I've had a Blackberry for a while and have found the 3MB data allowance per month sufficient for corporate email.

Recently (with apps like GTalk, Google Maps, Opera Browser) I started to use a bit more data and started easily using up the 3MB allowance, so decided to get an extra data allowance.

After contacting Vodafone I got a 1GB data plan added.

Problem is that the billing system doesn't actually acknowledge that I have anything more than the 3MB data allowance.
It shows up that I have 1024MB data plan attached to my account, but after the 3MB is used up, I start getting billed at $2/MB.

It took me a while to work out what the problem is (and I've also got an enquiry lodged with Vodafone billing), but after seeing my paper bill yesterday (and also after talking to data support @ Vodafone), we worked out that because all data (whether it be email or general IP/internet traffic using applications such as Google Maps) get's routed through the blackberry.net APN, the system doesn't use the extra data allowance I've added onto my account.

My questions:
(1) I've read on the internet that you can set another APN on your Blackberry (under Advanced Options, TCP).
I normally do this when I want to use the Blackberry as a tethered modem, but I've also read that the setting can be used by applications on the Blackberry?
What I'm hoping is that this is true and that way I can use applications on my Blackberry and actually utilize the additional data allowance (versus just giving Vodafone $59.95 for nothing - as is the case currently).

(2) Do I need to use a specific APN? Or will any of the Vodafone NZ APN's work?

Any other suggestions will be greatfully received 8-).


Nigel H.