I wonder if anyone can help me as i'm very confused

I have a £25 a month contract with Virgin with unlimited internet for a Samsung Jet which runs until June next year. I stopped using my contract phone in around July as I was fed up of using the touch screen, and have now reverted to using an old nokia with keys. I really like the look of the Blackberry's and wanted to buy one to put my current contract sim into but having done some research, have found that I need to do something with the internet.

After speaking to someone on the phones4u chat thing, I was advised to call virgin, and that they would be able to change my package to suit a Blackberry.

I have phoned virgin a couple of times after being told to speak to them about changing the internet I currently have to a Blackberry internet package, and got different answers everytime. The first person told me that I could buy the Blackberry and take it into a Virgin Media shop and they would add Virgin services or something? She didnt even know they sold Blackberry's though I wasnt convinced so phoned back again to speak to someone else. Another person told me that the Blackberry uses a different sim so wouldnt work at all, however I know this is incorrect and I would definitely be able use minutes and texts included in my contract? Then after this person going off to find out more, I was told that the internet may possibly work to check facebook etc but I wouldnt be able to access Blackberry services such as use BBM, which wouldnt be a problem as I have unlimited texts. She told me the only way I would be able cancel my contract costing me around £180, then take out a new Blackberry contract with a free Blackberry curve included.

Does anyone have any experience of buying a Blackberry to use on a virgin contract? Or know any way around this? And how necessary are the Blackberry services if I can use the normal internet, eg facebook? as that is all I have ever really used it for.

Thanks very much from a very confused customer!

Just done exactly this for my daughter.
Virgin were doing a special offer on a contract package that really suited her and was very cheap. I think it was unlimited internet (subject to fup) unlimited texts and 300 mins talktime all for £15 a month (I think).
Anyway, thing was she wanted to use a BB as she loves the way the text and keyboard works plus she'd have BB IM as well.

She bought a 9800 off ebay for £110 and I unlocked it for her when it arrived.

This was only three days ago, but I know she's been using the net as well as BB messenger etc without anyproblems at all. Googlemaps and facebook work fine as well.

I will try and setup her email for her once she puts the damn thing down for a minute

Go ahead and buy your BB, it will work fine on virgin I promise.

Thanks very much, that was just what I wanted to hear!

Presumably the internet usage is just being taken out of the unlimited internet she already has and isnt being charged extra?

Did you tell them you wanted to use it for a BB? as i am just wondering if it will be any different for a current contract?

IF you're going to buy a BB anyway, why not use that money to buy out of your current contract then get a new BB free with a package? Just a thought...

Yes internet is coming from the package, and no she didn't tell them. I doubt it would be any different.
Most companies don't give a damn as long as you keep paying them money every month.

Thank you for your reply I did consider that, however when I finish my current contract I intend to get a Sim Only contract, and it wouldnt cost me much more to just buy the phone outright, than to buy out of my contract, and I am happy with my package, so I think i'll stick with it until its finished.

FlyinBrick: Thanks very much for your help That makes life so much simpler, and best of all doesnt cost me any more!