By the amount of angry MTN users posting on our website, the cellular provider’s BlackBerry Absolute plan was not very popular.

On Sunday though MTN reintroduced BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) for R59 per month, and revealed pricing on a new suite of BlackBerry Service plans, which it believes will “cater for all customer needs.” The company notes the introduction is a step forward to simplifying data access and should provide more choice to BlackBerry customers.

As a result of the introduction of these new attractive service plans, the BlackBerry Absolute plan that was introduced in March this year will be phased out.

BIS is back

MTN BlackBerry customers are able to enjoy the full benefits of BIS, which includes the ability to access personal email accounts, view attachments, browse the internet, access the BlackBerry World storefront, connect with friends and families through social networking and instant messaging, including the popular BBM (BlackBerry Messenger).

MTN also introduced BlackBerry Internet Service Lite, which provides the same features as the BlackBerry Internet Service with a fair usage of 200 MB at R39.95 per month.

Other changes to the BlackBerry service plans include:

• BlackBerry Messaging, which includes access to BBM and 1 web-based email, with an increased cap from 10 MB to 30 MB at R14.95 per month
• BlackBerry Social, which includes access to BBM, BlackBerry Email, Browser, BlackBerry World and social networking, with an increased cap from 10 MB to 40 MB at R19.95 per month
• BlackBerry Social and Email, which includes access to BBM, BlackBerry Email, Browser, BlackBerry World, social networking and 1 web-based email account, with an increased cap from 25 MB to 100 MB at R29.95 per month.

Mapula Bodibe, GM Consumer Segments at MTN SA, said: “We are excited to introduce enhanced BlackBerry service plans that offer a distinct customer experience ensuring that customers’ usage needs and requirements are taken into consideration.”

PayAsYouGo customers can activate the BlackBerry service plan, by dialing *141*2#, and selecting Option 3, where they can then select the BlackBerry service plan of their choice.

Contract and TopUp customers will have to contact their service provider to subscribe to the new BlackBerry service plan.

For further information about MTN BlackBerry service plans, visit: www.mtn.co.za.

In related MTN news, today is the final day for developers to enter their apps into the MTN Business App of the Year competition.