iOS6 and excessive data usage

[santhon2]

Must be a 3GS because it was updated to iOS6. Mine has not had a problem until streaming the debate last night and the 3GS was watching some videos as well. My 4 went from 43mb to 206mb and the 3GS went from 53mb to 243mb in just 4 hours. Either its a problem with streaming or that used more data to make it apparent. Like I said, when the apps closed neither phone was connected to wifi and they had to be manually reconnected.

[the gryphon]

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visualingo wrote:

I've had my iPhone 5 since October 10, and I went from 50% of my data to over 100 in just 2 days. I checked my phone yesterday and was at 3 gigs for the month, checked today, and it's 4 gigs. There's no way in heck I used a gig of data in one day. I was downloading nothing other than my normal Facebook/Foursquare/With Friends usage, no streaming video, nada. I'm not even sure that's possible to do unless I was tethering, and even then that would be some major internet use.

According to my phone, I've used 4 gigs of data since I got it.... in 4 days.

Something's going on. Verizon customers were having similar issues and Apple issued an update. Could this be related?

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Indeed Verizon issued a carrier update last week to address the same described issue.

[marco1313]

i have nothing to add that hasn't been said before.

i'm using 2Gb of data in a couple of weeks time vs. the 700-800 Mb that i consistently used during my entire billing cycle prior to iOS6 upgrade.

ATT customer service has been *helpful* & nice, but the problem still exists despite all of these hokey "solutions" suggested.

This is the first time in 5 years i've even remotely considered leaving Apple for anything.

Thanks for nuthin Apple & ATT.

[santhon2]

I just recieved a call from ATT technical, they are aware of the problem and are gathering information about what people are doing when the data spike occured. He stated they are working with Apple for a fix and issued a $50 credit to offset any additional overage charges I might incur. Also read that Apple is carrier testing iOS 6.0.1 upate now that addresses a wifi problem, non specific. I recieved my technical call after posting to twitter @attcustomercare if anyone want's to persue. Finally an aknowledgement of something wrong!

[the gryphon]

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santhon2 wrote:

I just recieved a call from ATT technical, they are aware of the problem and are gathering information about what people are doing when the data spike occured. He stated they are working with Apple for a fix and issued a $50 credit to offset any additional overage charges I might incur. Also read that Apple is carrier testing iOS 6.0.1 upate now that addresses a wifi problem, non specific. I recieved my technical call after posting to twitter @attcustomercare if anyone want's to persue. Finally an aknowledgement of something wrong!

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thanks for posting this!

[robsecker]

I caught my iphone5 swotching to 4g while I was locked on to wifi at home. My wife used a months worth of data overnight. We are keeping out cellular shut off to prevent this. But we are not happy campers. Hope they get a fix in fast

[Guillermo78201]

this is really worring me. I just signed up for AT&T service, and ordered an iphone 4. I should be recieving my iphone in a few days. I hope I dont go through this mess. from what I have read, it seems like I should skip updating to ios 6. 

[the gryphon]

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Guillermo78201 wrote:

this is really worring me. I just signed up for AT&T service, and ordered an iphone 4. I should be recieving my iphone in a few days. I hope I dont go through this mess. from what I have read, it seems like I should skip updating to ios 6. 

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I've seen the issue, but frankly the increase has been minimal for me.

What I've mainly noticed is: I'll be on wifi from midnight on, and in the morning, while still on wifi my "data whiz" app will show a few MB of data for the day. Not hundreds, just 2 or 3.. But that adds up.

[santhon2]

Jamileh - This thread should not be moved. It's specific to an iOS6 and ATT bug that causes excessive data usage, not for newbe smartphone users wanting to know what counts as data usage.

[jamileh]

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santhon2 wrote:

Jamileh - This thread should not be moved. It's specific to an iOS6 and ATT bug that causes excessive data usage, not for newbe smartphone users wanting to know what counts as data usage.

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Hi santhon2 - the post that I moved was unrelated to this topic. This thread isn't going anywhere, I promise!

