Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

what can I do with 200mb?

D

dork420

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 27, 2007
116
0
hey

so what can I actually do with 200mb a month? I have wireless at home and the office. My social demands are low, old dad, who lives in the country. Probably want to use it more intensively on weekends or vacations.

I would use daily for:
checking emails
listening to MLB at bat
websurfing
geeking out with apps

For intensive weekends:
Google maps
 
I've had an iphone 3d for 18 months now on o2 unlimited. I've downloaded 1.3 GB of cell network data over that time. (an average of 72mb a month) and I use it quite often for web browsing and stuff.

Honestly, if you've got wifi at home, I wouldn't sweat it.
 
just don't tether and you shouldn't have a problem unless you are watching videos and downloading **** all day. I think I have had my phone for almost 2 years now and have used 6.2GB.
 
Yeah, honestly. If you're mostly text-based (IM, Twitter, Wikipedia, etc) you'll be fine on 200mb. Even 2GB is more than enough to cover the majority of people unless you're using your phone as your one and only internet connection.
 
I have a similar setup (home/office) and we often go on trips where I need Maps or to veg out at the in-laws house and think my average use was about 180MB a month. As long as the spigot "turns off" when you reach the 200MB, I would jump on the $15 plan in a heartbeat. If I reached the limit after 25 days, I wouldn't really give a crap if I had to wait a few days for it to kick back in versus throwing and extra $10-15 out the window each month for a cap I would never come close to.
 
A couple of months ago I would have jumped on this plan, since I have never used more than 200 MB/mo in the nine months I've had my phone. But, with the possibility of videochat around the corner on the 4G, I am hesitating. I think I'm going to have to stick with my unlimited plan for now and see what things look like in a couple of months.
 
I have wifi at home but not at work and I tend to use about 700 MB a month of AT&T data.

Honestly, I woudn't jump on anything too quickly. Get the 'My Wireless' app from AT&T and check your data usage on it every day for the next 3 or 4 weeks. See how it goes.

I'm considering the 2 GB plan since I rarely go over 1 GB, but I'm not going to do it now. I'll keep monitoring my usage for the next month (including a week-long trip to Disney World) to make sure I'll really be safe.

There's no harm in taking a little time to be certain.
 
yeah I don't have an iphone because there was no way I was paying 30bucks a month for my limited data needs. If I was still living in SF, taking the bus everyday, and out and about all the time it would have been a different story. But now with the 15 dollar plan things are changing.

I am probably the demographic ATT is going for.
 
dork420 said:
yeah I don't have an iphone because there was no way I was paying 30bucks a month for my limited data needs.
Click to expand...

Ah.

Then I'd suggest asking AT&T about upgrading from one plan to another and how that works. (I'm assuming it's easy.)

If so, I'd say you should get the $15 plan and the monitoring app. Force yourself to stay within 200 MB. At the end of the month, either keep that plan or change to the $25 plan if it seemed too difficult.

I'm betting you can do it. My wife used 400 MB this month and she often forgets to sign on to Wifi at home.
 
I concur with the others on this one. I have 6GB a month and use maybe 40MB. Kind of a waste, but its there incase i need to tether in emergencies.
 
prfrma said:
I've had an iphone 3d for 18 months now on o2 unlimited. I've downloaded 1.3 GB of cell network data over that time. (an average of 72mb a month) and I use it quite often for web browsing and stuff.

Honestly, if you've got wifi at home, I wouldn't sweat it.
Click to expand...

Under 'Cellular Network Data' thats all time since you've had the phone, or done a 'reset'? Just looking for confirmation.
If thats true, I only use 45mb a month on average. I'm pretty sure when I switched from the 3G to the 3GS it carried over that information, but even if it didn't its still only using 90mb a month. Guess I can switch to the 200mb plan. And even if I got close I would just switch for that month to the 2 gig plan.
 
dork420 said:
yeah I don't have an iphone because there was no way I was paying 30bucks a month for my limited data needs. If I was still living in SF, taking the bus everyday, and out and about all the time it would have been a different story. But now with the 15 dollar plan things are changing.

