Is 2GB Data Really Enough?

[Jman14]

Let me start by saying I know Verizon has upgraded data plans, but I refuse to sepnd $50 a month... I think $25 is already enough. I am getting a new iPad 2 to replce my old one that broke... I am thinking this time of getting the 3G verison. How many of the 3G owners find the 2GB cap enough?

[Captain America]

Originally Posted by Jman14

Let me start by saying I know Verizon has upgraded data plans, but I refuse to sepnd $50 a month... I think $25 is already enough. I am getting a new iPad 2 to replce my old one that broke... I am thinking this time of getting the 3G verison. How many of the 3G owners find the 2GB cap enough?

I just bought a 3G + WiFi iPad 2 today and so while I can't say whether or not this 2GB is enough (they do have a 3GB option on AT&T for $35), I did have 2GB on my iphone and I somehow never once hit the mark. I always came quite close though. 1900MB for example. That's a lot of web browsing, game downloading, speed tests, video downloads.

[Jman14]

Originally Posted by Captain America

I just bought a 3G + WiFi iPad 2 today and so while I can't say whether or not this 2GB is enough (they do have a 3GB option on AT&T for $35), I did have 2GB on my iphone and I somehow never once hit the mark. I always came quite close though. 1900MB for example. That's a lot of web browsing, game downloading, speed tests, video downloads.

They do have a 3GB plan? Good to know. I havehad the iPhone since the first one so I have been grandfathered in to the unlimited, so I have never really paid attention to how much I used... I wish i oculd use that as a key..

[Captain America]

Originally Posted by Jman14

They do have a 3GB plan? Good to know. I havehad the iPhone since the first one so I have been grandfathered in to the unlimited, so I have never really paid attention to how much I used... I wish i oculd use that as a key..

If you call AT&T, or maybe even go to the store they can tell you how much you use. That's how I found out how much I use (through the phone). And yeah, I didn't know about the 3GB plan till today when the salesman told me. I'm holding off on that one though until I know I need it.

[iphone1105]

Originally Posted by Captain America

If you call AT&T, or maybe even go to the store they can tell you how much you use. That's how I found out how much I use (through the phone). And yeah, I didn't know about the 3GB plan till today when the salesman told me. I'm holding off on that one though until I know I need it.

AT&T has no 3gb plan. They have a 2GB plan, that if you go over you get charged $10. So 3GB is $35....if you use 4GB it's 45, etc....

[bluedukies8]

If you log onto your AT&T account online, you can see your past data usage even if you are on the unlimited. I check mine every once in a while.

There are other size data plans for the iPhone, but I'm not sure there is for the iPad. You could always call to ask.

[cheeseburger2]

I have that plan, and I find the cap sufficient because with my iPad the lion's share of my browsing happens via wifi at home. It's only when I travel or have the iPad at off-site meetings that I'm even using the 3g.

There have been a few months I've been on the road where it's been close, but you can meter your usage and piggyback on wifi where you can.

[Ecoh]

Originally Posted by Jman14

Let me start by saying I know Verizon has upgraded data plans, but I refuse to sepnd $50 a month... I think $25 is already enough. I am getting a new iPad 2 to replce my old one that broke... I am thinking this time of getting the 3G verison. How many of the 3G owners find the 2GB cap enough?

I guess it all depends on the user how much is needed. I have had my ATT 3g iPad for several months and never have come close to 250 mb ($15.00) in one month. I mainly use 3g for mail and a bit of web surfing. I am also surprised at the amount of free wifi around where I live, but I am glad I have the 3g for when wifi is not available at all.

With the iPads, you don't have a monthly data plan as you would with a cell phone. You buy the amount you think you will need, if you run out before 30 days is up, you buy more or go without. You don't have to buy data every month if you don't need it. I really like the way the plans work.

[matttye]

Damn you guys get stung!

I pay £15 (~$23) per month for 10gb data.

[Pigumon]

Originally Posted by matttye

Damn you guys get stung!

I pay £15 (~$23) per month for 10gb data.

No corporations are greedier than American corporations.

This is the only reason I jailbroke my iPhone.

$10 for 2GB on my iPhone, tethered to my iPad.

I just wish I had known about it before I wasted my money on a 3G iPad.

[ericrwalker]

You have to take into consideration that the square mileage of the USA is huge compared to most other countries. The cost of the infrastructure has to be outrageous. Not to mention, they have to upgrade the towers every couple of years to keep up with their competitors.

But I am sure that has nothing to do with the cost when comparing it to a little island like England which probably has a few towers to cover the entire country.

Originally Posted by Pigumon

No corporations are greedier than American corporations.

This is the only reason I jailbroke my iPhone.

$10 for 2GB on my iPhone, tethered to my iPad.

I just wish I had known about it before I wasted my money on a 3G iPad.

