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GOING OVER YOUR data limit is never a fun experience. With apps requiring more data and phone providers keeping data caps at the same level, it means that you need to be careful about how you use your mobile data.
While there are measures you can take that will help reduce the amount of mobile data used, knowing how much is used for each app is always a start. Here’s how to keep things in check.
iPhone
The least straightforward of the three main OS platforms, you can check to see how much data is used, but you can at least see how much mobile data is going towards which apps.
All you need to do is go into settings > mobile and scroll down to see all of your apps that require mobile data. Here you can toggle whether you want these apps to use mobile data too. All apps are listed alphabetically so you will have to do a little bit of research to see which ones use the most data.
Also, if you scroll further down, you can access System Services which shows you how much data is used for traditional services like messaging, push notifications, sync and software updates.
Essentially, you will either need to keep a note of how much data you use on a monthly basis, by resetting the statistics, or downloading a third-party app that will do the hard work for you.
Some apps worth checking out are DataWiz (free), DataMonitor (Free) DataUsage (€0.89) or DataMan Next (€1.79), both offer a different approach to the same task.
Android
A more straightforward experience thanks to it having its own data usage service in settings. Not only can you monitor how much data each app is using, you can also set limits to how much data is being used
You can set both a data limit warning, telling you when you’re getting close to the cutoff point, and the actual cut-off point so you don’t end up racking any unnecessary bills as a result.
Windows Phone
Similar to Android, tracking your data use is rather easy on Windows Phone. Data Sense works similar to Android’s data tracker except for some major differences.
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Three give unlimited data so you don’t need to check usage
I am with Three and have all you can eat data. It’s great!
Three wont accept me. Been turned down by some asian dude twice. F##k 3.
The unlimited data is great but customer service is an absolute nightmare if u ever need to call them. Coverage is gettin better so I try not call them as much!
Great idea sick of the phone companies cashing in big time on data usage especially on kids and the non data savvy elderly,
started doing this about 3 weeks ago and my phone bill was €30 cheaper today.. happy days.
Can’t find it…. For the iPhone it says “Go to Settings…. Then mobile” can’t find “Mobile” in settings..?? I’m lost… Where am I goin wrong… Feckin iPhone… life was way way easier before someone went ahead without consulting anyone and invented technology… And data… And touch screens and electricity and all that stuff……. Bah
It’s cellular on my iPhone!
Three are a terrible, terrible network when something goes wrong but the all you can eat data is brilliant. I regularly use 10-15GB between app downloads, navigation, Spotify, Youtube, Netflix etc. If you find yourself spending loads of extra out of bundle charges on data every month you’re on the wrong tariff.
Now three have bought O2 their service center will probably be O2′s one in Limerick and it should mean they have the best reception, maybe not now but by Christmas hopefully
Cheers john for that I may just stay with 3 now as I was getting itchy fingers to move to meteor ! I,m a 3 bill payer and I,m due a upgrade in December so I might stay with them if the service improves .
Also if you are abroad and have pre bought data – check they don’t start putting the same charge on your bill every month after
3g watch dog app is brilliant. It’s free & will msg you when your data near max
There’s a great widget with 3g watchdog on the play store for you android people. Nice to see at a glance on the home screen and you get info in the drop down menu too. And its free. Far better than the baked in settings I reckon
Being a phone monkey for a mobile provider, I wish every person with a smart phone knew about this. It’s soul destroying how many complaints about data charges I’ve gotten on every shift for the past 3 years.
Been trying out an app for android called viaProtect for the last week. It tells you where your apps are directing your data. It’s still in public beta, but it’s interesting all the same
T-Mobile has unlimited everything and and for $60 so no worrying about overages here.
Thank you Raymond, that’s very helpful.
Vodafone’s My Vodafone app is very handy for knowing exactly how much total you have used so far in a month as well as any outside of plan costs you have incurred etc.
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