I am probably the demographic ATT is going for.
Click to expand...

This brings the entry-level pricing for the iPhone down from $70/mo +tax to $55/mo +tax, which may be within reach of a lot of people who otherwise couldn't justify the monthly cost of an iPhone.

For my wife and me, this has the potential to bring the total cost for two iPhones on a family plan from $129.99 to $99.99 with absolutely no change in our usage (but, as I said, I'll wait and see how things go with videochat).
 
Small White Car said:
Then I'd suggest asking AT&T about upgrading from one plan to another and how that works. (I'm assuming it's easy.)
Click to expand...

Not only is it easy but, according to the press release, they're going to allow you to do it retroactively! If you get near the end of the month and have used 500 MB, you will be able to switch to the $25/2MB plan and avoid paying for any overages at all.
 
why don't you just go on your att account online and look at your monthly usage and look and see about what you average every month.
 
bova80 said:
why don't you just go on your att account online and look at your monthly usage and look and see about what you average every month.
Click to expand...

I don't have an iphone or any other smartphone.
 
Here's a question. I currently have the BB Bold 9000 w/AT&T and the wife has a regular cell phone. We both plan on getting the new iPhone in August when we're eligable for a discounted upgrade. She will be fine with the $25/month plan but will AT&T let me transfer my BB data plan ($29.99) to the new iPhone?
 
grantsdale said:
Under 'Cellular Network Data' thats all time since you've had the phone, or done a 'reset'? Just looking for confirmation.
If thats true, I only use 45mb a month on average. I'm pretty sure when I switched from the 3G to the 3GS it carried over that information, but even if it didn't its still only using 90mb a month. Guess I can switch to the 200mb plan. And even if I got close I would just switch for that month to the 2 gig plan.
Click to expand...

Well I've never reset that area so it's basically the entire time I've used the phone. (not including wifi obviously)
 
thelatinist said:
Not only is it easy but, according to the press release, they're going to allow you to do it retroactively! If you get near the end of the month and have used 500 MB, you will be able to switch to the $25/2MB plan and avoid paying for any overages at all.
Click to expand...

where did you see that?
if that's the case. will I be able to go back down the 200mb plan the next month? If so, that would solve my have usage on vacation dilemma.
 
dork420 said:
where did you see that?
if that's the case. will I be able to go back down the 200mb plan the next month? If so, that would solve my have usage on vacation dilemma.
Click to expand...

I read it on Engadget, but I am not sure where they're getting that information. It's certainly not in the press release. This is the quote from Engadget:

Engadget.com said:
The carrier's going to be very flexible about changing between the DataPlus and DataPro plans -- if you're on DataPlus, for example, and you discover that you're blowing past your allotment, you can choose either to start DataPro the following billing cycle, pro-rate it, or apply the higher plan retroactively to the beginning of your current billing cycle. That's pretty wild.
Click to expand...

ETA: further investigation of the FAQ on the AT&T site gives this:

AT&T said:
Question:
Can I switch back and forth between the new smartphone data plans?
Answer:
Yes, as a smartphone customer, you may decide over time that you need more or less data than what your plan provides. There is no penalty to move between the new smartphone data plans as needed.
Click to expand...
 
I use my iPhone to check e-mail multiple times a day. I do some "light" web browsing, and use some web-enabled apps (e.g. the Twitter and Reddit apps) as well. I rarely use my iPhone for streaming video or music (other than occasionally checking out something on YouTube).

I have Wi-Fi both at the office and at home, and as a result I don't use nearly as much (3G) data as I might have guessed. According to AT&T's web site I haven't exceeded 200MB in any of the last six months.
 
thelatinist said:
I read it on Engadget, but I am not sure where they're getting that information. It's certainly not in the press release. This is the quote from Engadget:



ETA: further investigation of the FAQ on the AT&T site gives this:
Click to expand...

So it's like the iPad kind of, except I'm guessing you have to pay for one of the plans. That's cool. I really don't think this will affect most people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back