[Abazigal]

My data plan has a 12gb cap, but I typically use a lot less than 1 gb each month. Could be more, but the 3G network is so slow that I usually just fall back on wireless at home.

I guess it is really up to the individual user.

[Captain America]

Originally Posted by iphone1105

AT&T has no 3gb plan. They have a 2GB plan, that if you go over you get charged $10. So 3GB is $35....if you use 4GB it's 45, etc....

I was just saying what I was told.

[mstrze]

I could probably get away with 200MB since I am mostly on WiFi at work and home. Check your usage either on your bill or under settings. Your usage will vary. 2GB may be WAY more than enough...then again it may be too little.

[Aspasia]

How many of the 3G owners find the 2GB cap enough?

I've found it way more than enough. First time I purchased the AT&T $25 2GB plan was during a road trip to Chicago. Kept my iPad on for hours checking traffic and road conditions while we traveled and used it constantly while in the city, as well as on the way home. Never came close to using the full 2GB.

During a subsequent weekend road trip, purchased the $15 (250 mb) plan. Never used all that either, in spite of keeping the 3G on while in the hotel since their wireless was so crappy.

BTW, AT&T offers two purchase options: 2GB or 250 mb. It's very easy to set up on the iPad 2 and even easier to renew, once your 30 days has expired. I'm quite happy with the pricing and the service.

[alexxk]

Not to me. just last month I used 15 gb of 4g from Sprint. if you do a lot of video streaming forget 2gb. Im 3 days in the new billing cycle and I alreadh used 3 gb lol...

2 gb is stupid with so many video streaming apps these days and counting..

[mstrze]

Originally Posted by alexxk

2 gb is stupid with so many video streaming apps these days and counting..

Unless you have access to WiFi. Then, it's not stupid at all.

[donnaw]

I have the 2 gig from AT&T and travel a lot. I have even used Skype for 20-40 mins a day for about a week plus checking email, surfing, etc and never came close to the 2gigs. One trip I kept it on the whole trip while we drove and followed on the map. So for me it's plenty.

However, if you plan on doing any streaming of video or music you it may not be enough. Of course if you just stream music you can always use your phone.

[alexxk]

Originally Posted by mstrze

Unless you have access to WiFi. Then, it's not stupid at all.

Then why would you pay for data in the first place?

[15danielp]

I haven't gone over 1GB for a month yet. I don't have wifi at my store and use it to access the web everyday, all day. I stream tons of music, watched a MLB game about everyother day, and now I stream Sunday Ticket all day on Sundays.

Sometimes there's wifi around, and sometimes there isn't. I don't notice and use my iPad as much as I need it.

[matttye]

Originally Posted by ericrwalker

You have to take into consideration that the square mileage of the USA is huge compared to most other countries. The cost of the infrastructure has to be outrageous. Not to mention, they have to upgrade the towers every couple of years to keep up with their competitors.

But I am sure that has nothing to do with the cost when comparing it to a little island like England which probably has a few towers to cover the entire country.

To put it into perspective California is bigger than the uk and thats not even the largest state

Oh well, better call quality and more data for less money sounds good to me.

[darngooddesign]

I'll start by saying that I chose Verizon because I wanted 3G in rural areas that my ATT iPhone never has 3G coverage. I would start with the 2GB plan and if you need a bit more you can add another gig for $10. Stick with this setup if you only occasionally go above 2GB, but if you find 3G limiting bump it up to the 5GB plan.

[mstrze]

Originally Posted by alexxk

Then why would you pay for data in the first place?

For the times when WiFi isn't available...like outdoors or while travelling?

I think it's been shown that greater than 95% of users of iPads and iPhone use considerably less than 2GB of data each month. You obviously use more and you need more, but I think a great many can get away with a much lower plan, if available.

FWIW: I have my iPhone 4S with me and it shows that since I got the phone on October 14th I have only used 817MB of data...so that's about 410MB a month.

(I am currently on the AT&T unlimited plan, but it seems to make sense for me to drop it, since I come nowhere close to 2GB a month EVER. But again, everyone is different and you need more cellular data...most do not.)

[takeshi74]

Originally Posted by Jman14

How many of the 3G owners find the 2GB cap enough?

Polling others is pointless. Usage varies. You need to look at or estimate your usage. The amount data that I (or anyone else) use is completely irrelevant unless your usage happens to match mine.

Originally Posted by bluedukies8

If you log onto your AT&T account online, you can see your past data usage even if you are on the unlimited. I check mine every once in a while.

^ This

[anthonymoody]

I'm still grandfathered with unlimited but I think the real issue is that in practice 3G connectivity isn't practical for the kinds of things (e.g. Video streaming) that would seriously push you over the cap. I find for example that watching Netflix over 3G is pretty horrible, same with ABC and the like. Obviously ymmv as 3G ain't 3G ain't 3G, but that's been my experience.