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

[MattInOz]

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.

This would pretty much do it for me...
although could see a couple of improvements.
Group apps into demand bands and a user selected essential apps.
As i hit warning let me switch off each group in turn.

They could learn from previous months how much each group uses and give smart warnings.

It would be good to have a daily threshold as well as monthly.
Which parental types might like as a way of controlling over use as well as bill over runs.

 

[C DM]

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

That doesn't really mean that someone might not want to monitor their usage as it relates to what their plan allows for (probably not taking it as far as shutting off data or something like that).

 

[SomeGuyDude]

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

If you can afford a house you can afford to pay for unlimited utilities.

See why this logic is dumb?

 

[thedeejay]

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.

That's a pretty cool concept. I like that actually. Even something like what you mentioned above is useful for users like myself and others.

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.

I wouldn't mind that either. Maybe "shutting" off is a bit extreme but perhaps a few messages saying Data reached - and probably with a message that says if you want to turn off data navigate to cellular and turn it off or of the same sort.

 

[Italianblend]

The carriers wouldn't allow it. But I can see potential for a 3rd party app to monitor it for you and alert you.

 

[S.B.G]

It's not something I would use. I'm nearly always on WiFi and don't use much cellular data at all. Plus, with AT&T, if I get close to my limit, they notify me so I can watch what I'm doing.

 

[bransoj]

Plus, with AT&T, if I get close to my limit, they notify me so I can watch what I'm doing.

I moved from O2 in the UK to get unlimited data with 3 but when i was on O2 they would send me a text if i was close to running out and i could also check at will how much data i'd used through their app along with minutes, texts and MMS i'd used. This would reset itself each month when i started a new lot of allowance.

 

[Southern Dad]

One more reason to NEVER drop my grandfathered unlimited iPhone and iPad data plans.

 

[sunking101]

I still don't see why people can't keep an eye on their data consumption by using the inbuilt monitor, which can be reset each time you receive a bill.

 

[C DM]

The carriers wouldn't allow it. But I can see potential for a 3rd party app to monitor it for you and alert you.

The carriers have alert systems themselves too. And there are already 3rd party apps too.

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I still don't see why people can't keep an eye on their data consumption by using the inbuilt monitor, which can be reset each time you receive a bill.

Keeping an eye on it using the carrier would be even better.

On the phone there are 3rd party apps that can be used too that will even remind/alert. Although these don't really help as much when shared data is involved.

 

[thedeejay]

It's not something I would use. I'm nearly always on WiFi and don't use much cellular data at all. Plus, with AT&T, if I get close to my limit, they notify me so I can watch what I'm doing.

See, this is good for carriers that send regular updates and that have all these available features. For myself, although I'm with a carrier that is reputable and has good coverage (Fido in Canada), their support services suck. On my account it shows I've registered for Overage notifications yet, I don't receive any - it's similar with friends/family who are with Fido. It sends it randomly every few months saying "Dear XXXXX, You have used 400 out of your allotted 500MB limit (80%). To avoid charges please ensure you use only the given data or you will be charged X per 500MB". Another problem is that it is kind of tedious, I have to keep logging into their website and keep wondering how much space I have left. They way I'm thinking is it'll be kinda like the call block feature or whatever else is currently on iOS 7. If you don't need it - it doesn't interfere with your daily functions, but if you need it, it's there.

I still don't see why people can't keep an eye on their data consumption by using the inbuilt monitor, which can be reset each time you receive a bill.

The problem is the inbuilt monitor is also a hassle. You have to manually know when you're billing date is and then reset it...which kind of sucks. Secondly, you're assuming that everyone has privileges similar to yourself. Kid you not, some carriers are terrible with things like this. If you look at carriers like WIND or Bell Canada, don't even get me started on how terrible they are.

The carriers have alert systems themselves too. And there are already 3rd party apps too.

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Keeping an eye on it using the carrier would be even better.

On the phone there are 3rd party apps that can be used too that will even remind/alert. Although these don't really help as much when shared data is involved.

