How many would use 'data limits' if Apple implemented it?

[thedeejay]

Lately I've been going over my data (2GB/mo.) and I was hoping that Apple would be able to add such an option in the near future. You could input when you want your phone to "cut-off" data and it will no longer use it. Say I put 1.99GB then after I have used that much it "cuts" it off and I can't use any more unless I manually turn it off. What do you guys think? how many would use it? I hope something simple as that is implemented in iOS 8

 

[C DM]

It can be useful, but Apple likely wouldn't put anything that would cut people's services off on its own (even if someone preset something for that to happen).

Perhaps another big piece to it is that there are other apps that can do the monitoring and warning without actually cutting things off, leaving it to the user.

There's also the whole piece about shared data to consider where if you are sharing your carrier plan data with other devices your device won't really know how much they used and your cut off points might not really mean much if someone else uses a ton and goes over without you realizing it.

 

[sunking101]

Yeah, it's down to the user really. Make a note of your billing date, and then reset your cellular data counter. Then just keep an eye on it...

 

[tmanto02]

Yeah, it's down to the user really. Make a note of your billing date, and then reset your cellular data counter. Then just keep an eye on it...

While a totally agree with what you said I think this feature wouldn't hurt.

An opt in feature to cut off cellular data once you reach a user set limit is a great idea. Saves me having to monitor my usage so regularly to avoid bill shock!

 

[EdgardasB]

Would be cool for some users. However more and more carriers have started to throttle network speed and doesn't surcharge for passed limit. So I doubt that Apple would implent this feature

 

[C DM]

Would be cool for some users. However more and more carriers have started to throttle network speed and doesn't surcharge for passed limit. So I doubt that Apple would implent this feature

Like which ones? In US at least most moved away from that in recent years and keep on trying to get more and more people with older plans to move away from it. T-Mobile might be sort of starting on the path back to what it was, but that seems to be in early stages and they seem to be pretty much the only (bigger) one.

 

[EdgardasB]

Like which ones? In US at least most moved away from that in recent years and keep on trying to get more and more people with older plans to move away from it. T-Mobile might be sort of starting on the path back to what it was, but that seems to be in early stages and they seem to be pretty much the only (bigger) one.

Was talking mostly about Europe carriers

 

[HarryT]

In the UK at least EE (not sure about others) stop your data once you reach the limit. To get more you have to text a number and a 100mb data package is added to your bill and you can use it again. Works effectively.

On another note you should try Onavo. They compress data and help to reduce the data usage for things like Facebook and websites (not videos though).

 

[maflynn]

I don't see a need for apple to purposely restrict the phone. It seems more like a personal responsibility issue then anything else.

I'm sure there are apps out there that will provide some level of measurement for you. My carrier provides such, and emails me when I reach a certain threshold, i.e., 80%.

 

[bransoj]

In the UK at least EE (not sure about others) stop your data once you reach the limit. To get more you have to text a number and a 100mb data package is added to your bill and you can use it again. Works effectively.

Other half is with O2 and this is what they do now. They used to do it so once you went over they throttled you so it worked but very slowly. However now they stop you being able to access data at all which whilst you just accept you cant browse net, use apps etc it can cause fun and games with iMessages not going through and it resorting to a standard sms and taking a while etc.

On another note you should try Onavo. They compress data and help to reduce the data usage for things like Facebook and websites (not videos though).

I popped this on the other halves phone a while back and it does make a difference..she was initially on a 500mb deal but you could squeeze a fair bit more out of it using onavo. It did used to cause issues if you tethered anything to the phone though.

That said all of the above is exactly why i switched to the one plan on 3 with unlimited data!

 

[richwoodrocket]

Carriers would definitely not want that. They make money off people that go over their data.
That being said, I would not use the feature if it was ever implemented. I never go anywhere near my limit, and I usually only use about 1/10 of it a month so I have no fear of overage charges.

 

[IFRIT]

I use this feature to keep track if how much data I use, I get have unlimited data though so only use it because it's built in option on Android.

