ATT Data Usage

[applehappy]

Is anyone else experiencing a spike in cell data usage since upgrading to iOS 5? I am on the ATT 200MB plan, which is always plenty for me, I am usually on wifi.

I got billed for overage and looked online and can see that my phone is SENDING chunks of data, (5, 10, once even 40MB) and it just says "phone" for who it is sent to.

Am I missing something here? Is photo syncing doing this? I have enable 3G turned off in the STORE.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dotme]

Ha - I just got done analyzing my AT&T data usage too. On their site, they show I sent about 10MB of data at 3am. My iPhone was charging, well within range of my WiFi network, while I was sleeping. Hmmm...

I know the actual cellular data use on my phone is usually off compared to what AT&T shows me on my account with them, but they definitely think I was sleep-surfing last night.

One thing I've always been aware of, though, is that after a few minutes on Standby, the iPhone likes to ditch any connected WiFi networks in favor of 3G and I don't know why. I don't have the 200MB limit with AT&T, but if I did, I'd either jump to the next level with them, or turn off Cellular Data on the phone while at home.

 

[applehappy]

But iCloud is supposed to use wifi only for photo sync, wifi sync, etc. What is going on here?

 

[EJ257]

One thing I've always been aware of, though, is that after a few minutes on Standby, the iPhone likes to ditch any connected WiFi networks in favor of 3G and I don't know why.

I think this is by design. The OS is setup so that it puts the wifi to sleep and stay connected only with 3G. I have noticed this as far back as ios3. When I unlock my phone it usually takes a second or two for the wifi icon to come back (indicating its ready to use?). This makes sense from a connection perspective. The 3G radio will give you the most functionality (allows you to receive data as well as calls). However if you need to send any substantial amount of data it should activate the fastest connection available (thus limiting the time it has to transmit) and save power. Unless there is code in iOS somewhere that explicitly tells the phone to keep wifi off and just use 3G in those situations like when its on standby on your nightstand as you sleep.

 

[dim.jr]

I've noticed a data spike too. I need to start using wifi a lot more now. I don't know if 200 mb is enough now....

 

[sevimli]

my solution: turn off the cellular data at home/work.

WIFI is enough for me, so I don't need to worry about data uploads/downloads in the middle of the night.

 

[elaniemay]

You probably know this, but you can dial *3282# and a text message will be sent to you that tells you your current data usage. I have unlimited, so I never care to check, but this thread made me curious...good LORD, I'm so glad we have unlimited! My line alone pulled in 3368 for this month (cycle ends tomorrow). I'd die if I had to keep it under 200...even my husband pulled just under 800...

 

[MBHockey]

I have used 300-500 mb a month for three years but after upgrading to iOS 5 on my iPhone 4 i am up to 800 mb with 13 days left on my billing cycle.

Something's definitely up.

 

[yanki01]

wifi at home so my data has dropped. although i have unlimited w/ att.