Reducing data consumption on my Android

[Internaut]

I'm posting here instead of a dedicated Android forum because there will be iPhone users here who've had the same issue with Android (I hope).

For my sins I'm on a business trip to West Africa at the moment and the data roaming costs are quite hideous (£8 per megabyte and the phone used six of these in no time flat, without me daring to launch the Facebook app). Here is what I want to do:

- Little emailing over 3G, but only when away from the hotel WiFi
- I don't mind notification (i.e. from Facebook or Tweestcaster) as long as these are kilobytes.

Mail is set to sync two weeks worth of emails and download 50 kilobytes per message received on the phone.

Is there any way further reduce data consumption, beyond never using things like Facebook when away from hotel WiFi?

The Android phone in question is a Galaxy S3. Prior to the S3, I had a 3GS which was quite a bit more frugal with the data. Prior to the S3, I had Blackberry, which was ultra frugal with the data.

 

[Tarzanman]

Turn off mobile data. Should be a toggle in the settings somewhere. Don't worry about emails when you're away from the hotel. Text messaging should work just fine.

Wifi should still work like normal when you are near a hotspot.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I use Onavo Extend. It works great.

 

[mib1800]

I'm posting here instead of a dedicated Android forum because there will be iPhone users here who've had the same issue with Android (I hope).

For my sins I'm on a business trip to West Africa at the moment and the data roaming costs are quite hideous (£8 per megabyte and the phone used six of these in no time flat, without me daring to launch the Facebook app). Here is what I want to do:

- Little emailing over 3G, but only when away from the hotel WiFi
- I don't mind notification (i.e. from Facebook or Tweestcaster) as long as these are kilobytes.

Mail is set to sync two weeks worth of emails and download 50 kilobytes per message received on the phone.

Is there any way further reduce data consumption, beyond never using things like Facebook when away from hotel WiFi?

The Android phone in question is a Galaxy S3. Prior to the S3, I had a 3GS which was quite a bit more frugal with the data. Prior to the S3, I had Blackberry, which was ultra frugal with the data.

In Playstore->settings turn off "auto-update". This really use a lot of data.
Also turn google+/facebook photo background upload if you dont need it.

 

[Internaut]

Turn off mobile data. Should be a toggle in the settings somewhere. Don't worry about emails when you're away from the hotel. Text messaging should work just fine.

Wifi should still work like normal when you are near a hotspot.

That would work. Unfortunately, the only place I have WiFi is the hotel. My customer gives me a WiFi code but this is for one device only.

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In Playstore->settings turn off "auto-update". This really use a lot of data.
Also turn google+/facebook photo background upload if you dont need it.

I'm on a fairly limited data plan at home, so I have anything that syncs photos set to WiFi only.

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I use Onavo Extend. It works great.

Oh, this looks like the answer, both at home and abroad! Thank you.

 

[0dev]

Get a local SIM card and use that. I always do that when I go on holiday.

 

[Internaut]

Get a local SIM card and use that. I always do that when I go on holiday.

This is Ivory Coast, a country that was at war with itself just a couple of years back. Getting a local SIM isn't trivial (my customer is looking into it) as regulations mean I can't just buy one at the airport on arrival.

Even in sleepy, peaceful Benin, third country to the left of me, I had to register my SIM card at a phone shop with passport from letter and hotel.

 

[0dev]

This is Ivory Coast, a country that was at war with itself just a couple of years back. Getting a local SIM isn't trivial (my customer is looking into it) as regulations mean I can't just buy one at the airport on arrival.

Even in sleepy, peaceful Benin, third country to the left of me, I had to register my SIM card at a phone shop with passport from letter and hotel.

Sorry, I just assumed you could pick up a pay as you go SIM anywhere these days. Guess not.