Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

C64

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2008
1,236
222
Since Siri requires an internet connection, I assume it submits and receives data every time you use it. It's probably not much since it's pretty fast, but still. Does anyone know how much data Siri requires with, say, regular daily use?

I ask because I'm wondering whether or not to take Siri into account when choosing my data plan. I don't use 3G that often, just for things like mail, Twitter, RSS. But if Siri turns out to require a lot of data...
 

BiggAW

macrumors 68030
Jun 19, 2010
2,563
176
Connecticut
Since Siri requires an internet connection, I assume it submits and receives data every time you use it. It's probably not much since it's pretty fast, but still. Does anyone know how much data Siri requires with, say, regular daily use?

I ask because I'm wondering whether or not to take Siri into account when choosing my data plan. I don't use 3G that often, just for things like mail, Twitter, RSS. But if Siri turns out to require a lot of data...

Both carriers give you 2GB, which is more than enough for anything Siri would do.
 

Thetonyk123

macrumors 68000
Aug 14, 2011
1,627
1
Earth
Siri probably isn't that much because apple probably wants the 200mb data plan people to expierence the joy of siri to.
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,859
5,445
Atlanta
An iPhone on 200MB? *Laughs*. It's like buying a Ferrari and limiting it to a gallon of gas a month. The normal plan is 2GB, which is more than plenty for really utilizing a smartphone.

You may find it funny but that is the "normal" plan offered. Also your analogue is flawed since you can have all the gas you want for free to drive on the track. If you primarily drive on the track then you may only need a gallon of gas for the street. :D
 

gnagy

macrumors regular
Sep 7, 2009
166
15
Since Siri requires an internet connection, I assume it submits and receives data every time you use it. It's probably not much since it's pretty fast, but still. Does anyone know how much data Siri requires with, say, regular daily use?

I ask because I'm wondering whether or not to take Siri into account when choosing my data plan. I don't use 3G that often, just for things like mail, Twitter, RSS. But if Siri turns out to require a lot of data...

I just did a test. If you go into Settings->General->Usage->Cellular Usage, you can clear the stats.

I asked Siri about the weather, and I told her to tell me a story.

Sent: 30 KB
Received: 26 KB

So, it doesn't seem to use a whole lot of data.
 

geopanich

macrumors newbie
Oct 11, 2011
18
0
North Carolina
An iPhone on 200MB? *Laughs*. It's like buying a Ferrari and limiting it to a gallon of gas a month. The normal plan is 2GB, which is more than plenty for really utilizing a smartphone.

200MB is plenty most of the time. If you go over, just back-date a data plan change to the beginning of the month. Otherwise, we save $10 a month on data. If you can afford a Ferrari, then by all means, buy that 2GB plan.
 

MooneyFlyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 18, 2007
1,484
0
Boston
I just did a test. If you go into Settings->General->Usage->Cellular Usage, you can clear the stats.

I asked Siri about the weather, and I told her to tell me a story.

Sent: 30 KB
Received: 26 KB

So, it doesn't seem to use a whole lot of data.

I did a similar test and asked about the weather only.
Sent: 16 KB
Received: 13 KB


An iPhone on 200MB? *Laughs*. It's like buying a Ferrari and limiting it to a gallon of gas a month. The normal plan is 2GB, which is more than plenty for really utilizing a smartphone.

Most people I know keep it around 200MB and AT&T's site makes it pretty easy to tell. I travel a bunch and range between 300-500. I did hit ~750MB last month after streaming XM Radio and Skype video on 3G. So, for many people, if they have WiFi available, 200MB is not that unreasonable for normal usage (ie, not streaming video).
 

BiggAW

macrumors 68030
Jun 19, 2010
2,563
176
Connecticut
200MB is plenty most of the time. If you go over, just back-date a data plan change to the beginning of the month. Otherwise, we save $10 a month on data. If you can afford a Ferrari, then by all means, buy that 2GB plan.

I paid $400 for my iPhone, and I darn well want to get a lot out of the device. This requires a lot of data (for a smartphone), and thus, the 2GB plan. I don't want a crippled device that's basically an iPod Touch with phone calls and texting to save $10/mo, I want a real integrated smartphone device.
 

appleguy123

macrumors 604
Apr 1, 2009
6,867
2,555
15 minutes in the future
I paid $400 for my iPhone, and I darn well want to get a lot out of the device. This requires a lot of data (for a smartphone), and thus, the 2GB plan. I don't want a crippled device that's basically an iPod Touch with phone calls and texting to save $10/mo, I want a real integrated smartphone device.