[wfejessie]

I've talked to AT&T 3 times about this and they will not admit there is any problem.  I'm now on the phone, for the 4th time, closing my account as I type because of this.  We've been with AT&T since 1991, and they are now loosing FIVE phone lines because ONE iPhone 5 is having this issue.  Really???  Verizon, here we come...

[jamileh]

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wfejessie wrote:

I've talked to AT&T 3 times about this and they will not admit there is any problem.  I'm now on the phone, for the 4th time, closing my account as I type because of this.  We've been with AT&T since 1991, and they are now loosing FIVE phone lines because ONE iPhone 5 is having this issue.  Really???  Verizon, here we come...

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Hi there, I'm sorry you're having such trouble. I just responded to your post here which is a completely different issue. Can you help me understand what the issue you're experiencing is so we can help? Please avoid cross posting as it leads to confusion on the forums. 

[wfejessie]

My apologies - I just deleted the other post, my mistake!  We have an account with 5 lines.  We upgraded 1 phone from iPhone 3 to iPhone 5, and then suddenly went over the 2GB plan in 2 weeks.  She's had a phone for 6 years and never used this much data, never even close.  I called on October 13, 2 weeks into our billing cycle, no one would admit to the problem, so I upped her to 5GB until the problem got resolved.  I assumed it would be resolved within a few weeks, so put her back to 2GB on our current billing cycle.  One week in, she's up to 2GB again... called yesterday and had to up it again to 5GB.  She has not changed her usage habits.  We've been with AT&T since 1991.  This issue is all over your own message boards as well as the web in general.  I've paid AT&T for 21 years.  I pay for a service.  When I have a problem, I expect some help and not just outright denial, which is what I'm getting, instead of service.  Therefore I would like to close our account, all 5 lines, without any penalties, becaue we don't deserve penalties after paying AT&T for 21 years, for a problem that is not our fault and AT&T will not even begin to try to resolve.

[EllieMaxwell4905]

Hello AT&T and everybody! 

I am joining the ranks here and hoping for some assistance. Like many others I've been with AT&T for over 10 years and after updating 2 iPads to ios6 two weeks ago I am about to exceed my data plans. Please note this has never ever happened before. After doing much research I am confident the iOS update is to blame as my usage habits have not changed.

Is there something that can be done on AT&T end so I am not charged overage fees? I still have two weeks in my billing cycle and cannot afford the hit of overage charges. I understand that the issue itself is Apple's fault, not AT&T. However, what can AT&T do to avoid us customers having to pay for data that we are not responsible for? 

In my phone call to AT&T, the rep told me she has not heard of the issue. Which we all KNOW is not true. I feel like I'm totally getting sandbagged here...

Please help! Thank you for any assistance anybody can provide...

- Ellie 

....and yes, I have turned cellular data off and use wifi whenever possible. 

[EllieMaxwell4905]

Just a quick update to my post above....I have called AT&T 2 more times and spoke with 2 supervisors who said they knew absolutely nothing about this issue and will not do anything for me or my account. (Even though I have 11 lines/devices and have been a customer for 10+ years). 

They said that whatever is posted in this forum, even by an AT&T employee is not valid and is no reflection of their practices. 

Said that the only way it can be fixed is for me pay more money to upgrade my monthly data limit, or I have to wait until my billing cycle ends (in 2 weeks) to use my cellular data. Which will not help at all, because I'll be in the same predicament next month...ugh.

COMPLETE DENIAL...and extremely rude. 

I find it very hard to believe that the supervisors are not made aware of this issue. Verizon announced today they were not charging people excess fees in light of this problem, and Apple released an update for Verizon customers. 

Kinda makes you think....maybe if AT&T would RECOGNIZE, we could also get a fix. 

[the gryphon]

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EllieMaxwell4905 wrote:

Just a quick update to my post above....I have called AT&T 2 more times and spoke with 2 supervisors who said they knew absolutely nothing about this issue and will not do anything for me or my account. (Even though I have 11 lines/devices and have been a customer for 10+ years). 

They said that whatever is posted in this forum, even by an AT&T employee is not valid and is no reflection of their practices. 

Said that the only way it can be fixed is for me pay more money to upgrade my monthly data limit, or I have to wait until my billing cycle ends (in 2 weeks) to use my cellular data. Which will not help at all, because I'll be in the same predicament next month...ugh.

