Do Carriers Calculate Data Differently?

[rockitdog]

I've been with T-Mobile since last fall and have noticed that ever since I switched to them I am using a ton more data than I ever did with my past carrier (AT&T). I always had a 3 GB data plan w/ AT&T that was usually enough but according to T-Mobile I use 8-10 GB per month of service which I find hard to believe. I'm sure I use more data because it's unlimited but not that much!

Anyone else have any insight on this?

 

[Caesars]

Did you keep the same phone?

 

[jer04]

not so sure about carriers in the states, but in australia, different carriers do calculate data differently.

it could be calculated in 1kb, 1mb or even 10mb increments depends on the carrier and the plan. for example, if the data is calculated in 10mb increments and you use 11mb in one session, they will charge you as 20mb.

 

[rockitdog]

Did you keep the same phone?

iPhone 5 for both.

 

[Akack]

No concrete evidence but I have experienced this as well between tethering from my prepaid Verizon iPad vs my tmobile iPhone 5. I would usually use about 4gb/month from my iPad and just recently when I used my iPhone to tether I blew thru 2gb the first week.

 

[cualexander]

It would be interesting to see now that iOS 7 will track data by app, what the differences would be. I used to rarely use 2 gigs on AT&T with my iPhone 4, but I have 2 lines and 10 gigs with Verizon and constantly running close to the limit. That's not scientific at all though because I tether a lot more and there's a lot more streaming media these days. But it would still be interesting to audit this more closely.

 

[Applejuiced]

1GB is the same amount of data no matter what carrier you use.

 

[rockitdog]

1GB is the same amount of data no matter what carrier you use.

I don't believe that. Seems like there are others who believe the same....

 

[Applejuiced]

I don't believe that. Seems like there are others who believe the same....

I do.
Off course there's many others that blow through their data limit and then blame it on the carriers.

 

[CEmajr]

Your usage has just gone up. Most likely because you're no longer concerned with breaking a data limit.

I tried hard to remain under 3GB while on Verizon while I use 7-10GB per month now with Tmobile because I just use my phone freely and don't worry about data restrictions.

 

[cualexander]

1GB is the same amount of data no matter what carrier you use.

Interesting article here. Carriers charge you for data that leaves their towers, regardless if you actually received it. http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429181/how-your-wireless-carrier-overcharges-you/?ref=rss

 

[Prime85]

I had the throttle with t-mobile at 2GB before and i would barely go over 800mb in a month, now that i upgraded to unlimited with no throttle i have used over 1GB in only 5 days so far this month!

Its not them calculating data differently but you using more data because you can.

Anyway why would it matter when All of T-Mobile plans have unlimited data, throttled or not.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

Your usage has just gone up. Most likely because you're no longer concerned with breaking a data limit.

I tried hard to remain under 3GB while on Verizon while I use 7-10GB per month now with Tmobile because I just use my phone freely and don't worry about data restrictions.

I used to have unlimited data on Verizon with a 3G BB Storm2. Never used more than 1 gb. I got the iPhone 5 after our family plan was changed over to a share everything plan. We have 6 gb, and I use 5.

 

[osofast240sx]

Your usage has just gone up. Most likely because you're no longer concerned with breaking a data limit.

I tried hard to remain under 3GB while on Verizon while I use 7-10GB per month now with Tmobile because I just use my phone freely and don't worry about data restrictions.

I used 70GB last month. This month with only 8 days into my billing cycle. I know the apple keynote was about 1GB alone.

 

[CEmajr]

I used to have unlimited data on Verizon with a 3G BB Storm2. Never used more than 1 gb. I got the iPhone 5 after our family plan was changed over to a share everything plan. We have 6 gb, and I use 5.

Yeah there is a major speed difference between Verizon 3G and Verizon LTE as well as the Internet experience on a BB Storm compared with your iPhone 5.

 

[takeshi74]

Seems like there are others who believe the same....

Until someone can guarantee that data usage was actually identical the comparison is meaningless. Going by feel leaves too much leeway. It's entirely possible that data usage did change even though you don't think your usage changed.