How many iPhone users keep their data turned off?

[Alrescha]

1 gb / month is criminal. I think my phone easily averages 100 mb a day from the basic processes (mail, whatsapp, light browsing, background app refresh). I often come close to hitting the 3gb data cap (or just exceed it at times).

I have owned my 4S for coming up on three years, and I have yet to hit a grand total of 500MB of data for that entire time period. I have data always turned on, and use it for GPS in addition to all the usual email, iMessage, etc., when out and about. Needless to say, I am on the lowest possible data plan (300MB) and do not see that changing.

A.

 

[Knowimagination]

I see no point in owning a smart phone and not using data. If I were looking to save money it would be with a dumb phone and an iPod touch for sure. Save on monthly plans and devices, if I am looking to save money the inconvenience would easily be worth it.

Want just one device? then you might as well spend the extra 10-15/month and actually be able to use it as intended.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I have owned my 4S for coming up on three years, and I have yet to hit a grand total of 500MB of data for that entire time period. I have data always turned on, and use it for GPS in addition to all the usual email, iMessage, etc., when out and about. Needless to say, I am on the lowest possible data plan (300MB) and do not see that changing.

A.

There is absolutely no way, in three years, you have not used more than a half gig of data unless you are literally never anywhere without WiFi.

To contextualize things, a picture is usually 1mb or so. So if you looked at a few pictures a week, and did nothing else, you would top out 500MB easily.

 

[richwoodrocket]

Going through <500Mb in 3 years? I go through 5+GB a month.

 

[0007776]

There is absolutely no way, in three years, you have not used more than a half gig of data unless you are literally never anywhere without WiFi.

To contextualize things, a picture is usually 1mb or so. So if you looked at a few pictures a week, and did nothing else, you would top out 500MB easily.

Free wifi is pretty prevalent so if you don't do a lot of checking the internet while driving it isn't that hard to not use much data.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Free wifi is pretty prevalent so if you don't do a lot of checking the internet while driving it isn't that hard to not use much data.

You know what's really weird? I'm in this thread talking about the difficulty of having data turned off while in another defending the notion that unlimited LTE isn't critical, haha. MAN people have wildly varied needs and usage for these things.

Admittedly I do TONS of media streaming, mostly GPMAA while driving, so I can go through 500MB in about two hours.

 

[Alrescha]

There is absolutely no way, in three years, you have not used more than a half gig of data unless you are literally never anywhere without WiFi.

Well, I live in and around a major city. Pretty much everywhere I go *does* have Wi-Fi. The exception is when I am driving, and I would not be surprised that the bulk of my data represents the GPS. I was just responding to a post which claimed ~100MB/day for the 'basics', and wanted to point out that not everyone's basics are the same.

And make no mistake, I know how to use data - my ISP says over half a terabyte last month, and I was not even trying...

A.

if you don't do a lot of checking the internet while driving it isn't that hard to not use much data.

You also live longer.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Well, I live in and around a major city. Pretty much everywhere I go *does* have Wi-Fi. The exception is when I am driving, and I would not be surprised that the bulk of my data represents the GPS. I was just responding to a post which claimed ~100MB/day for the 'basics', and wanted to point out that not everyone's basics are the same.

And make no mistake, I know how to use data - my ISP says over half a terabyte last month, and I was not even trying...

A.

That's different, then. Your original post made it sound like you did all of those things on cell data, but the reality is that you did all of those things with your phone almost entirely on WiFi, which is why your data usage is so low. Context is important, friends...

 

[Alrescha]

That's different, then. Your original post made it sound like you did all of those things on cell data, but the reality is that you did all of those things with your phone almost entirely on WiFi, which is why your data usage is so low. Context is important, friends...

Well in that case Abazigal should point out that she somehow lives where there is no Wi-Fi at all...

A.

 

[joeblow7777]

What's the point of having a smartphone if you're not using data at all? It would be a lot cheaper to get a dumbphone for texting and calls, and a small Wi-Fi only tablet or even just an ipod Touch.if you want mobile internet while on Wi-Fi.

Without cellular data, you pay several hundred dollars for an iPhone but it's just an iPod Touch that makes phone calls.

 

[Ipadlover29]

Which means you rely totally on wifi to use features like safari, mail, etc.

I ask because if you have data off then what do you do to get basic features that require data?

Specifically, I'm talking about voicemail notification which you can only get if you have data turned on. Being connected to wifi does not get you voicemail notification.

*Note: I am not talking about getting the voicemail. I'm talking about being notified that you have a voicemail message. I'm also not talking about visual voicemail which requires data. I'm talking about just getting the red dot on the voicemail tab in the phone app that tells you that you have a voicemail. This happens on iOS 8.1

If you miss a call and that person leaves a message then you'll never know that you have a voicemail unless you just happen to check you voicemail, but by then it might be days or weeks since the person left you that message. Just wondering what you guys do or maybe you don't care to know whether someone left you a voicemail.

I keep data off from time to time when I'm home and use wifi and I still receive all my voicemail notifications. I dont have visual voicemail. If you have data off then you dont receive visual voicemail notifications.

 

[deeddawg]

Do you really pay 45$ for 250 Mb ???

To put it in context, that $45/mo also included unlimited talk minutes and unlimited texting, plus included a subsidy towards a lower price on the phone. It was also a very basic data plan, most people tend to grab the 1GB or higher plans.

For single line accounts the better deals are often in prepaid here, with family plans usually being better deals for postpaid.

