data plan for smartphones

[Jskid]

I've never had a smart phone before and was wondering when is the data plan used instead of wifi? Is it correct that apps always use the data plan even if your in a wifi zone?

 

[dguy6789]

The data plan data is used when you are not connected via WiFi but are using the Internet. When you connect to WiFi, the phone shuts off the cellular data connection altogether. The phone itself and apps will use WiFi if it's available. There are a handful of insignificant exceptions but that's primarily how it works.

 

[Jskid]

The data plan data is used when you are not connected via WiFi but are using the Internet. When you connect to WiFi, the phone shuts off the cellular data connection altogether. The phone itself and apps will use WiFi if it's available. There are a handful of insignificant exceptions but that's primarily how it works.

That's what I thought but a couple people told me differently. They told me apps always uses up your data plan. Could it be different for different companies?

 

[pm]

dguy6789 is right. It's not a company-specific thing either - it could be a phone specific thing, but I've never heard of a phone that doesn't work like dguy6789 said: all smartphones that I've ever heard of use WiFi for data when WiFi is available, and then use smartphone data when WiFi isn't available (or if you turn off WiFi). So you only get charged for your smartphone's data plan when there's no WiFi.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

still wifi cuts in and out sometimes and the small wifi antenna in the phone isn't super reliable. i'd make sure if you were to go this route to disable the APN for data and so you won't connect to data regardless. knowing how carriers gouge you and how phones can plow through data in seconds sometimes, i'd make sure that it's damn hard to connect to cellular data...

 

[lothar]

still wifi cuts in and out sometimes and the small wifi antenna in the phone isn't super reliable. i'd make sure if you were to go this route to disable the APN for data and so you won't connect to data regardless. knowing how carriers gouge you and how phones can plow through data in seconds sometimes, i'd make sure that it's damn hard to connect to cellular data...

This.

 

[Jskid]

what does APN stand for?

 

[ImDonly1]

what does APN stand for?

It is the gateway for internet access that is typed in the phones data settings. apn = access point name.

 

[sjwaste]

You can also install DroidWall if you're rooted, and firewall all apps off of cellular data. But yes, you should disable the APN if you intend to activate a phone without a data plan. Otherwise, the data will still work, but the carrier will gouge you by the kilobyte for data.

Somewhat related story. When I first activated my old Centro on the SERO plan, unlimited data had to be manually added. So I was getting billed by the KB for data, and my bill was up to $350 before they added unlimited data to my plan the next day. It was all going to be waived, told in advance, but I still went easy on it.

 

[mammador]

I've never had a smart phone before and was wondering when is the data plan used instead of wifi? Is it correct that apps always use the data plan even if your in a wifi zone?

they don't need to. I seldom use my data plan, and with most big cities having wi-fi i don't need it.

 

[Jskid]

they don't need to. I seldom use my data plan, and with most big cities having wi-fi i don't need it.

When I phoned Rogers Canada the person I spoke with said some things require a data plan...did he mean some features wouldn't work without a data plan but you could always use wifi?

I'm gonna try calling again

 

[cronos]

When I phoned Rogers Canada the person I spoke with said some things require a data plan...did he mean some features wouldn't work without a data plan but you could always use wifi?

I'm gonna try calling again

I bet he's just saying that if you are using a certain phone (a smartphone), you are required to subscribe to a data plan. It's not related to technical issues at all, just administrative (i.e. $$$).

 

[Ksyder]

Also, on Android you can simply turn off mobile data. Its somewhere in the settings depending on which flavor and version of Android you are using.

 

[Cares]

When I'm on wifi and trying to send a picture via text message it will use 3g. I'm on Sprint.

 

[munkle]

I bet he's just saying that if you are using a certain phone (a smartphone), you are required to subscribe to a data plan. It's not related to technical issues at all, just administrative (i.e. $$$).

Verizon is like this. They wont activate your phone unless you have a data plan.

 

[lifeblood]

I just bought a AT&T Palm/HP Pixi Plus off of ebay (the day before HP shut down WebOS). I do not have a data plan. The Pixi has a setting where you can force the wireless data off but have wifi on. Unfortunately to first set up the phone I had to use the data connection at $ per KB, but after that I shut it down and just use wifi. It works great for me as most places I hang out have wifi.

 

[mammador]

When I phoned Rogers Canada the person I spoke with said some things require a data plan...did he mean some features wouldn't work without a data plan but you could always use wifi?

I'm gonna try calling again

Why would some things require a data plan? All a data plan is just a plan for use of Web and other IP-based data via the carrier's telecoms network. Basically, it's a charge for Internet use via their network. If one just uses wi-fi for Web browsing and other IP activity, then the same data will come in, but a mobile carrier cannot charge you for that. If you use Facebook on your data plan, and then on your wi-fi connection, Rogers cannot charge you if your using the wi-fi of a friend, a public wi-fi in a large city, or a university campus wi-fi.

