iPhone 4 Data Use Question
 

Looking at getting an iPhone 4 with a data plan and costing it out.

Just wondering how much data would be used day-to-day on e-mail, browsing, monitoring an Apex monitor, and other use of the iPhone 4, if most of my browsing was done on my computer or iPad through the home router and only using the iPhone data browsing during travel and when not at home or work.

Also does the thing automatically switch from the phone company's wireless data access to your wireless router if you are within range of your router?

Kind of a loaded question. I have a 3G and find that my minimal data plan is sufficient. I don't browse too much as I find I can wait to get home. Your phone will switch to networks that are available.

You will find where there are free wifi networks or open networks if you need. If you travel outside Canada, be careful of your data plan and it's limits. It can get rather costly even just with email. Set your phone to manual for the data push so you use it only when you want.

I can't speak to the Iphone 4 specifically but I have the Iphone3GS on the 1 gig data plan.

I find most months it's probably overkill for me. I check mail, facebook, watch the odd youtube video, check stocks, etc. all online. When I'm at home it automatically detects my routers wireless network and uses that, when I'm on the go of course I'm on Telus' network. The reason I keep the 1 gig service is because we're out in the country and our internet connection here is ok when it's working but is quite unreliable. The "internet tether" feature on the iphone is priceless to me when our domestic internet is crapping out again.

I'd recommend starting with the lowest plan you can... they are always happy to bump you up if needed but tend to argue if you're downgrading your plan. My 3GS has a feature to monitor usage so I know when I've gotta slow down.

as IT guy that supports these things, unless you are tethering to your computer you only need about 1gig.

even with 1gig i recommend never turning on your WIFI or bluetooth as it will waste battery life.

We have competitions here and trying really hard and lots of tethering most of the month ive only gotten up to 2.5g. Most of my users are under 200mb.

I signed up for the 3g when it first came out and they had that out cry about not having unlimited data. I have 6 gigs and it is way over kill. The first month you might use over 500megs but after that I don't think you will come close. Aslong as you stay on wifi for apps and music downloads you should be okay.

I think it seriously the first few months that are killer as you are browsing the web every chance you get and following yourself on googlemaps.. After that when you are just using it for checking emails and finding a quck item 500meg plan should be enough. Just double check to see how much it will cost to go over a meg or 2 :)

I have the Telus $50 plan (500Meg?) and have never gone over. I use it all the time for browsing , Apex, emails etc. I work 12Hr graveyards so I am on the thing basically on and off all night. As long as you dont watch alot of youtube or read emails with big attachments you will be fine. The only complaint I have is that I can only get about 10 hours out of the battery when surfing.

+1 the fiancee and i both have the 3gs and have never used more than 500megs but are both on the 6gig plan from rogers...it is way overkill but why not get the 6 gig plan on promo for $30 per month when its $25 for 1 gig normally...that was our thinking I suppose....and it automatically switches from 3g to wifi when we're at home and it has the option to turn on or off as well but i wouldnt worry about ever ever going over 1gig from regular surfing/email checking. I also overheard a rogers associate explaining that through rogers anyway the social networking apps are not charged as data just if you are using safari...but not too sure how that works or if it's a special plan ;)

Yeah, that promo is kind of a sucker punch, I tried to downgrade my megs and they were like yeah you will be paying the same and losing gigs. Then i wanted to remove the voice mail and they said.. Yeah you will lose your text messages and pay the same to get them back..

Long story short, there is no way I can downgrade my rogers bill from 95 dollars a month ;)

OK thanks for the replies, looks like 500 MB is more than enough.

we have both the iphone 4 and the iphone 3g its too early to tell with the iphone 4 but on my 3g i have a 1gig plan and its enough i did go over 500mb a few times so like some one mentioned start off on the cheapest plan and then if you need more thell bump it up no prob. the good thing about my 3g was i got all kinds of free packages to try out all free for a few months but the iphone 4 never offered any bonuses of anykind for anytime it was jump right into a plan:):)



best phone youll ever have:):)

My findings are the same as all of the posters above (3GS)..

My wife and I are on a family plan and that seems the best price. I think we pay about $110 per month for both phones. (Rogers Vancouver Area)

I also tether. I love having that option when I'm on the go and have to send something that is time sensitive! Thank goodness we live in Canada.. Tethering is disabled in the USA!

Also if you travel.. you can get international text, voice, and data plans. They aren't too bad.. and MUCH cheaper than just going without a plan. We get them for work or whenever we travel. It is nice when we're in the US and my wife is shopping.. and I'm "shopping" with the kids.. we can text each other when we're done...

I picked up the iphone 4 last month at Rogers.
They had a promo on (I think its still until the end of the month) with their data package its was $25/ 500mb or $30 for 6GB.
Needless to say i went with the 6GB.
I dont think i will ever come close to putting more than a small dent in it, but hey its there incase I do.

It can be one hell of a bill when you tether it to a pc and they start charging you per KB, like this poor guy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22262994/

Don't you get a ridiculous charge when you are out of country and using internet tethering?