 

[IFRIT]

The carriers wouldn't allow it. But I can see potential for a 3rd party app to monitor it for you and alert you.

The carriers wouldn't have a say, both Android and WP have the feature built in and Apple has more clout then both of them when it comes to controlling the OS.

 

[C DM]

See, this is good for carriers that send regular updates and that have all these available features. For myself, although I'm with a carrier that is reputable and has good coverage (Fido in Canada), their support services suck. On my account it shows I've registered for Overage notifications yet, I don't receive any - it's similar with friends/family who are with Fido. It sends it randomly every few months saying "Dear XXXXX, You have used 400 out of your allotted 500MB limit (80%). To avoid charges please ensure you use only the given data or you will be charged X per 500MB". Another problem is that it is kind of tedious, I have to keep logging into their website and keep wondering how much space I have left. They way I'm thinking is it'll be kinda like the call block feature or whatever else is currently on iOS 7. If you don't need it - it doesn't interfere with your daily functions, but if you need it, it's there.



The problem is the inbuilt monitor is also a hassle. You have to manually know when you're billing date is and then reset it...which kind of sucks. Secondly, you're assuming that everyone has privileges similar to yourself. Kid you not, some carriers are terrible with things like this. If you look at carriers like WIND or Bell Canada, don't even get me started on how terrible they are.

With a third party app you can set that all up once and that's more or less it. (Although, again, doesn't quite account for plans with shared data where other lines would use up data too, which a native OS feature wouldn't really be able to account for either realistically speaking.)

 

[Armen]

If you can afford a house you can afford to pay for unlimited utilities.

See why this logic is dumb?

Who said anything about unlimited? There is a guy from work who has a iPhone 5S and 250MB data plan. I don't think you can get any more ghetto than that. If you can't afford a decent data plan then don't get a smartphone.

It's like buying a Ferrari and not being able to afford the $2000 oil change.

 

[Armen]

That doesn't really mean that someone might not want to monitor their usage as it relates to what their plan allows for (probably not taking it as far as shutting off data or something like that).

Too many people live beyond their means. They buy an iPhone and then cripple it by turning off all sorts of features that are DESIGNED to be used with data.

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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.

We all know that a lot of the iPhone's feature set relies on data. By crippling/limiting the data you are in reality a proud owner of a iPod touch.

 

[thedeejay]

Who said anything about unlimited? There is a guy from work who has a iPhone 5S and 250MB data plan. I don't think you can get any more ghetto than that. If you can't afford a decent data plan then don't get a smartphone.

It's like buying a Ferrari and not being able to afford the $2000 oil change.

Too many people live beyond their means. They buy an iPhone and then cripple it by turning off all sorts of features that are DESIGNED to be used with data.

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We all know that a lot of the iPhone's feature set relies on data. By crippling/limiting the data you are in reality a proud owner of a iPod touch.

That's incorrect my friend. Relies on data, sure. What if your friend is mostly in a WiFi area 80% of the time? So he shouldn't get an iPhone because he has only 250MB of data? That's a stupid thing to say..

Or look at it this way, I lived on campus a few years ago in University - didn't have data but used my iPhone 3G to the fullest potential WITHOUT data. How? Wifi everywhere I went.

This relates to overage issues. Which I'm sure, I'm not the only one. Plus like I mentioned before. Having it would be useful, if you don't use it - that's your problem but having it would help.

 

[GenesisST]

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

My provider sends me SMS when I get close to the limit, which is very rarely in my case. Check with your provider.

 

[cynics]

Who said anything about unlimited? There is a guy from work who has a iPhone 5S and 250MB data plan. I don't think you can get any more ghetto than that. If you can't afford a decent data plan then don't get a smartphone.

It's like buying a Ferrari and not being able to afford the $2000 oil change.

I'm confused. So Apple shouldn't implement a feature like this because...?

You might be looking at it backwards. You are looking at this from an "all high and mighty" stand point. The reality however is quite the opposite.

