AT&T data plans and shiz

Looking for new phone, probably want to stay with AT&T. I'm thinking about a Blackberry, $35 data plan, then a "Pay As You Go" plan.  The website won't let me set it up that way, so I don't know if they'd let me.  Also, would a 2-year contract for data get me a rebate on a new phone?  The Bold is like $7000 without it.

Thanks /tech/

dude, $35 for data is nuts.

AT&T here.

No pay as you go for anything better than the shittiest phones.

You want no contract? Steal a Blackberry, pass the credit check, pay the deposit, get it back after a year.

Feh. I work for AT&T, and I would never pay for the service. The coverage is GREAT, but the prices are shit, since AT&T is really Cingular wearing AT&T's flesh.

Fuuuuck data plans, fuck them! Maybe if I start to shit gold or something. I don't understand why its so expensive, but oh well whatever.

OP here via android. I decided to take T-mobile's 2 week trial period since voice+data is only $10 more than what I pay for voice on AT&T.

Instead of wasting a new thread, I'll ask here. Does anyone know how AIM is handled? I think it uses SMS, but I can't find that documented anywhere. And what about when I'm on Wi-Fi, does that change anything?

Anyone get a student discount with T-mobile?