About the contract option
With the contract option you will get a new phone and often the service provider will throw in a voucher, laptop or another extra. You will have to pay a monthly fee for a period of up to two years. You can either go for a family top up option, where the monthly fee covers a certain amount of airtime and data and if you use it up you can top up your phone like the pay as you go option, or you will simply use your phone as much as you want and have the bill sent to you at the end of the month. The drawback to this option is that not everybody qualifies for it. You must have a good credit record and a steady, reliable income that will cover your living expenses and your cell phone payments.
Which Blackberry phone should you choose?
There are several different Black berry options including the Curve 8520, the Bold 9000 and the Bold 9700. The Curve is the bottom of the range phone but still offers many great benefits. The others offer more benefits and tools and easier use. The phones get more expensive as you go up in range. All the Black berry phones are available on a pay as you go option.
The Blackberry service
The Blackberry Internet Service or BIS allows users to send and receive unlimited emails every month and operate from up to ten different email addresses. It allows for the unlimited usage of the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) where users can share video, audio, pictures and messages. It also allows for unlimited internet browsing and the unlimited use of Social Media like Facebook and Twitter. The BIS will cost you R59 a month. If you are using your cell phone for business, you could go for the BISBES service and receive access to your corporate email, calendar and work contacts for R139 per month.
Which service providers offer pay as you go Blackberry phones?
Almost all the major cell phone network service providers offer Blackberry phones on pay as you go. However, the fees, deals and conditions may differ from service provider to service provider. Some of the cell phone network service providers that offer Blackberry phones on pay as you go include MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Virgin Mobile and 8ta. It is always a good idea to shop around before choosing a service provider. Compare costs and deals carefully before making your decision.