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Queston about WiFi usage at home

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Drunder40

Well-Known Member
I use WiFi at home and I was wondering what types of data will use the WiFi at your house when connected.

Will text msgs, web browsing and sending pictures via my S3 phone use the WiFi connection and if so will I still incur any charges by Verizon?

Is there a cost advantage to using WiFi vice 4G data at home.

Any info would be greatly appreciated
 
from what i know, facebook, email sync, web browsing, whatsapp and other IM apps will use wifi.

basic sms and mms still uses the mobile network
 
SMS and MMS will still use your cellular connection, even if on WiFi. Those will count against the messaging limits on your account, not data. far as I know all (US) carriers just count how many of these things you can receive/send (unless unlimited). Size doesn't matter.

Data (the internet, basically everything everything except SMS/MMS and voice calls) will use WiFi at home (not 3/4G). You'll save on your data limit per month. WiFi works better than 3g/4g for many people depending on how good their 3g/4g signal is at home (or work, or where wifi is available). Using WiFi can save your battery as well (vs. 4G).

EDIT: this has nothing to do w/ the S3 specifically, expect this thread to be moved.
 
Correct. SMS/MMS uses and and require your cell tower connection. But they do not use your data. Obviously phone calls need the cell tower connection too but also do not use data. Everything else is data service that will use your WiFi.
 
ferret141 said:
Can you not turn your data off manually while you are at home to ensure that you do not incur any charges.
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Yes, but to send a picture message, its going to need to use your data.

Well, the obviously cost advantage is you use less of your data plan. It would theoretically stop you from going over your limit.
 
ferret141 said:
Can you not turn your data off manually while you are at home to ensure that you do not incur any charges.
Click to expand...

You could turn off the mobile data button in the notification menu. But it is pointless. WiFi connectivity overrides 3G data. It will not use it so long as WiFi is connected.
 
mcl1981 said:
You could turn off the mobile data button in the notification menu. But it is pointless. WiFi connectivity overrides 3G data. It will not use it so long as WiFi is connected.
Click to expand...

Except sending and receiving MMS as previously mentioned.
 
Right. I forget about that all the time. Since I use Google Voice integration, MMS is not supported and I never use it.
 
It is hopefully a dying trend. It was not long ago that was the only way to send photos from a phone. But now that even the cheapest piece of shit can do e-mail, it has definitely been surpassed.

However, it does still have one advantage. Small and fast. Try sending a 2mb photo over data vs sending a small shrunk mms photo over data and see what gets there first. In application that could quickly shrink and e-mail would be great.
 
mcl1981 said:
You could turn off the mobile data button in the notification menu. But it is pointless. WiFi connectivity overrides 3G data. It will not use it so long as WiFi is connected.
Click to expand...
I know that's no longer related to the OP's problem.

Will it not switch 3G if it deems the current wi-fi connection is too weak to be maintained?
 
ferret141 said:
I know that's no longer related to the OP's problem.

Will it not switch 3G if it deems the current wi-fi connection is too weak to be maintained?
Click to expand...

Nope. In fact it is totally dumb. If your WiFi has no internet connection at all, like your DSL/Cable modem is crapped out, it will just sit there doing nothing.
 
mcl1981 said:
That makes no sense. First you would have to send the picture from your phone to the PC.
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Which takes a matter of seconds with Bluetooth or with AllShare Play a fraction of a second.My carrier charges 30p per MMS, as opposed to nothing if I use an email.
 
Still makes no sense. The extra steps required, and using a whole other device, completely negate the point. The whole point is the simplicity of sending it directly from the phone with a few clicks. Done.
 
The whole point of a mobile phone is that you use it when you are mobile. It makes no sense paying 30p a time when you can send them for free.
 
Ballymoss said:
It makes no sense paying 30p a time when you can send them for free.
Click to expand...

That much I agree with. I enjoy my unlimited everything plan here in the USA. However, the part about "only when you're mobile" is simply not reality anymore. Most people do not turn off their phone and hide it when they get home. It has become the primary communication and multimedia tool at home, work, and on the road.
 
I never said "ONLY when you are mobile". Personally when I at home my "primary communication devices" are my landline and my PC. If I send photo's attached to emails I don't have to wait while they are "compressed" nor watch the little whirly thing go round while my phone tries to send them.
 
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