COMPLETE DENIAL...and extremely rude. 

I find it very hard to believe that the supervisors are not made aware of this issue. Verizon announced today they were not charging people excess fees in light of this problem, and Apple released an update for Verizon customers. 

Kinda makes you think....maybe if AT&T would RECOGNIZE, we could also get a fix. 

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I called in the other day (about another issue). When I asked about this, he said: "yeah, you should leave data off unti you need it". I reminded him I've been using an iphone since almost day one. And asked him to review my past months usage and compare it with the recent usage... He again suggested i leave data off. I said I'd call back and ask for tech support, thanked him and hung up. 

[mike2854]

I am just speculating, but is it possible that y'all are having every single personal e-mail hit your phone immediately?  I have "pushed" e-mail when I am on wi-fi most of the time, which of course, doesn't hit my data limit at all.  Maybe that is why your data limit is going up?

I went over as well, and part of it was from checking FB, Twitter, and e-mail too much off wi-fi.  I am glad that AT&T sent e-mail and text alerts when I was close to the limit though, so I won't be surprised later.  In addition, you can check online and see where you are, limit wise. 

Bear in mind, I just got a iPhone 4S recently, and it is my first smart phone, so I am getting educated quite a bit.

[the gryphon]

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mike2854 wrote:

I am just speculating, but is it possible that y'all are having every single personal e-mail hit your phone immediately?  I have "pushed" e-mail when I am on wi-fi most of the time, which of course, doesn't hit my data limit at all.  Maybe that is why your data limit is going up?

I went over as well, and part of it was from checking FB, Twitter, and e-mail too much off wi-fi.  I am glad that AT&T sent e-mail and text alerts when I was close to the limit though, so I won't be surprised later.  In addition, you can check online and see where you are, limit wise. 

Bear in mind, I just got a iPhone 4S recently, and it is my first smart phone, so I am getting educated quite a bit.

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I have been using an iphone since almost day one. I have every single personal email hitting my iphone, yes. I always have. I have not changed my habits. My reported usage has gone up tremendously. MANY people are reporting it. Verizon released a carrier update to theoretically address it for their users. It's not user habit. It's ios6.

[mike2854]

Oh, some people I know stay on various IM medium's 24/7, which I suspect would chew up data as well. 

I am not saying it isn't the new operating system's fault, I am just thinking outside the box a little bit.

[jamileh]

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EllieMaxwell4905 wrote:

Just a quick update to my post above....I have called AT&T 2 more times and spoke with 2 supervisors who said they knew absolutely nothing about this issue and will not do anything for me or my account. (Even though I have 11 lines/devices and have been a customer for 10+ years). 

They said that whatever is posted in this forum, even by an AT&T employee is not valid and is no reflection of their practices. 

Said that the only way it can be fixed is for me pay more money to upgrade my monthly data limit, or I have to wait until my billing cycle ends (in 2 weeks) to use my cellular data. Which will not help at all, because I'll be in the same predicament next month...ugh.

COMPLETE DENIAL...and extremely rude. 

I find it very hard to believe that the supervisors are not made aware of this issue. Verizon announced today they were not charging people excess fees in light of this problem, and Apple released an update for Verizon customers. 

Kinda makes you think....maybe if AT&T would RECOGNIZE, we could also get a fix. 

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Hi there - I'm sorry you're seeing more data use than you expected. You're welcome to please send me a private message with the information I requested earlier in this thread. 

Have you updated your phone to the latest iOS?




To send a private message, you can either click on the link in this message or click on the little blue envelope in the upper right hand corner, click "compose new message" and type my username in the "Send To" field.

[the gryphon]

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mike2854 wrote:

Oh, some people I know stay on various IM medium's 24/7, which I suspect would chew up data as well. 

I am not saying it isn't the new operating system's fault, I am just thinking outside the box a little bit.

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EXCELLENT point. I *used to be* on various IM apps 24/7. Once imessage went to mac as well, I turned OFF those apps, so my usage theortetically should have gone DOWN. Rather than up.

