iPhone - Unexpected data charges

Ga1way

I've got an unlocked and jailbroken iPhone 3G and recently updated to iOS4.
I'm on Vodafone prepay and after a few weeks I noticed my credit was dropping even when calls and texts hadn't been made.
I hadn't noticed that the "Cellular Data" option was on by default and turning it off stopped the unexpected charges immediately.

But I'm confused.
I only ever use the iPhone online when on the home WiFi.
3G is always turned off and I've never bought any data packages for the phone.

Even with cellular data turned on, how is it possible that anything was downloaded, and thus my credit dropping?
Could it be an error on Vodafone's part?
Any ideas?

Thanks for reading.

Gregor Samsa

Do you have any Push notifications turned on? Email, Facebook or anything like that?

Ga1way

The notification setting was on when I checked a moment ago.
I turned it off.
No apps had permission to use notifications anyway.
I never use notifications and turn them off to save battery.

dingding

It was probably using the 3G to sync email and outlook.

Ga1way

I don't check email on the iPhone.
And I'm pretty sure 3G was off the entire time.
Even if it wasn't, is it possible to use data without any kind of data plan?

Dodge

Its possible alright, they'll charge you the normal rates. The plan only helps you, not them

Maybe your notifications or syncs were using Edge or similar rather than 3g?

dee o gee

I got an iphone yesterday (vodafone prepay), only been using it about 24 hours. Iv dropped over €4 credit since then, Iv free texts and Iv only made 1 call (which lasted all of about 5 seconds), I haven't left the house at all since I got it, Iv just been using our wifi on it. Just noticed the cellular data option has been on since I got it but the 3G has been off. What is cellular data and can it eat up over €4 credit in 24 hours?

Tom Dunne

dee o gee wrote: »

What is cellular data and can it eat up over €4 credit in 24 hours?

Cellular data is transferring data over the mobile phone network, which, of course, you are charged a lot for.

Apps use data, therefore apps are connecting to the internet via the
mobile phone network, hence why you are being charged.

whiterebel

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Cellular data is transferring data over the mobile phone network, which, of course, you are charged a lot for.

Apps use data, therefore apps are connecting to the internet via the
mobile phone network, hence why you are being charged.

They have been in their house using home WiFi since they got it?

wilfitz

I'm on vodafone prepay too. I top up by 30 euro a month and get free calls and texts to vodafone and free Internet. I think ur only allowed 250mb so I only really use my iPhone on the 3G network for emails, facebook etc. Don't watch videos and stuff that use alot of data. Text freenet to 50222 to sign up to this offer.

Tom Dunne

whiterebel wrote: »

They have been in their house using home WiFi since they got it?

But it is obviously using the provider's network - how else would credit disappear? Perhaps there is a wifi blackspot where the phone reverts to the mobile connection.

mono_mac

wilfitz wrote: »

I'm on vodafone prepay too. I top up by 30 euro a month and get free calls and texts to vodafone and free Internet. I think ur only allowed 250mb so I only really use my iPhone on the 3G network for emails, facebook etc. Don't watch videos and stuff that use alot of data. Text freenet to 50222 to sign up to this offer.

how did you unlock- is your battery draining quickly to

wilfitz

I was originally with O2 and got out of contract. Apple unlocked my phone. Battery pretty much lasts a day for me but sometimes less. All depends on usage. Have a charger in my car and work so if its getting low i usually stick it on charge for a while.

Bravadin

Had a similar issue a while back. I rang customer care about a day after and they could tell me where the credit went. It takes a day or so to get through the system so the care team can see what happened but they do have records

Willbbz

Could be in app ads? With no data plan it'll cost (x) amount to download them

bd250110

When we were trained for the introduction of iPhone we were told that to conserve battery power iPhone kills WiFi and GPS whenever the screen is blank. i.e. in 'sleep' mode. HOWEVER apps, e-mail, etc are still active and then use EDGE/3G. iPhone does not require 3G for internet connectivity. Indeed the original iPhone was EDGE (or even GPRS, God help us!) only. This is why you will see your credit apparently 'disappearing'. I can't tell you the number of people who have come into the store irate about this.

I would strongly advise getting some sort of data package and you can use your iPhone whenever, wherever, without worrying about the charges. Like all smartphones, it's not the same without a data connection.

Tom Dunne

...or you could just turn off cellular data altogether and only use wifi.

Jakmeehan

Tom Dunne wrote: »

...or you could just turn off cellular data altogether and only use wifi.

Unless you carry a WiFi hotspot around with you 24/7 (which you would be paying for monthly anyway) this may not be feasible for some/most users. What if you want to use the internet/check email/receive push notifications while out and about?

Wolverine359

I find the easiest way to avoid unexpected charges is to switch off 3G and cellular data. If you go to Settings, then General, and then Network, you can disable 3G and switch Cellular Data off to avoid Edge data charges, it's very handy to re-enable them again if you're outside a wi-fi zone and need to check email etc. Wi-fi can be left on all the time for free hotspot access without having to worry about being charged.

Tom Dunne

Jakmeehan wrote: »

Unless you carry a WiFi hotspot around with you 24/7 (which you would be paying for monthly anyway) this may not be feasible for some/most users. What if you want to use the internet/check email/receive push notifications while out and about?

Well then get a data plan.

Creamy Goodness

a smartphone without a data plan is like a nuclear power plant without a dental plan...




lisa needs braces

Dodge

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

a smartphone without a data plan is like

an ipod touch that can make calls

dee o gee

Cellular data has been off now since my last post and Iv dropped no credit. Will have to look into a data plan.

It's hard to imagine life pre-iphone already! So handy!

wilfitz wrote: »

I'm on vodafone prepay too. I top up by 30 euro a month and get free calls and texts to vodafone and free Internet. I think ur only allowed 250mb so I only really use my iPhone on the 3G network for emails, facebook etc. Don't watch videos and stuff that use alot of data. Text freenet to 50222 to sign up to this offer.

Thank you, will look into that. Can you get this offer with free texts to all networks instead of free calls and texts to vodafone? Most people I text are either meteor or O2. :rolleyes: Suppose i could just get this and use eirtext to text non-vodafone people.