New to SmartPhones - What counts as data usage? [ Edited ]

[mike2854]

I got the iPhone 4S recently, so some of these questions may some dumb.  This is my first smart phone ever.

Does being on wi-fi (for example, at home) constitute as data usage? 

Does updating existing apps count as data usage?

Does checking FB via the app count as data usage? 

Does downloading g-mail count toward data usage?

I am nearly at my 3 GB limit 13 days into the billing cycle.  It seemed way off to me. 

 <CM Edit - new thread created/subject edited>

[jamileh · Accepted solution]

Hey Mike!

I moved your post to create a new thread because I think you've asked some great questions and I want to make sure it's easy for anyone else to find the answer. 

Does being on wi-fi (for example, at home) constitute as data usage? - No. When you're connected to wifi (at home, in public or at work) you're not using data from your data plan. 

Does updating existing apps count as data usage? - Yes, if you're not connected to wifi; updating apps uses cellular data. 

Does checking FB via the app count as data usage? - Yes, if you're not connected to wifi; updating apps uses cellular data. 

Does downloading g-mail count toward data usage?  - Yes, if you're not connected to wifi; updating apps uses cellular data. 

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Helpful hints:

• Streaming video consumes the most data of all possible activities so things like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu can take a big chunk of your available data.
• You can calculate your data usage or check how much data you have used during your current billing cycle by dialing *DATA# (*3282#) from your smartphone.

Here's a link to an article that explains how data usage is billed: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=54646#fbid=G9C1qiYG3P6

Here's an article that explains the various ways to check your data usage: http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=52377#fbid=G9C1qiYG3P6

I hope this information helps; please let us know!

[mike2854]

Thanks for moving this.....

So I keep it on my wi-fi at home, for example. and download e-mail that way, I will not cut into my data plan? 

I figured using You Tube cuts into the data plan, which makes sense. 

[jamileh]

You've got it! Using wifi as much as possible will help reduce the amount of data you use. 

Don't forget that there are thousands of AT&T Wifi HotSpots available too: http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=13540

One thing to remember is that if your phone "goes to sleep", it may not automatically pick up the wireless signal again so it's always a good idea to check to make sure you're still connected. 

[mike2854]

I listen to podcasts using an app, not downloading them, I simply hit play and it plays the podcast. Is that data usage or not?

[jamileh]

Yep, that's data usage becase you're streaming audio in that case. Basically any time you connect to anything else using your phone (except normal telephone calls using the dialer), you're using data. If you're on a wifi connection, you won't use your data package though. 

[mike2854]

Thanks for your help, that explains why I have blown through my data plan, because I have been listening to the same podcast and not downloading it ahead of time. If I download it ahead of time at home (meaning wi-fi), then the data doesn't get cut into and I can listen to it while driving and not use data, right?

[jamileh]

Exactly!

When you download something, you're listening to/watching it from your phone's memory; not from the server it's hosted on so you won't be using data to listen/watch. 

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mike2854 wrote:

I listen to podcasts using an app, not downloading them, I simply hit play and it plays the podcast. Is that data usage or not?

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if you are not on wifi then yes it is using data, it still transfers to the phone

[mike2854]

So the smart thing would be to download it when using wi-fil and then I listen to the podcast while driving w/out burning data, right?  I can delete the podcast later to save space.

[jamileh]

That's the best way to avoid data usage, yes. 

[mike2854]

If I was driving and used the map app that is built into the phone as a GPS and left it running the entire time, is that data usage?

[wingrider01 ACE - Geek]

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mike2854 wrote:

If I was driving and used the map app that is built into the phone as a GPS and left it running the entire time, is that data usage?

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depends - there are some that do realtime updates with traffic, those will consume data, others will download the entire route and not have to access anything

[mike2854]

Well, I am using the one that is built into the iPhone 4S, not Google Earth/Maps or any other app that could be out there. 

[sandblaster]

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mike2854 wrote:

Well, I am using the one that is built into the iPhone 4S, not Google Earth/Maps or any other app that could be out there. 

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Everytime the built in map app refreshes itself (which normally happens as you move), you will be using data.

[mike2854]

No wonder people still buy GPS's.

Thanks.

[jamileh]

To help with perspective, I use Maps on my iPhone A LOT. Pretty much every day, honestly. I also use Facebook and Twitter a alot, along with some other data intensive apps. 

I rarely, if ever exceed 1.5GB's a month in data use. 

Everyone is different but most people don't use as much data as they think.

[mike2854]

I figured the maps function was "free" (at least data wise) since it came with it.  I would think if one used an Mapquest app (for example), that would be data being used which would make sense. 

I appreicate all the advice.   This has been a learning experience for certain! 

[sullivc]

I am using an iPhone 4s, with AT&T wireless service. I use the Xfinity Connect app for texting, because it is included with my home land line phone package. I am often connected to a wireless service at home and/or work, but during that time, texting is using data. I thought it should be using wifi, and no data use? Is there a setting I'm missing? I monitored the useage with the myAT&T app.

[AKPorcupine]

I have the Unlimited Messaging service. When I am connected to 3G, it will send texts as an "iMessage." Does this consume data? Or is it still classified as "Unlimited"?

[ranron]

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AKPorcupine wrote:
I have the Unlimited Messaging service. When I am connected to 3G, it will send texts as an "iMessage." Does this consume data? Or is it still classified as "Unlimited"?

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iMessage is an iOS feature and uses data to connect to Apple's servers.

Your unlimited messaging plan only covers messages sent through AT&T's service and the latter is not counted as data.

[jamileh]

ranron nailed it!

You don't have to use iMessages if you don't want to use that data. To turn iMessages off, Tap Settings>Messages and slide the dot from on to off. 

iMessages are blue, regular texts are green. That's an easy way to tell them apart.