Notifications On and Push Off = battery drain?

With Notifications turned ON, a connection with the PNS is maintained so your battery drains whether or not any apps are using them or not.

 

It's a server at Apple that your phone is in constant TCP/IP communication with. There is an open port that your phone is listening on for any requests. The problem is that 3G data is not always reliable and may be blocked over some wifi networks.
Personally I always thought it would have been better (more reliable and less battery) to have Apple send an invisible/encrypted SMS messages telling the phone to initiate a pull from the PNS (even tough this would charge against your SMS allotment).

 

You do not need Push Notification or e-mail Push on for MobileMe Find My iPhone to work. I thought I remember Apple saying this when they were talking about iOS4. In fact, I just tested this with both Push services off and I was able to find my phone and send a message to it.

 

My pleasure!

 

always wondered about this. thanks to the replies. crisis solved.