Say for example your "ghetto" coworker only used 200 mb a month and never went over. Him buying a 2 gb plan is referred to as idiotic. Why would you want to give a big business money for a service not rendered? This applies to any tiered plan.

Hence this feature would save people money and help tailor a data plan to their needs not att, Verizon, etc. needs of more profit.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Who said anything about unlimited? There is a guy from work who has a iPhone 5S and 250MB data plan. I don't think you can get any more ghetto than that. If you can't afford a decent data plan then don't get a smartphone.

It's like buying a Ferrari and not being able to afford the $2000 oil change.

This forum needs a way to flag posts as stupid.

 

[nebo1ss]

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).

Actually EE is even better than you state. They send you a warning when you reach near the limit long before they cut anything off.

 

[C DM]

Who said anything about unlimited? There is a guy from work who has a iPhone 5S and 250MB data plan. I don't think you can get any more ghetto than that. If you can't afford a decent data plan then don't get a smartphone.

It's like buying a Ferrari and not being able to afford the $2000 oil change.

It's more like buying a Ferrari and only using it to drive around town on short trips (and perhaps only on the weekends even)…as quite a few people with Ferraris do actually…nothing really wrong with that.

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Too many people live beyond their means. They buy an iPhone and then cripple it by turning off all sorts of features that are DESIGNED to be used with data.

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We all know that a lot of the iPhone's feature set relies on data. By crippling/limiting the data you are in reality a proud owner of a iPod touch.

While I agree about the part that there probably shouldn't be something that automatically shuts things off at some point, having something that monitors data and perhaps provides notifications and warnings that a user might set and want to have, not much of a downside to that really, while probably a fair amount of usefulness to quite a few people given that many carriers don't provide an unlimited plan, and even with a high limit, you still want to be able to check on it and know where you are with respect to it here and there.

 

[IFRIT]

Interesting viewpoint Armen..

 

[Armen]

This forum needs a way to flag posts as stupid.

I'm stupid because I don't think a person should own an iPhone if they can't afford a decent data plan?

 

[ionjohn]

I don't understand the need for it. I've never exceeded my limit in 5 years of owning iphones and if I were to exceed it, my operator (Telus) would send me a text message warning me.

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I'm stupid because I don't think a person should own an iPhone if they can't afford a decent data plan?

Doesn't have to do with decent plans, I only have 0.5gb and I never exceed it, I use my data as it should be used, only for browsing, facebook, gps and messages. Everybody with less than 2gb shouldn't watch videos from cellular connection or download apps.

 

[Armen]

That's incorrect my friend. Relies on data, sure. What if your friend is mostly in a WiFi area 80% of the time? So he shouldn't get an iPhone because he has only 250MB of data? That's a stupid thing to say..

Or look at it this way, I lived on campus a few years ago in University - didn't have data but used my iPhone 3G to the fullest potential WITHOUT data. How? Wifi everywhere I went.

This relates to overage issues. Which I'm sure, I'm not the only one. Plus like I mentioned before. Having it would be useful, if you don't use it - that's your problem but having it would help.

T-Mobile's CEO is shaking up the mobile industry by trying to have data overages eliminated and I totally agree with him. If you pay for 2GB of data you should be abled to consume that data at LTE speeds but if you go over you should be throttled down to 2-3G rather than get charged an overage. This would work for many people like the example you mentioned above.

As for me, I want my full speed all the time.

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I don't understand the need for it. I've never exceeded my limit in 5 years of owning iphones and if I were to exceed it, my operator (Telus) would send me a text message warning me.

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Doesn't have to do with decent plans, I only have 0.5gb and I never exceed it, I use my data as it should be used, only for browsing, facebook, gps and messages. Everybody with less than 2gb shouldn't watch videos from cellular connection or download apps.

I don't know how you do it to be honest

My App Store app is showing 595MB of cellular usage. I would have blown past your limit without having done anything but let apps update in the background.