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Just forced off Unlimited data. What exactly uses up your data?

K

katrinalee89

Lurker
I chose the 2gb plan even though I normally use over 3gb. I know whn I had unlimited, I never taped into Wi-fi, so I think 2gb is enough. But how do you make sure your not using data when you don't need to?
I like to leave my GPS on (location/not maps) in case I lose my phone, I have an app that will find it or shut it down. Does that use data from your plan? If so, is it only an insignificant amount?
While outside of a Wi-fi connection, do apps or internet windows still use up data if I haven't actually "killed them". Like, if they are still possibly running in the background? A lot of times, when I exit my browser I jist hit the home screen. I don't actually exit. Advance task killer always shows apps running. Do those use up my data or only when I'm actually using them?
When you have Wi-fi on, is your data automatically turned off?

Sorry it's long and a lot of questions. Any answers or advice would be extremely appreciated!
 
Welcome to the forums, Katrinalee! :wavey:
I'm still fortunate to be on unlimited, but I know that day will come when I'm not so I feel your pain.
Couple things. What phone do you have? If you're on Android 4.0+ there are settings that limit the amount of data you use and warn you when you come close to your 2Gb cap (or you can set it lower and force data over wifi only)
Also, if you are on 4.0+, you can look at what apps use the most data. Generally speaking, those are ones that stream media. Rhapsody uses the bulk of mine.
Background services use data like syncing your Gmail, Twitter or Facebook accounts. You can turn that off and only have them sync at certain times or only when you force it to update. It doesn't use much data, but something you can certainly control.
I don't recommend using a task killer to control data usage, it will do more harm than good on your phone.
Another tip is if you have MyVerizon app installed (which should be on nearly every VZW phone), there's a handy data usage widget you can put on your homescreen which monitors in real time your data usage.
If you need any more tips or how to's, let us know! :)
 
Thanks! I have the new Note II with Jellybean. I love the limit feature, that will help out a lot because I probably won't pay much attention some times. The sync advice is great as well. It's unnecessary for it sync my email and Facebook while I'm working and in class. Do you know about the GPS location tracking? While I am out and about (shopping, etc. which can be quite often) I leave my GPS location tracking on incase I lose my phone. I also have a weather app and live wallpaper that shows the weather on your home screen. Do you know anything about that?
Thanks so much for your knowledge. :)
 
Its ridiculous they limit people to 2GB with these 4G LTE phones. On my iPhone 5, can easily go through 200-300MB a day! I know if I had an Android phone, the data usage would be even higher!
 
You can also set your profile in the Google Play store to only update apps over wifi. It looks like more than half of my apps are due for an update and if I were to update them all over data, it would use a decent amount. Every little bit helps.

I keep my GPS on all the time and the data use is negligible. We have 3 phones SHARING 2 gigs of data and have never gone over. Just be sensible. If you like to stream music or videos, try to do that where you have a wifi connection. If you're out and about and need directions, go ahead and use your data.

Wifi is your friend!
 
chris2k5 said:
Its ridiculous they limit people to 2GB with these 4G LTE phones. On my iPhone 5, can easily go through 200-300MB a day! I know if I had an Android phone, the data usage would be even higher!
Click to expand...

:P Then why have an Iphone?
The day my unlimited disappears will be a bad day.
 
nomarsgirl said:
if I were to update them all over data, it would use a decent amount.
Click to expand...

This is how I chew through data. I've begun regularly using around a GB/month myself just because of this alone.

I really need to switch that to wifi only.
 
When I picked up my DNA, the CSR was explaining to the customer next to me that she wouldn't be able to stream with the 2GB plan. I just thought to myself well he is right but how dumb is that that you are selling such a great phone and then telling them they can't use it fully, even though they are paying as much as they are each month for your service. But yeah if you don't stream, upload or download media, or update apps, you will have plenty. :rolleyes:
 
AntimonyER said:
When I picked up my DNA, the CSR was explaining to the customer next to me that she wouldn't be able to stream with the 2GB plan. I just thought to myself well he is right but how dumb is that that you are selling such a great phone and then telling them they can't use it fully, even though they are paying as much as they are each month for your service. But yeah if you don't stream, upload or download media, or update apps, you will have plenty. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I agree completely, but there are ways to use wifi for the things that chew the most data without feeling deprived. Do you really need to update your apps immediately when the update is available no matter where you are? I don't think it is a sacrifice to wait to do that until I am home or near a wifi hotspot. I travel a lot, but I still have access to wifi a large portion of the time. I sit around in airports quite a bit. Most of them now offer free wifi. I can connect to that and stream away. I store music on my phone so I have something to listen to while I'm on site or on a plane. I switch up the playlists while I have wifi.

I don't hesitate to check facebook, browse the web or my read my e-mail over data, although I do try to avoid downloading large attachments to my emails. They are too cumbersome to read on the phone anyway and can wait until I'm at my computer. I often find myself in unfamiliar cities and I don't hesitate to check maps or Yelp over data to find out what is nearby.

I may not be the typical user. Even when I had unlimited, I always used wifi at home because there is no 4G service where I live. There isn't even 3G. I actually had to get a network extender just to be able to make phone calls. I know a lot of you have great service at home and feel like you shouldn't have to use wifi. I think there should be an unlimited option available for people who use their mobile phone as their primary network connection. It would certainly cost more than $30/month though. I pay Verizon Fios now for my high-speed internet service at home. Even if I had mobile data available, why would I chew up my data allowance when I can just log onto the wifi I already pay for with no limit?
 
i have 2 smartphones the HTC Rezound and HTC Droid DNA,and i find maps uses nearly the most data on my DNA,and not on my rezound,of coarse i am obsessed with running speed tests they eat up data,in my first week with the DNA i went through 1 gb of data,i have 4GB of shared,
 
I just browsed through the answers here really quick, so sorry if someone else said this, but I find this site helpful it predicting my data needs:

http://www.vzw.com/datacalculator

In the lower right corner is a list of the typical data usage of certain activities like streaming music or videos.
 
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