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we also cannot use email with AT&T.

with AT&T, i actually call them and HAVE MY VOICEMAIL turned off, as you get charged for the minutes as someone leaves a message, and then AGAIN if you check that message. saved a bundle turning it off.

this adds up, cuz AT&T's international minutes cost like a buck per minute more than Verizon's.

we txt alot from SP, both to locals & our fams back home. i dont know about Verizon, but AT&T texts are $.20 one way, and $0.50 the other (just forget which way is which). either way, cheaper than calls.

Re: How to turn off data services on your Blackberry.

I have an 8320 Curve. Go to the Systems menu, scroll down to Mobile Network and the first prompt is Data Services. Turn it off. I also go down to Network Selection Mode and set it to Manual just in case.

That seemed to stop my Bberry from pinging for emails last night. If I'm wrong (I haven't tried it overseas yet) I'm sure someone here will set me straight.

Let me add my 2 cents worth. I have a blackberry with AT&T. When I moved to AC I switched from Verizon as it just didn't work. Since I travel internationally, my phone is a world phone, but I seldom use it in Belize because of the cost. For calls in Belize and out I use a BTL sim card in a run of the mill mobile phone. As for e-mail (crackberry users) it never worked until recently. I arrived back in Belize a couple of weeks ago, from a short trip to the State and to my amazement, ny blackberry started chirping merrily away as messages started coming in. As others have mentioned, I turned off the wireless data feature immediately. When I got to San Pedro, I checked it again and it still was receiving e-mails. Remember, the cost is very high. If you have wireless capability, use it where you can, or you'll end up a part owner of AT&T.

Just to put a bow on things...
I went to Verizon again for another set of answers (third times a charm) and got some interesting advice today.
The Blackberry is designed differently than any other phone. And even different than any other data ready phone. The blackberry world phone will work all over the world and will pick up signal anywhere. You are however not protected by your "unlimited" plan when you are away from your area. So it is true, you will get charged a ton when you use your data feature when you travel. Also, a blackberry will pick up even when it is turned off. So you do have to pull the battery. BUT, the second you try to put in the battery out of your area, you're stuck. It ALL hits and you're charged for all of it.
They recomended that you connect an old phone that has phone capability and no data capability while you travel so you will get your calls regularly, but charged roaming. With Verizon, there is no charge if you don't pick up, no extra charge for the time that they are calling you and talking to your voicemail. You are charged for the time that it takes you to check voicemail however. It's a regular call of course.
So, the sim card stuff - according to them, you can't unlock a verizon phone and use a sim card from another carrier. They are really tight on the security of their equipment, they said. And they said there is an International charge for texts too.

For the record, any phone can be unlocked. Remember all the hype with the IPhone 2G... and everyone said, "Well you're stuck because you can't unlock the IPhone"... bologna! That phone was cracked the moment it released... 3G isn't any different.

Cheers!
-Jason