iPhone System services eats up my cellular data when I open and close an application

[MikeJM]

I have IPhone 5s, with iOS 8.3. It seems Iphone is going to waste some amount of your cellular data no matter what you do, unless you completely turn off Cellular data. I don't use iCloud, I turn off Automatic downloads, Cellular Data and Suggested apps in Itunes and App Store, Location services. Cellular data is turned off individually for all apps except WhasApp but still I can see that System services constantly eats up my data. What's more strange is if I just open apps likes Safari, Itunes U and close, I can see that some kilobytes are gone in System services. Can you believe it? Safari starts in blank page, so it doesn't send any request at startup. The main things that consume data are Push notifications, Networking, Software updates, Itunes Accounts, Messaging Services and Time and Location. Have you guys also noticed this? Do you have any solution for that?

 

[C DM]

All those system services need to use some data to function. Don't think there's a way to disable all of them. Is it a lot of data that gets used?

 

[ardchoille50]

I'm wondering if it would help to turn on Airplane mode and then enable Wi-Fi. My cellular data plan is 2GB/month and I've not seen my 3 iPhones and 2 iPads altogether using anywhere near 1GB of data in any given month.

 

[I7guy]

I'm wondering if it would help to turn on Airplane mode and then enable Wi-Fi. My cellular data plan is 2GB/month and I've not seen my 3 iPhones and 2 iPads altogether using anywhere near 1GB of data in any given month.

Unless you have wifi calling airplane mode will disable calling. Why not turn off cellular data? I do it when I get home to save battery life.

 

[MikeJM]

I know it's not much. 20-30 MBs a month. But I don't think the amount is important. If turning off cellular data for certain applications should do what it says, then even a byte shouldn't be used out of control. If `system services need to use some data to function` then how do they function when I turn cellular data off with no wifi around? I mean it's really ridiculous that iOS needs some data just to open an app.
"I'm wondering if it would help to turn on Airplane mode and then enable Wi-Fi." My only concern is cellular data, I don't care about wifi data usage.

 

[I7guy]

I know it's not much. 20-30 MBs a month. But I don't think the amount is important. If turning off cellular data for certain applications should do what it says, then even a byte shouldn't be used out of control. If `system services need to use some data to function` then how do they function when I turn cellular data off with no wifi around? I mean it's really ridiculous that iOS needs some data just to open an app.
"I'm wondering if it would help to turn on Airplane mode and then enable Wi-Fi." My only concern is cellular data, I don't care about wifi data usage.

Is it possible when the phone sleeps wifi goes to sleep and the software then uses the cellular data connection to do certain things? You can't turn off system services.

 

[MikeJM]

Is it possible when the phone sleeps wifi goes to sleep and the software then uses the cellular data connection to do certain things? You can't turn off system services.

That's possible, but as I said earlier, System Services use some kilobytes even when I open and close an app like Safari, ITunes U.

 

[ardchoille50]

That's possible, but as I said earlier, System Services use some kilobytes even when I open and close an app like Safari, ITunes U.

Well, Safari bookmarks and Reading list are sync'd across your iCloud account so Safari may be using some data to update those items.

 

[MikeJM]

I have disabled iCoud, I don't use it.