3g/Wifi Questions

[essenceofire]

I'm interested in getting the captivate as my first ever smartphone and have a few questions.

1. I'll be getting the 200mb data plan, and I read somewhere that to make/receive phone calls it requires 3G...does that mean when I make/receive phone calls it'll use my data?

2. I read that the JuiceDefender app will make it so my phone will only connect to wifi and not 3G unless I need it to. I've read mixed reviews on whether or not you can text/call with 3G off...can someone clarify?


3. Also, what is EDGE? I see a lot of people talking about it here and I couldn't figure out what it was with a google search either.


Thank you!

 

[drosseau]

Talking on the phone will not use your 3g. I have the 200 mb plan and it is enough for me. I check facebook a few times a day, send/receive about 10 emails, and check a few things online. I also try to use the gps to drive sometimes. I never ready come close to my limit. EDGE is the slower internet that the phone can connect to. You could call it 2g. I just want to warn you about the gps. Some people have one that works great. This is my 4th captivate and the gps has been spotty at best on all 3. That is why I an getting the atrix instead. Hope this helps

 

[automagrt]

I have the 200MB plan and never come close to going over. However, I try not to use the internet unless I'm connected to WiFi although I do allow background data. I try to schedule it for when I know I'll be at home connected to WiFi. Froyo (Android 2.2) gives you more options in controlling data usage. No data is used to make a phone call or send a text. MMS does use data but shouldn't count against your 200MB. JuiceDefender will let you setup policies for connecting to 3G but I've never found a need for it.

 

[essenceofire]

JuiceDefender will let you setup policies for connecting to 3G but I've never found a need for it.

Yeah I found a thread from here posted in august about turning off 3G entirely but I think it was a previous version of JD and I'm unsure how to configure it for the version I have.

I've used like 45 kb today, which I know isn't much but still, I have 3G as disabled as I can (no background sync, no address book sync). I know Advanced Task Killer uses a small amount of data, but I don't use it as much to get 45 kb worth.

I'm just a little nervous about going over, I went app happy yesterday (my first day) and am already at 20% of my usage. I'm sticking to wifi now, but I still don't understand why if I have everything turned off it still seems to be using some data.


Also, kinda unrelated: Can I update my phone to froyo via wifi or do I need to do it on my computer? I have a 64 bit Windows 7 laptop, and it says on the website only 32bit.

 

[LMaxwell]

Unless you turn off data completely, the phone will use some data, no matter what you do. It's a smartphone, smartphones use data. I don't use ATK personally, but unless it's showing ads, I don't see why it would use data. Task killers are a waste of time anyway IMO.

No, you can't update to froyo over wifi, you have to use a computer and Kies. Pay no attention to what the website says, Kies works fine on 64-bit W7. The only thing I've seen that it has a problem with is IE9.