Cool story. But luckily you don't make decisions for everyone, nor is everyone in your situation.
 

tenshu2k

macrumors member
Oct 13, 2002
42
0
200mb is pretty easy to manage by in some areas. In Mountain View for example we have free Wi-Fi pretty much everywhere.
 

macking104

macrumors 6502
Jan 14, 2003
345
18
California, USA
From the ToS:
(c) Siri. If your iOS Device supports Siri, which includes the dictation feature, these features allow you to make requests, give commands and dictate text to your device using your voice. When you use Siri, the things you say will be recorded and sent to Apple to process your requests. Your device will also send Apple other information, such as your first name and nickname; the names, nicknames, and relationship with you (e.g., “my dad”) of your address book contacts; and song names in your collection (collectively, your “User Data”). All of this data is used to help Siri understand you better and recognize what you say. It is not linked to other data that Apple may have from your use of other Apple services. By using Siri, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its subsidiaries’ and agents’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing, and use of this information, including your voice input and User Data, to provide and improve Siri and other Apple products and services. If you have Location Services turned on, the location of your iOS Device at the time you make a request will also be sent to Apple to help Siri improve the accuracy of its response to your location-based requests. You may disable the location-based functionality of Siri by going to the Location Services setting on your iOS Device and turning off the individual location setting for Siri. You can also turn off Siri altogether at any time. To do so, open Settings, tap General, tap Siri, and slide the Siri switch to “off”. You may also restrict the ability to use Siri under the Restrictions Setting.
 

geopanich

macrumors newbie
Oct 11, 2011
18
0
North Carolina
I paid $400 for my iPhone, and I darn well want to get a lot out of the device. This requires a lot of data (for a smartphone), and thus, the 2GB plan. I don't want a crippled device that's basically an iPod Touch with phone calls and texting to save $10/mo, I want a real integrated smartphone device.

I should preface that I spend most of my day on Wi-Fi, which provides much faster speeds than 3G. I don't want a crippled device either, which is another reason to avoid 3G with AT&T!
 

BiggAW

macrumors 68030
Jun 19, 2010
2,563
176
Connecticut
I should preface that I spend most of my day on Wi-Fi, which provides much faster speeds than 3G. I don't want a crippled device either, which is another reason to avoid 3G with AT&T!

A crippled device? It's the same device on Verizon or Sprint, except that theirs is 1/3rd as fast on the network side as AT&T's.
 

nishishei

macrumors regular
Jun 5, 2005
203
0
Most people nowadays have Wifi at home and work/school. They're really only using cellular data during the commute or out at night. 200mb is enough if you don't stream music or videos, and download your apps over wifi.
 

BiggAW

macrumors 68030
Jun 19, 2010
2,563
176
Connecticut
Most people nowadays have Wifi at home and work/school. They're really only using cellular data during the commute or out at night. 200mb is enough if you don't stream music or videos, and download your apps over wifi.

Oh yeah, because wifi is perfect and 200MB goes a long way... not.
 

gentlefury

macrumors 68030
Jul 21, 2011
2,889
67
Los Angeles, CA
I dont understand how 200MB is enough for anyone! I average about 5-6GB / month (unlimited plan).....even the 2GB is insulting! They release these data centric phones than gouge us on the data! It's so annoying!

----------

Most people nowadays have Wifi at home and work/school. They're really only using cellular data during the commute or out at night. 200mb is enough if you don't stream music or videos, and download your apps over wifi.

The only reason I started turning on WiFi is because of the auto-sync feature in iOS 5...otherwise I have never used it on my iPhone...i pay for data!! Why would I use wifi??
 

HazyCloud

macrumors 68030
Jun 30, 2010
2,779
37
I dont understand how 200MB is enough for anyone! I average about 5-6GB / month (unlimited plan).....even the 2GB is insulting! They release these data centric phones than gouge us on the data! It's so annoying!

----------



The only reason I started turning on WiFi is because of the auto-sync feature in iOS 5...otherwise I have never used it on my iPhone...i pay for data!! Why would I use wifi??

I've had an iPhone since the 3G with unlimited data and I've only gone over 2 GBs once and that was during last year's NCAA March Madness. The devices only destroy your data if you sit around and watch Netflix and tether all day. Standard browsing and watching a few videos will keep you under 2 GBs.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.