I've heard claims that population density differences in the U.S. vs Europe tend to drive higher infrastructure costs and thus higher rates. I don't know how true that really is, but It seems logical that if one cell tower can cover six times as many people, the cost of providing service would be lower. Interesting figures: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934666.html

 

[biscuitsxluv]

Well doesn't leaving data on all the time drains the battery more? I only turn on data when am out, when I am at home, I turn on wifi and turn off data..

I do the same. I've been doing this for awhile, not sure if it works but we'll see!

 

[geoff5093]

I have owned my 4S for coming up on three years, and I have yet to hit a grand total of 500MB of data for that entire time period. I have data always turned on, and use it for GPS in addition to all the usual email, iMessage, etc., when out and about. Needless to say, I am on the lowest possible data plan (300MB) and do not see that changing.

A.

I definitely call BS on that, especially if you use mobile data for navigation, email, iMessage, etc. 500MB over 3 years is 456KB, or 0.46MB per day. You definitely use well over that in day to day data being transferred.

 

[Traverse]

Turning off data just seems like a pain unless I'm in a very low signal area and have wifi. If you have a decent signal, I've noticed no excessive battery drain from having it enabled.

I do turn off WiFi if i'm going to be away from any signal for an extended period of time.

 

[Alrescha]

I definitely call BS on that, especially if you use mobile data for navigation, email, iMessage, etc. 500MB over 3 years is 456KB, or 0.46MB per day. You definitely use well over that in day to day data being transferred.

You are not in a position to tell me how much data I use. AT&T is, and while their reports are not very detailed, they do inform me that I use, on average, .01 GB/month. This works out to about 123 MB/year, or 370 MB for the period in question. The phone says 323 MB, so it is in the same ballpark.

I have Wi-Fi at home, at work, and at the local pubs. I do not play with my phone while I am driving. All this means I do not use a lot of cellular data - when would I?

A.

 

[nateo200]

250MB data plan? I haven't seen that in a long time....I didn't think it was possible at all with an iPhone either...why would you do that to yourself? I leave data on all the time unless I'm in another country.

LOL. Did you really think the people here wouldn't add commentary?

Yeah seriously...this is a fricken discussion forum...you'd have to be brain dead to NOT expect commentary, thats the entire point! The poll is merely a secondary option in the post settings....

 

[Beards]

You are not in a position to tell me how much data I use. AT&T is, and while their reports are not very detailed, they do inform me that I use, on average, .01 GB/month. This works out to about 123 MB/year, or 370 MB for the period in question. The phone says 323 MB, so it is in the same ballpark.

I have Wi-Fi at home, at work, and at the local pubs. I do not play with my phone while I am driving. All this means I do not use a lot of cellular data - when would I?

A.

I'm the same as you.
Although I'm still waiting for my first iPhone to be delivered, in all the time I have owned Android phones I have rarely had to use a data connection, everything I require can be found under a Wi-Fi cover.

 

[Max(IT)]

To put it in context, that $45/mo also included unlimited talk minutes and unlimited texting, plus included a subsidy towards a lower price on the phone. It was also a very basic data plan, most people tend to grab the 1GB or higher plans.

For single line accounts the better deals are often in prepaid here, with family plans usually being better deals for postpaid.

I've heard claims that population density differences in the U.S. vs Europe tend to drive higher infrastructure costs and thus higher rates. I don't know how true that really is, but It seems logical that if one cell tower can cover six times as many people, the cost of providing service would be lower. Interesting figures: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934666.html

For three same amount of money, or less, here you can buy the same unlimited minutes and texting (someone still uses it ? ), but 1 or 2 Gb of data.
Actually my son's plan is 600 minutes and 600 texts a month (not truly unlimited but...) and 2 Gb of data for about $16/mo.

 

[BensonTT]

For three same amount of money, or less, here you can buy the same unlimited minutes and texting (someone still uses it ? ), but 1 or 2 Gb of data.
Actually my son's plan is 600 minutes and 600 texts a month (not truly unlimited but...) and 2 Gb of data for about $16/mo.

$16? Your son is in Vietnam? LoL

 

[geoff5093]

You are not in a position to tell me how much data I use. AT&T is, and while their reports are not very detailed, they do inform me that I use, on average, .01 GB/month. This works out to about 123 MB/year, or 370 MB for the period in question. The phone says 323 MB, so it is in the same ballpark.

I have Wi-Fi at home, at work, and at the local pubs. I do not play with my phone while I am driving. All this means I do not use a lot of cellular data - when would I?

A.

So in 3 years, you apparently never travel outside of your home, work, or the pub with WiFi. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that. Are you saying you never use navigation for road trips? You never stream any music? You never download or update apps when not around WiFi? You never watch YouTube on the bus, train, or as a passenger in the car? I still question why you even have a smartphone. Why not just an iPod Touch with a VoIP app since you are apparently always in range of WiFi?

 

[Gryfter]

for the people who turn off data and rely on public wi-fi: I really hope you're not doing anything important... most of those public wi-fi's are not secure...

 

[Beards]

Data is always on !!

Data can always be left On but if you have Wifi turned on and in an area to accept Wifi then Data will not be used.

 

[Alrescha]

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that.

I could not possibly care less. But you have called me a liar twice in this thread, consider yourself ignored.

I still question why you even have a smartphone.

I am still wondering why you care. What is it about someone else having a different usage pattern than you that bothers you so much? Next you will be upset that my carbon footprint is lower than yours, or my car does not have enough mileage on it.

For the record, as I said in my first post: I have data turned on, I use my phone. Happily, there is a lot of Wi-Fi around. I want data for the same reason I want dial tone - in case I need it. That should not be hard to understand.

A.

 

[Max(IT)]

$16? Your son is in Vietnam? LoL

Italy....