So yeah, I've been using my iphone the same for 5 years but now I use it a bit LESS. And my data usage has gone up.

I can stay on wifi all day and check and see I've used data. 

It's an issue with IOS6. It happened with IOS6 before I got the IP5. And I DONT have LTE.

[GeekBoy]

One thing I have noticed, unlike earlier iPhone models, the iPhone 5 will drop wifi for cellular data even if it is on external power.  THis means that the iPhone 5 will drop wifi and use cellular more than the older model iPhones will (even is on external power).  This may be particular to my own iPhone 5, but it is what I have seen.  My older iPhone 4 which has been upgraded to iOS 6.0.1 does still stay connected to wifi when on external power though...

[realized]

this problem has been confirmed both by apple and AT&T - and they have tried to fix it through the newest IOS software *6.0.1*

A good read about the topic is found here http://labs.prx.org/2012/11/14/ios-6-0-devours-data-plans-causes-cdn-overages/

if you were charged for over usage (for tiered data plans) i would imagine that AT&T would want to refund you ASAP.

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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realized wrote:

this problem has been confirmed both by apple and AT&T - and they have tried to fix it through the newest IOS software *6.0.1*

A good read about the topic is found here http://labs.prx.org/2012/11/14/ios-6-0-devours-data-plans-causes-cdn-overages/

if you were charged for over usage (for tiered data plans) i would imagine that AT&T would want to refund you ASAP.

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Interestign read, problem is do not think it is 100 percent accurate. Have a Iphone 3GS and a 4S running 6.01

Iphone 3gs usage

Date last reset Oct 3, 2012 @ 6:01 AM

sent 2.6MB

recieved 16.5MB

Iphone 4S usage

date last reset Oct 2, 2012 @ 7:48 AM

Sent 18.9 MB

received 72.8 MB

both phoes are connected to a Excahgne server and recive 200 - 300 emails a day with attachments, none have any junk apps likep pandora, you tube or and of the social apps on them, iclod functionality is completely turned off

[NCite45]

Wondering if there is any development on this data issue. My 4S recently caught the data bug weeks after upgrading to ios 6.0, and is bleeding data on wifi on an aggregate total of 100MB per day if allowed...I have to turn off cellular data which is only an extremely inconvenient band aid.

I've tried the numerous suggestions here and elsewhere including deleting apps, resetting networking, resetting all settings, deleting iCloud account, etc, etc. I also upgraded to ios 6.0.1, claimed to address this problem, but to no avail. I cannot understand why AT&T and Apple appear so callous about their customers bleeding money when it should be the highest of concerns.

Please keep this topic alive and offer any helpful information. Maybe the community here can come together and succeed where Apple and AT&T are failing us. Never before have I been more frustrated about not so much the issue, but the apparent code of silence by them, pretending this issue doesn't exist. What will it take to get their attention!

[the gryphon]

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realized wrote:

this problem has been confirmed both by apple and AT&T - and they have tried to fix it through the newest IOS software *6.0.1*

A good read about the topic is found here http://labs.prx.org/2012/11/14/ios-6-0-devours-data-plans-causes-cdn-overages/

if you were charged for over usage (for tiered data plans) i would imagine that AT&T would want to refund you ASAP.

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I'm unable to find any reference where AT&T has confirmed there is an issue. 

[NCite45]

Cautiously optimistic. Strange enough it seems the data leak/battery drain issue went away as mysteriously as it started. Not celebrating yet but my 4S is no longer warm and no longer bleeding data. I've been monitoring data flow for the last 3 hrs and I'm only at 660K. I would get taxed 30MB for the same period when bleeding. Let's see where this goes.

[the gryphon]

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NCite45 wrote:
Cautiously optimistic. Strange enough it seems the data leak/battery drain issue went away as mysteriously as it started. Not celebrating yet but my 4S is no longer warm and no longer bleeding data. I've been monitoring data flow for the last 3 hrs and I'm only at 660K. I would get taxed 30MB for the same period when bleeding. Let's see where this goes.

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I just checked usage (at my desk, on wifi) then let the app store update 3 apps. My usage ticked up 5kb while downloading the apps.