 

[zinfamous]

Verizon is like this. They wont activate your phone unless you have a data plan.

is it true that you can opt out of parts or all of these plans a month into your contract? It's probably a YMMV issue, but I've been able to do that with T-Mobile (though I think this was opting out of plans that were required to receive a rebate on top of the subsidized phone.)

My GF has been able to finagle her contract before the two year period--CSR at T-Mobile actually recommended she switch to a cheaper plan because she was using 30% of her minutes, haha. ...maybe that is why T-Mobile loses money?

Anyway, I'm now thinking of getting an unlocked Samsung Galaxy SII (considering benefits from opening new Chase Freedom card is pretty much the same as subsidized price). Amazon has the i9100, which looks to be the Euro model, and generally perceived to be the best one, right?

so if I do that...will certain features be locked out by various providers if I activate an unlocked phone, or is it completely dependent on the particular hardware and its capabilities? (I'll take the specifics to the SG II thread).

Ideally, I'd like to get the super cheap T-Mobile pre-paid plan, which is ~$30 for 1600 minutes, unlimited text, and 30mb data.

 

[zinfamous]

Why would some things require a data plan? All a data plan is just a plan for use of Web and other IP-based data via the carrier's telecoms network. Basically, it's a charge for Internet use via their network. If one just uses wi-fi for Web browsing and other IP activity, then the same data will come in, but a mobile carrier cannot charge you for that. If you use Facebook on your data plan, and then on your wi-fi connection, Rogers cannot charge you if your using the wi-fi of a friend, a public wi-fi in a large city, or a university campus wi-fi.

I'm finally starting to understand this. (I've been on dumb phones all this time).

so, a provider data plan is basically the AOL or Prodigy model?

I *hope* it's only a matter of time, then, that such a model becomes relegated to the older people that don't understand the difference....yeah right--we still pay for texts in the US.

 

[gaidensensei]

I think there are a few processes/apps that are dependent on mobile data and won't work with wireless lan, but these are by far the minor few that doesn't concern the average user. For ex, MMS (picture messages) is dependent on data.

Also, on Android you can simply turn off mobile data. Its somewhere in the settings depending on which flavor and version of Android you are using.

This. You can toggle and disable the mobile data anytime by newer versions of HTC phones or certain roms for certain phones (cyanogen for one). Or you simply just delete or don't enter right info in the APN for data.

 

[mammador]

I'm finally starting to understand this. (I've been on dumb phones all this time).

so, a provider data plan is basically the AOL or Prodigy model?

I *hope* it's only a matter of time, then, that such a model becomes relegated to the older people that don't understand the difference....yeah right--we still pay for texts in the US.

What is the AOL or Prodigy model? I don't live in the US, so I'm not familiar with US carriers' products.

Another example is that the data plan sends IP-based data (web, e-mail, etc.) via the cell towers, but wi-fi would be via an ISP's computer networks. So a carrier would charge for a data plan, but cannot charge for wi-fi.

 

[zinfamous]

What is the AOL or Prodigy model? I don't live in the US, so I'm not familiar with US carriers' products.

Another example is that the data plan sends IP-based data (web, e-mail, etc.) via the cell towers, but wi-fi would be via an ISP's computer networks. So a carrier would charge for a data plan, but cannot charge for wi-fi.

it's old, hilarious, and outdated. AOL was basically a browser that you pay a monthly fee to use. You pay your telecom for internet access, then you had to pay AOL for...."internet access."

Then Netscape and others came along. Microsoft embedded IE in Windows and AoL went bye-bye--of course AOL cried foul, but their ridiculous scammery had no chance of surviving, anyway.

You still see people, from time to time, with @AOL email addresses. It is funny.

 

[s44]

it's old, hilarious, and outdated. AOL was basically a browser that you pay a monthly fee to use. You pay your telecom for internet access, then you had to pay AOL for...."internet access."

Were you even alive then? Because you're remembering it wrong.

AOL was huge because it was most non-tech people's first dial-up ISP. Connecting phone modems to the internet backbone was never costless. It wasn't a scam until many years later when everyone got cable modem service, but that's when they collapsed anyway.

 

[zinfamous]

Were you even alive then? Because you're remembering it wrong.

AOL was huge because it was most non-tech people's first dial-up ISP. Connecting phone modems to the internet backbone was never costless. It wasn't a scam until many years later when everyone got cable modem service, but that's when they collapsed anyway.

I was in high school, bro.

but I wasn't using the internet in the AOL days because...I don't know, I didn't give two fucksticks about it.