Data usage unusually high?

[destroyboredom]

I upgraded to the 4S on launch day and just noticed my data usage took a huge jump for no apparent reason. I'm on the unlimited plan and used to use about 250MB/monthly. I just logged onto ATT and my data for the last billing period shows 1.9GB and this month is already at 500MB.

My usage really hasn't changed much at all. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[r2shyyou]

I upgraded to the 4S on launch day and just noticed my data usage took a huge jump for no apparent reason. I'm on the unlimited plan and used to use about 250MB/monthly. I just logged onto ATT and my data for the last billing period shows 1.9GB and this month is already at 500GB.

My usage really hasn't changed much at all. Has anyone else noticed this?

You mean 500 MB, right? iCloud, Siri, and iMessage may account for much of your new data usage.

 

[Shadowbech]

Just out of curiosity, when you have unlimited, why worry about data usage? If I had unlimited data plan, I could care less of how much data I used. I'm on a 4 GB tethering + data plan. So Yes, I would have to check my data every week just to make sure i'm still within my limit.

 

[destroyboredom]

You mean 500 MB, right? iCloud may account for much of your new data usage.

Woops. 500MB. I did take about 20min of HD video. Is it really backing all that to iCloud over 3G? I have Photostream turned off because I haven't updated my iMac to the new iPhoto yet.

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Just out of curiosity, when you have unlimited, why worry about data usage? If I had unlimited data plan, I could care less of how much data I used. I'm on a 4 GB tethering + data plan. So Yes, I would have to check my data every week just to make sure i'm still within my limit.

I'm more concerned with AT&T flagging my account for excessive usage and throttling my speed, if there is something I can do to avoid it.

Also I'm sure there are a ton of people not on unlimited data, so I wanted to throw out the warning in case it's a bug.

 

[r2shyyou]

Woops. 500MB. I did take about 20min of HD video. Is it really backing all that to iCloud over 3G? I have Photostream turned off because I haven't updated my iMac to the new iPhoto yet.

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I'm more concerned with AT&T flagging my account for excessive usage and throttling my speed, if there is something I can do to avoid it.

Also I'm sure there are a ton of people not on unlimited data, so I wanted to throw out the warning in case it's a bug.

iCloud backs up your Camera Roll which I assume has your 20 minute HD video in it so that will increase the size of your backup and, in turn, the amount of data you're consuming.

As for being flagged for excessive usage and throttlling, you may want to have a look at this thread for what others have used in order to get flagged by AT&T.

 

[mom333]

Yes - look around the forum - it's a known issue.

I'm trying this: Settings / iCloud / Documents & Data - "Use Cellular" (OFF)

 

[FreakinEurekan]

iCloud backs up your Camera Roll which I assume has your 20 minute HD video in it so that will increase the size of your backup and, in turn, the amount of data you're consuming.

Theoretically iCloud backups happen only over WiFi.

OP, have you looked at your detail usage on attwireless.com? A snapshot of mine is attached - on 10/26 and 10/28 I was listening to Pandora and you can definitely see the big usage there.

 

[Jman13]

I generally use about 3 GB per month, and I have not been flagged for over usage.

 

[r2shyyou]

Theoretically iCloud backups happen only over WiFi.

Automatic backups, yes, but since the OP mentioned 3G I assumed o) that it was regarding manual backups.

 

[satchow]

I was under the impression that iCloud backups only happened when you were on WIFI

 

[r2shyyou]

I was under the impression that iCloud backups only happened when you were on WIFI

That's correct for automatic backups however one can back up to iCloud manually at any time, provided they have a data connection.

 

[mom333]

I was under the impression that iCloud backups only happened when you were on WIFI

That Documents & Data section has a default setting allowing it to "use cellular". You have to turn it off manually.

 

[satchow]

Thanks, that's good to know. Now to turn it off for my dad and sister who only have 200mb of data.

 

[destroyboredom]

Theoretically iCloud backups happen only over WiFi.

OP, have you looked at your detail usage on attwireless.com? A snapshot of mine is attached - on 10/26 and 10/28 I was listening to Pandora and you can definitely see the big usage there.

I took a look at my usage detail and I think it may have been youtube videos. Thanks for the heads up on this. I didn't realize you could see the break down.