Internet data useage on phones, help please.

Ok, i have just got the kids a couple of android smartphones, i have them on a very basic data plan (100mb)now my question is do apps/phone/etc use the data?.

How do i set phones to not use it, i understand if its on wifi at home it uses nothing . I have no experience of limited plans as my personal plans are unlimited data etc.

I have turned off Background Data and Auto-Sync…does that help? Also if they are off does it mess with the phones texts/calls etc?

Sorry for the dumb questions in advance

Switch Mobile Network off. Calls & texts are unaffected.

Chances are they’ll soon find out how to switch it back on, so best have a chat with them too…..

Oh yes already had the chat.

Ok so turned off…..

Background Data

Auto-Sync

Then went into Wireless&Networks then Mobile Networks and turned off…

Use Packet Data/Data Enabled

Does that all sound about right then?

Why not just get them SIM cards on the 3 network with unlimited data and not worry about it any more?

They’re kids – they don’t want the phone to talk to people, they want the data…

Rachel

I downloaded 3g watchdog, at 75% usage, I get a warning, at 99% it switches data off altogether. How accurate it is? no idea!

Thanks for the answers. Will look into 3g Watchdog, not so much concerned on them browsing as its mostly at home via wifi network but am more unsure as to what goes on in the background using data when they don’t realise they are is all.

Ring the provider and ask them to disable the data service?

What’s the point of having a smartphone if you have little or no data allowance?
That’s like having a car and only a pint of petrol!

Wifi is still available and generally costs nothing.

I used 3g watchdog for a while and it seemed pretty reliable. Only stopped using it as I was never going anywhere near my allowance.

Don’t know what network you’re on or what others supply, but IIRC T-Mobile have a policy of not charging over £1 per day for data.

Would still be expensive but at least it’s a tiny piece of mind that you’re not going to run up £100’s if they the switch data on…

PeterPoddy – Member
What’s the point of having a smartphone if you have little or no data allowance?
That’s like having a car and only a pint of petrol!

this

if you can disable it, you can be pretty sure they can re-enable it…

IS its running Android ICS or above you can set data limited / warnings with the operating system. Go to setting, and then data usage. Enable “set mobile data limit” and jobs a good un.

Ring the provider and ensure you limit the monthly cost to whatever you think is reasonable.

But remember, if they hit their limit they can’t text/ring you. Better IME to use 3-Mobile and then you’ve the free 3-to-3 calls/texts on top.

And 100mb…, Chocolate Teapot 🙄

Dont forget to check that the Google Play Store has its settings set to ‘Update Apps over Wifi Only’ as this could trigger at any time and use ALL thier allowance in one hit!

(Open Google play, menu, settings, tick Update over wifi only)

This is the main background data user that can chew thru allowances. Other ones that could be very heavy users are MAPS etc so probably a good idea to turn off ‘Location Services’ too.

+1 for the 3G Watchdog – although @lowey is right some newer versions of android have an inbuilt data limiter in the OS.

use uc browser or opera as they data compress web surfing, i save 80-90% using uc browser,it helps, I dont need to use but started to use it so i can see if i can switch to a 500mb allowance

Tesco mobile – capped data/phone/text limits (that are very generous). They even send you a warning text when you are close to those limits and even if you use up the data allowance you still have all the minutes/texts to use so no not being able to call.