Data charges on Android

[Rvp11james]

Hi guys,

Recently got android running on my hd2 - just wondering about data charges.
I'm on orange with a 500mb allowance - does android charge more for data or is it the same as WinMo?

I'd only be downloading apps over wifi...and stay clear of youtube on 3g...

Thanks.

 

[Talderon]

Android does not charge you for data, however, if you are referring to data usage, it's almost impossible to tell how much more or less since we don't know your usage habits.

Keeping that in mind, if you are needing to keep control of data usage, don't have anything Auto-Sync. Set everything to sync manually. This way you can make it so there is almost no data usage at all unless you open an application and tell it to use data.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rvp11james]

Hi Talderon,

Thanks for your reply.

I've set everything to manually sync and i've installed a data counter as well.

What i was trying to get at was that if i keep my use-age the same on android as i did on windows mobile (never gone near using 500mb) will i be charged the same? i.e. just using facebook, twitter, emails etc...

Thanks alot.

 

[Talderon]

Hi Talderon,

Thanks for your reply.

I've set everything to manually sync and i've installed a data counter as well.

What i was trying to get at was that if i keep my use-age the same on android as i did on windows mobile (never gone near using 500mb) will i be charged the same? i.e. just using facebook, twitter, emails etc...

Thanks alot.

Without knowing for sure how the apps for the different OS's are written to pull data for their respective apps, I can't tell you for certain. However, I am sure if you have everything set to Manual Sync and just use as needed when not on wifi, then you seem to be on the right track to keep your data usage well under control.

I would not imagine the android versions of the apps would use more data than other OS's.

Hope that helped!

 

[Rvp11james]

Just a final question,

When i start android up, i'll check the task manager and have apps running in the background like tune in radio, facebook etc.
Are these apps actually running, or just cached? Will they be using data?

Thanks

 

[Talderon]

Just a final question,

When i start android up, i'll check the task manager and have apps running in the background like tune in radio, facebook etc.
Are these apps actually running, or just cached? Will they be using data?

Thanks

They are running, however, if they are using data, you'll have to see about it through your data usage meter app. If you check in Settings > Accounts and Sync, and it is set to manual, then it won't be using data unless you tell it to refresh. Not sure about Tune In Radio since I have no recollection of using that one.