It was defiantly a god send though when I was on a restricted data contract.

 

[Arran]

Shutting off? Not sure I want that.

But I'd like a little battery-like icon in the top status bar showing your data allotment running down. 100%. -> 99% -> 98% all the way down to 0% and then going negative when you overrun.

If you could manually set how many GB 100% represented it would be useful for folks who share data pools (family share plan)

 

[Alphabetize]

This would be pretty useful for me! I go over my data all the time. It's pretty annoying actually. ATT sends out weird data cap warnings, the first being at 65%? I kind of wish they sent out more at 25% intervals rather than starting at 65%. But shutting off my data might be useful.

 

[hamis92]

No need, personally. I have unlimited data, no throttling.

 

[cynics]

This is a feature I used with Android. When I was 500 mb away it would warn me. When I was 100 mb away it would shut it off (with another warning of course).

I found it to be very accurate. I could have probably set the cut off 10-20 mb away. You could just set up warnings though so it didn't shut off cellular data.

Now I have a work provided iPhone that they don't care if I go over (within reason). So it would be of no use to me. However I could see it being useful to others on a tiered data plan.

 

[C DM]

This would be pretty useful for me! I go over my data all the time. It's pretty annoying actually. ATT sends out weird data cap warnings, the first being at 65%? I kind of wish they sent out more at 25% intervals rather than starting at 65%. But shutting off my data might be useful.

You can't edit the thresholds somehow using your account online perhaps?

Also, there are apps that can do it for you on your phone too that you can control.

 

[thedeejay]

It can be useful, but Apple likely wouldn't put anything that would cut people's services off on its own (even if someone preset something for that to happen).

Perhaps another big piece to it is that there are other apps that can do the monitoring and warning without actually cutting things off, leaving it to the user.

There's also the whole piece about shared data to consider where if you are sharing your carrier plan data with other devices your device won't really know how much they used and your cut off points might not really mean much if someone else uses a ton and goes over without you realizing it.

Yeah, it's down to the user really. Make a note of your billing date, and then reset your cellular data counter. Then just keep an eye on it...

I personally think that's a little tedious. Keep checking, reset stats and the whole shenanigans. This would be a cool feature yet simple if implemented properly and I'm sure it would be used.

Another great use could be if a person has a little kid with a device that has data (iPhone or Cellular iPads). Will be able to prevent overage. This is a specific example but just an example.

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You can't edit the thresholds somehow using your account online perhaps?

Also, there are apps that can do it for you on your phone too that you can control.

Can you give me an example of an app. I wanna see how good they are.

 

[bkends35]

Why not? It's definitely nice to have.

 

[C DM]

I personally think that's a little tedious. Keep checking, reset stats and the whole shenanigans. This would be a cool feature yet simple if implemented properly and I'm sure it would be used.

Another great use could be if a person has a little kid with a device that has data (iPhone or Cellular iPads). Will be able to prevent overage. This is a specific example but just an example.

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Can you give me an example of an app. I wanna see how good they are.

There are some different ones--DataMan is probably a good example of one.

 

[Armen]

If you can afford a $650.00 smartphone you should be able to afford a data plan that goes along with it.

 

[thedeejay]

If you can afford a $650.00 smartphone you should be able to afford a data plan that goes along with it.

That's a pretty aggressive response but anyways - I buy mine on contract and usually have enough credits to get the phone for free. $650 personally isn't loose change for everyone.

Back on point: regardless of what the phone costs there are some features that are useful and in a case by case basis it's helpful.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

I've always liked Android's data warning system. It made sense to me. Just have it so when you hit Xgb it has a notification letting you know how much you've used.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

On Windows Phone, when you start to get low on data it puts your phone into a conserve data sort of mode - you basically half your data. It's quite useful if you use a lot of data, but it doesn't prevent you from using your phone if you want to.

 

[noisycats]

I would love an app where I could get all that information a quick glance without having to sign in or scroll through screens


Nevermind I see they exist thanks.