iphone questions

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

1. Using an iphone, what activities fall under the data plan?

2. Yesterday we activated our wireless internet router. DW's iphone asked for it's key code. Does that mean it is using it, and not the cell phone network, so that does not count against her data plan?

Thanks

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Data Plan

My understanding of data is anything that uses the internet. Web pages, email, downloading aps, GPS mapping of directions. It will use WiFi when available.

Be careful though and monitor everything, especially for the first little bit. Even though you are connected to WiFi it will still use data (and not tell you for that matter). I ran into this when I got mine, as I had no plan when I first started. Quite the surprise when I thought it was using WiFi.

I recommend going into network settings and turning off data and only turning it on when you need it. It will tell you when there is none and allow you to turn it on.

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

Be careful about the iCloud - it gobbles up data backing it up to the Cloud. I have had an iPhone since September 2010 and have used very little data, even checking email on 2 accounts fairly regularly. I downloaded the new IOS5 software that has the iCloud and have received 2 messages this month that I am nearing my data plan limit. It says that data was sent from my phone. It seems that it was backing up everything at least once a week. We had recently taken some pictures and because the settings were for high resolution, the photos were all backed up creating a huge data file transfer.

I did a search on Apple forums and found that many people have had the issue of using tons of data since upgrading to the iCloud. I have turned mine off. I know it has some good features, but I am not willing to pay an extra $20 month for it to backup.

I think you are only charged for the 3G or 4G data transfers, not the WIFI data. That is why many people turn of 3G when in Mexico and use WIFI only to get email and use Skype for calls.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

2 months ago DW added our nephew (and his wife) to our family plan, and got them an iphone. Halfway through the first month I had to call them and say, "Whoa, folks, cut back a bit." They had used ten times more than the other three of us combined.

Half way through the second month, last month, it was obvious they did not get the message, so we had to take the phone back. We tried to give them some cash to go back to their old pre-paid plan.

So, rather than have the iphone just sit for the next 22 months of the failed 24 month plan, DW is using it.

Is anyone else who does not have an iphone, or something similar, find being close to someone who does as annoying as I do?

Does anyone else wonder what texting back and forth accomplishes that talking would not? I don't mean texts like email, where you can pick it up later, but texting in real time back and forth, with both parties there, instead of talking.

Then, of course, texting does leave a paper trail. I bet attornies don't text much.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Back to OP, how is the amount of data measured? We don't have a clue as to much how internetting it would take to use up a plan, other than not much for the minimum plan.

Like, check the temp, check craigslist, find Ikea. No idea how much data that is.

Would it be fairly accurate to say the data plan is everything other than talking and texting?

[pittle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pittle]

JLB - this should help - AT&T Data Calculator This also says that WIFI does not count on your plan, just 3G or 4G. Looking at this, I can see how the iCloud backups ran my totals up this month. Yes - the data plan does not include texting or talking.

I totally agree with you on the text thing - I hate being around people who continually text. We do not have a text plan on our phones (including the iPhone) and I tell people that I prefer a call or email. Check to see if you do have a texting plan, or that will cost you per text.

I use my iPhone as my personal cell phone. It is for my convenience. I occasionally check email or look something up using it as a mini computer (but must have my bi-focals to read the screens). It is not my primary communication tool - we have a land line phone and high speed internet and each of us has our own laptop.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Cool calculator. Thanks.

We have been doing a lot of business on craigslist and quite a few folks we are buying stuff from won't take, or answer emails. Funny, post on the Internet but only accept phone calls. One guy this week said, "You wanna buy something, you want my attention, call me."

So, I have been answering ads, "If you still have it, call me @@@-@@@-@@@@."

The kids I have worked with the last three summers are constantly pulling their phones out and texting replies. Of course, they are really good at it, but the constant chirping of arriving texts makes me wanna grab their phones and throw them in the nearest lake.

The commercial where the guy is sneaking peaks at the game, annoying his girlfriend, is sooooooo true. I read an excellent article not long ago about phone courtesy, and when it is the proper time to just shut it off and give the people you are with your attention. I think it's called respect.

But what do I know?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Wow! Any one of the following per day would exceed the basic data plan:

2 minutes of video
10 emails with attachments
viewing 20 web pages
10 social media posts with pcitures
10 minutes of music