Confusion Cleared: BIS NOT Needed For BlackBerry 10

Users have been asking, is BlackBerry done with BIS? Do I need a BIS plan with BlackBerry 10? Short answer: NO you do not need a specific BlackBerry data plan on your BlackBerry 10 device which will save you on fees. Tim W. from the BlackBerry Dev Blog noted that the OS has be configured to run without BlackBerry Data Service.

What does “no BIS required” mean? What this means is you can now use a BlackBerry without subscription to additional BlackBerry data plans. BlackBerry Internet Service would serve of no additional benefits to users of BlackBerry 10.

See the complete question and answer below conducted by Ourberries:

Question: Is my data still secure?
Answer: Yes, it is. Instead of relying on hardware, RIM BlackBerry has decided to go ahead with software encryption model instead. In technical terms, a packet of data would have to go encrypted (null key) from your device to the RIM server where its repackaged and sent encrypted (null key) to the recipient. Now, however, its encrypted on the device directly, and sent direct to the recipient for decryption. Hence, your data is still sent securely.

Question: What benefits do I stand to gain?
Answer: Well, this can be rather technical. Your data now do not need to travel long distances as opposed to the standard BIS previously. With less travel distances, both you and your recipient can expect to receive messages or data faster. All of it, the ping, latency and stability should now improve, and will be hence, entirely dependent on your telco. One less party in the transmission path, one less factor that will cause network disruptions (if any) in the future.

Also, you now can use any data plan on your BlackBerry 10 device, which is hence, cheaper!

Question: How about the disadvantages?
Answer: We will lose a key feature in BlackBerry called DataSmart Technology. With all the telcos reducing their data bundles these days, data consumption has been a hot topic. A BlackBerry device was 4x more data friendly than rivaling devices and this is no longer true with BlackBerry 10. With the native browser able to emulate in both mobile or desktop mode, data consumption might just be on the rise. So while we gain better network speeds and stability, we actually lose this useful technology.

Question: So why, why remove it?!
Answer: These compression are all done on RIM BlackBerry’s end, on the server. By removing it out of the equation, it is hence, unable to get any more compressed than what a web server will send to your device. While it is true, for now, regarding the wireless data crunch, there is a strong believe that free data, via means such as wifiwill be more and more readily available such as Wireless@SG.
However, it is against what I would usually like to say, but this is not what I would actually believe. Only time will tell for this, but I am strongly feeling this effect after i have added the iPhone and S3 onto my contract (multi-sim).

Question: What remains unchanged?
Answer: Well, the BlackBerry Push features and jazz will still be there. These won’t be affected and the security is no where compromised along this chain of communication. Expect notifications to work even harder with BlackBerry 10, though. We will cover how this will work technically later in the week as we take the time to speak with RIM BlackBerry executives.

In addition to the above, what remains unchanged is the standard BlackBerry Services. BBM, Emails, Facebook, Twitter etc will all remain usable. In short, all BlackBerry data or all data consumed by your devices will route through your carrier only and not through RIM  BlackBerry’s server. The BlackBerry experience hence, improves and does not go worse. This is, I believe, what we the consumers have had wanted to.