Will the iPhone 4S always use WiFi over 3G if possible?

[mrsir2009]

Hi,

If the iPhone 4S is connected to both WiFi and 3G, will it use the WiFi automatically over the 3G, or do you have to specifically choose one, turn the other off or something?

 

[boshii]

Wifi first in all cases.

 

[mrsir2009]

Wifi first in all cases.

Sweet... Didn't want it sucking up my limited 3G data when I'm at home

 

[vitzr]

I turn on Airplane mode as well as turning on WiFi.

This assures the phone uses Wifi only, since 3G is turned off completely.

 

[mrsir2009]

I turn on Airplane mode as well as turning on WiFi.

This assures the phone uses Wifi only, since 3G is turned off completely.

Yeah, that'd save battery as well, would it... However then you wouldn't be able to send texts and do phone calls, so I think I'm all good with the 3G being turned on, as long as its not used when there's WiFi.

 

[wordoflife]

Yeah, but just keep in mind that iMessages go over 3G ... even if you're connected to WiFi. So sending a lot of picture messages via iMessage will cut through your data bucket.

 

[mrsir2009]

Yeah, but just keep in mind that iMessages go over 3G ... even if you're connected to WiFi. So sending a lot of picture messages via iMessage will cut through your data bucket.

Thats all good... I'll only be sending SMS text messages when I do use iMessage, and they use up barely any data.

 

[verwon]

Yeah, but just keep in mind that iMessages go over 3G ... even if you're connected to WiFi. So sending a lot of picture messages via iMessage will cut through your data bucket.

Then why does it work on wifi only iPads?

iMessages uses whichever data connection you have are on, if it's wifi, then it uses wifi first, as well.

 

[Jimbo47]

Yeah, but just keep in mind that iMessages go over 3G ... even if you're connected to WiFi. So sending a lot of picture messages via iMessage will cut through your data bucket.

This is false. Nowhere does Apple state iMessage is sent via 3G only.

 

[verwon]

This is false. Nowhere does Apple state iMessage is sent via 3G only.

Exactly! That's why it works on wifi iPads and iPods.

Here's Apple's page on the iOS 5 features, including iMessage:

http://www.apple.com/ios/features.html

 

[mrsir2009]

Then why does it work on wifi only iPads?

iMessages uses whichever data connection you have are on, if it's wifi, then it uses wifi first, as well.

True.

 

[wordoflife]

Then why does it work on wifi only iPads?

iMessages uses whichever data connection you have are on, if it's wifi, then it uses wifi first, as well.

This is false. Nowhere does Apple state iMessage is sent via 3G only.

On the iPhone, iMessages are prioritized over 3G because it's more "secure". It works over WiFi if you've got an iPad or iPod because you simply don't have a 3G connection.

Here you go: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4956/apple-ios-5-review/3

Found this to be the case for me as well. iMessages for whatever reason hang when I have WiFi on and cellular data off at my school, but if I have WiFi on and cellular data on, iMessages get sent because it doesn't even attempt to use WiFi. There's something in my school's network that stops iMessages from going through, but my point is that 3G is prioritized. The only way you can force your iPhone to send iMessages over WiFi is if you disable cellular data.

However, according to the article, attachments are not specifically prioritized over 3G as are normal messages. So we're both half right on this one. And I take back what I said regarding picture messages in post 6 since that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[grahamnp]

I don't know if this is a bug or feature but I had the iPhone connect to 3G when on Wifi because the wifi network did not have an internet connection. Quite convenient but it gave no warning.