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hcho3

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 13, 2010
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Is it working for you? I am thinking about going for 200 MB data, but I am worried about AT&T will charge me even if I am on WI-FI.
I have portable Wi-Fi router that I can carry, but I am worried that AT&T will claim that it was their 3G connection.
 
Is it working for you? I am thinking about going for 200 MB data, but I am worried about AT&T will charge me even if I am on WI-FI.
I have portable Wi-Fi router that I can carry, but I am worried that AT&T will claim that it was their 3G connection.

First of all, AT&T does not actually monitor your WiFi data. Second, if you're *that* worried, turn off 3G except when you really need it. It'll save you battery power anyway.
 
They don't charge you for Wi-Fi, and also they will email you a warning if you are close to reaching the limit.
 
Is it working for you? I am thinking about going for 200 MB data, but I am worried about AT&T will charge me even if I am on WI-FI.
I have portable Wi-Fi router that I can carry, but I am worried that AT&T will claim that it was their 3G connection.

I have it and it works perfectly, never reached 180mb yet. I use Wifi at home and at my high school. They sent me a text 2 days ago saying " Youve reach 65% of your 200mb data plan" blahblah, dont worry.
 
First of all, AT&T does not actually monitor your WiFi data. Second, if you're *that* worried, turn off 3G except when you really need it. It'll save you battery power anyway.

I believe being in Edge actually causes you to use up more of your battery.
 
You can turn off cellular data in settings. You won't be able to receive MMS though.
 
Is it working for you? I am thinking about going for 200 MB data, but I am worried about AT&T will charge me even if I am on WI-FI.
I have portable Wi-Fi router that I can carry, but I am worried that AT&T will claim that it was their 3G connection.

Not possible to charge you when you're not using their carrier data and by using wifi.

I believe being in Edge actually causes you to use up more of your battery.

Actually its the exact opposite.
Beeing on 3G will use more battery than when on Edge.
 
The iPhone is designed to accept Wifi signal before using the 3G. Edge still counts against your data plan as well.
 
A friend of mine is using the 200mb plan. At first, they used up half of that in a single day. Then, they got WiFi at home and all was good. Just refrain from downloading apps, browsing iTunes, or watching YouTube when you're away from WiFi. Also, always make sure the blue Airport symbol is in the menu on your iPhone so you know you're connected to WiFi.

As for myself... raising hell at the AT&T store when paying a bill will go a long way!
 
Before I downgraded to the 200MB plan, I checked my past usage and I only went over the 200mb limit 1 month when my home internet was down for a couple of days and I tethered with my iPhone. So, I thought it was a great idea to downgrade. The first damn month I had my iPhone 4 with the new data package, I went over... THEN they turned on 3G in my city... so I just gave up and upgraded to the 2GB package. Gave up unlimited for nothing.
 
A friend of mine is using the 200mb plan. At first, they used up half of that in a single day. Then, they got WiFi at home and all was good. Just refrain from downloading apps, browsing iTunes, or watching YouTube when you're away from WiFi. Also, always make sure the blue Airport symbol is in the menu on your iPhone so you know you're connected to WiFi.

As for myself... raising hell at the AT&T store when paying a bill will go a long way!


And don't stream anything while on 3G. My husband just discovered TuneIn Radio. 4 GB in one day... :eek:

Thank heaven we still have unlimited.
 
I was about to give up unlimited too, but then I discovered the Pandora app a few months ago. My usage has shot up from 500MB to 3.5 GB. :eek:
Even if I hadn't discovered Pandora, you would have to pry unlimited from my hands.

Before I downgraded to the 200MB plan, I checked my past usage and I only went over the 200mb limit 1 month when my home internet was down for a couple of days and I tethered with my iPhone. So, I thought it was a great idea to downgrade. The first damn month I had my iPhone 4 with the new data package, I went over... THEN they turned on 3G in my city... so I just gave up and upgraded to the 2GB package. Gave up unlimited for nothing.
 
Is it working for you? I am thinking about going for 200 MB data, but I am worried about AT&T will charge me even if I am on WI-FI.
I have portable Wi-Fi router that I can carry, but I am worried that AT&T will claim that it was their 3G connection.

Jailbroken iphone + MiWi turns your iPhone into a portable router

just a thought if you happen to be paying extra for that router
 
This is kind of in line with what i was wondering. I want to get my wife an iphone for christmas, but wasn't sure which plan would be best since i can't get her unlimited. She would only use 3G heavily when she works night shift. That would be, probably on average, 3 nights a week. She might use it for a total of 2-3 hours per night, and probably just do some basics; read email (not send), browse the internet, and play some games. I still have my unlimited plan, and use my phone pretty much over wifi at all times (i use my phone constatly, but my data usage for the past month was like 35MB).

Anyone have any advice?
 
You seriously bring a router around with you so you don't have to pay an extra $10 a month??? You have a $600 phone, quit being cheap and pony up the cash. If $10 a month is going to break the bank each month, then maybe an iPhone isn't for you.
 
I have the 200mb plan, and love it. When I am just in my own state, it works very well. When I go out of state, I tend to use the Internet way more and that is why I have a Sprint Overdrive though.

When you aren't using Internet, or don't want the Internet to be used, turn it off on your iPhone. You won't be able to send picture messages though.

It has worked well for me for the past couple of months though.
 
I think the iPhone is the best smartphone out there right now in terms of hardware/software. However, without unlimited data I'd have to switch to another carrier--and another phone that still has it. I'm surprised Verizon hasn't eliminated their unlimited plan yet since that's what everyone assumed they'd do when AT&T made their move. The longer they keep their unlimited plans though, the more it might pressure AT&T to bring their back!

In the past, when it was mainly just web browsing and using maps 2Gb or even 200mb might have been enough. With Pandora, Netflix and other streaming services in the pipeline I think that more people are going to have a hard time keeping under their limits.
 
Wow. I have wifi at home and work, but I still use about 1GB a month. I don't know how you guys can use so little data. Since getting my iPhone 4, my data use has doubled to what it was with my 3G.
 
Wow. I have wifi at home and work, but I still use about 1GB a month. I don't know how you guys can use so little data. Since getting my iPhone 4, my data use has doubled to what it was with my 3G.

I basically use data for emergency browsing, email, and to check in on FourSquare. If I"m in a pinch with my iPad, I'll also tether. Still haven't broken 200 MB a month (don't use netflix/pandora/etc) or really gotten anywhere close, even when I spent a few days in a hotel and tethered instead of paying for internet there. If at all possible, I just do all of my data heavy lifting on wifi at home or work, and if I ever go over, I'll just go and retroactively switch to the 2 GB plan for that month then switch back.
 
Slightly off topic I know, but I'm on a 500mb plan with my carrier in the UK and although I do have wifi at home when I'm out I do browse the web a lot use a lot of web based apps, used YouTube quite a bit and even downloaded some apps but I've only used about a 100mb in about 3 weeks.

So it isn't as though I'm worrying about usage I use cellular data quite a bit and can't believe actually how little I've used.
 
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