Apple Releases Carrier Update for Verizon iPhone 5 to Reduce Inadvertent Cellular Data Usage

[MacRumors]

Apple has issued a Carrier Update for Verizon iPhone 5 devices this evening to eliminate an issue where Verizon Cellular Data would be used while the iPhone 5 is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

This carrier settings update resolves an issue in which, under certain circumstances, iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Follow these instructions to install the update.

1. Tap Settings > General > About.
2. Wait for the following alert to appear: (top right)
3. Tap OK to install the update.
4. Hold the Sleep/Wake button down until you see "slide to power off".
5. Slide to power off.
6. After the device powers off, hold the Sleep/Wake button to turn your phone back on.

Note: To finish the installation of the update, your iPhone 5 must be turned off and then on again. After your iPhone restarts, tap Settings > General > About, then scroll down to Carrier and verify that "Verizon 13.1" is displayed.

The update has to be performed somewhat manually but is delivered over-the-air, per the instructions above. Apple describes the update as an "important new carrier update" but doesn't provide many details on how/when these circumstances might arise.

Article Link: Apple Releases Carrier Update for Verizon iPhone 5 to Reduce Inadvertent Cellular Data Usage

[ixodes]

This is a welcome development.

[kycophpd]

So they admit there was a problem. Explains my over 5Gb of usage so far.

[Dwalls90]

Ok, so I really hope they work with Verizon to credit people's accounts for usage they never should have consumed.

[AzStriker88]

Ya i just got this message before this article came out and was not sure if I should do the update.

[gmanist1000]

The interesting thing is that when I check my data usage on my iPhone, it is much higher than when I check on Verizon's website.

[dmbfan41]

Well this explains why I used 400MB in the first few days.

[japanime]

I wonder if this affects CDMA carriers outside the US, too.

[taedouni]

This must explain how I used 1GB in one day (no speed test or streaming).

[carterja]

what about AT&T? Hit 1gb/day of use while ON Wifi. =\

[einmusiker]

This is going to cause a major headache for verizon. good. EVERYONE make sure you don't have to pay any overages at the end of this month. If they charge you claim it was the problem before apple's update

[irod87]

So glad this came out, hope it works. Ive gone through 2.3gb in about 9 days with wifi usage and low streaming.

[Wildgift]

But I hope this fixes the absurdly high data usage while on lte.

[AzStriker88]

I was able to keep unlimited data from verizon but I was wondering why my data was so high make sure you dont have to pay an overage charge this month

[ckelley]

The only thing I can think of is that this is an issue with the "Wifi + Cellular" feature that was in the iOS 6 betas that was pulled before GM release.

I know nothing about the bug itself, this is just some idea I have hypothesized.

Basically, if you were connected to WiFi but your Cellular connection was (harder/)better/faster/stronger (unsure of which, cannot remember) it would use that instead. Now, for all the people in LTE areas, I can bet that the connection was faster on Cellular LTE than most people's home internet plans (for those affected) and it went to that, using Cell data instead of WiFi. My guess is that this was enabled or left as an enabled feature and pulled from the iOS Settings, until it could be refined.

Again, just a guess.

[camnchar]

2 GB already. I knew something was wrong, just not what.

[codyc1515]

I have had issues with my iPhone data usage not adding up with the data usage on the carriers website, however, I am using Telecom New Zealand not Verizon, strange..

[Undecided]

"Somewhat manually?" Man, if it were automatic, everyone would be freaking out about Apple doing things without user intervention. You just can't win.

[101pctech]

I experienced that too on AT&T. I just turn off cellular data when I'm on wifi. Saves a but load of MB

[faroZ06]

Does anyone here have a clue about this? Under what circumstances does it use cell data instead of wifi?

EDIT: Never mind, ckelly might have found the answer.

[Westside guy]

I would like to thank all you Guinea pigs for testing this release for the rest of us, what with Maps and now ridiculously high cellular data usage.

Think I'll stay on 5.1.1 a bit longer...

[faroZ06]

Originally Posted by ckelley

The only thing I can think of is that this is an issue with the "Wifi + Cellular" feature that was in the iOS 6 betas that was pulled before GM release.

I know nothing about the bug itself, this is just some idea I have hypothesized.

Basically, if you were connected to WiFi but your Cellular connection was (harder/)better/faster/stronger (unsure of which, cannot remember) it would use that instead. Now, for all the people in LTE areas, I can bet that the connection was faster on Cellular LTE than most people's home internet plans (for those affected) and it went to that, using Cell data instead of WiFi. My guess is that this was enabled or left as an enabled feature and pulled from the iOS Settings, until it could be refined.

Again, just a guess.

Well, here is how you test it. First of all, don't install the update just yet. Then, go somewhere with weak wifi and good LTE. Maybe you can also check to see if it's using up cell data. Go to whatismyip.com. Check your IP address. See if that matches the wifi network's public IP address. If it doesn't, you're on LTE.

[kingsrule5]

They need to do this for AT&T as well. I had it use 800mb overnight because of iCloud backup issues.

[Spooner83]

How can you tap and hold the power button and slide the bar? Your phone will shutdown before you can slide the bar lol

[carterja]

Originally Posted by kingsrule5

They need to do this for AT&T as well. I had it use 800mb overnight because of iCloud backup issues.

I noticed if you disable LTE (on AT&T devices) it will help the issue ... for the time being. It needs to be fixed because I do not want to flip flop back and forth just to conserve.