T-Mobile USA unveils basic BlackBerry plan

T-Mobile USA Inc. has introduced an entry-level BlackBerry plan for $10 per month that includes unlimited e-mail access.
The limited-time offer, which requires a Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry Pearl and a T-Mobile USA voice plan, does not include texting or Web browsing, and may be a sign of wider efforts to encourage new BlackBerry subscribers to sign up for service with the hopes that an inexpensive taste of the offering will eventually result in upgrades to most expensive plans.
According to a research note from UBS analyst Maynard Um, RIM is “likely in discussions with more operators to implement ‘newbie’ pricing strategies, similar to those being offered by several operators in Europe.”
“We believe those operators offering entry-level plans have been seeing growth in subscriber adds due to price elasticity and we believe [T-Mobile USA] could also see incremental BlackBerry net subscriber adds,” Um concluded.
Along with the new BlackBerry plan, T-Mobile USA also introduced three new colors for the Pearl handset: blue, gold, and red, along with the existing black and white. The device is offered for $150 after rebates.