UK networks that support blackberry

[GCH]

What UK networks still offer support for the older blackberry user?

I am still on a very outdated (read:expensive) orange contract with the blackberry add on, and have been out of contract for many years but still paying the high rate, so now it is time to update it. Unfortunately Orange as it was at the time does not exist any more, EE can't even give me a straight answer and then tried to tell me blackberry ceased to exist years ago. Not the most helpful. Once I know which networks offer it, I can then start narrowing down on plans, roaming costs etc.

Main phone for day to day is an iPhone, but for business use and email out and about I still use legacy blackberries - 9900/9790 era- that require a blackberry data plan, NOT the classic/passport newer type that work with any regular data plan.

Feel free to take the piss if you like, but I have my reasons for still using one - not least the physical keyboard, more than 1/2 day battery life, and a clear separation between personal/business - and helpful answers hugely appreciated if anyone on here knows.

Cheers

Edited by GCH on Sunday 8th January 20:27

[GCH]

Yes it is BIS I am referring to, not BES.

I appreciate some of the 'just switch to iphone' sentiment, but I already have an iPhone as my personal phone.
I have a select few email accounts that forward certain things to my single iCloud email and that is it. I do not have any other email accounts added onto my iphone and nor do I want them, hence I never send email from it.
For email use and quick typing nothing can touch the physical keyboard. I appreciate that for some it may be the other way around, but for my current needs, this is the best solution.

This is for my solely business use blackberry, which I keep completely separate from personal use.
It has separate and specific email accounts, and a separate number in a different country. It is not an issue carrying two phones when I am on business travel, and when not, I just don't need it with me!

Very much a case of consciously choosing to switch off, instead of being available 24/7, which is compounded by emails coming in at all times from multiple continents and time zones.

Jimmy Recard said:

Get a BlackBerry Q10. You still have the keyboard, but you don't need that special network support with BB10

I do have a blackberry classic which I tried for a while but I honestly prefer the older ones. Not so much a fan of BB10 and the hub vs the simplicity of OS5/6/7, and the separate inboxes on the home screen. Zero interest in the latest BB handsets because they are android. If I couldn't find a UK network that still supported the older ones I would then use the classic, but I wanted to investigate keeping the legacy one first, but without being ripped off by my now out of date contract.

It seems from the responses that I may still be in luck, despite the absence of any mention on their websites, so just a case of getting staff who have any idea what they are talking about.

[GCH]

Slushbox said:

To tail this off, it seems the way forward is to get a free EE or Three PAYG sim, add a fiver data credit and switch on BIS. This will test if the handset is locked or not, if all is well, the old number can be PAC'd over and the old contract cancelled. A PAYG number can then be converted to a monthly contract if needed.

All of my legacy handsets are unlocked - I did it as a matter of routine when they were new, so no issues there. My classic isn't however, and is locked to EE/orange.


Do Three offer the BIS add on for contract plans as well as a PAY-G? They have some extremely good and cheap plans, with the 'feel at home' bonus too.