I've seen this alluded to on some other threads, though not directly. It's a bit overwhelming searching all the threads, so I hope nobody minds me creating a new thread.

I'm looking to get an HTC Desire in the next few days (unless I find my job is going...) and I just wondered:if I used it to watch iPlayer at home, would that eat into my internet usage? I'd be with T-Mobile which I think is 3GB. I suppose my question is: will the phone automatically use my home wifi connection if it can see it, and if it does does that mean I'm using my home connection for internet, not the phone's plan allowance?

Sorry if this is a basic question - I'm doing the equivalent of moving from a pencil to a word-processor and missing the typewriter stage!

Also, I assume with a Smartphone part of the point of it is that it is connected to the internet all the time in case it needs to sync e-mail etc. If you're not especially doing anything, I'm guessing this doesn't use a lot? A bit like leaving a normal mobile on in case you want to make or receive a call.

When your at home, if your wireless network is available, then it will use that for internet instead of your mobile internet, so no need to worry about it using up your mobile allowance

Yep, Smartphones have 'always-on' internet. Which is why T-Mobile will include the Unlimited Internet Flexible Booster for free with it, so you are free to choose any other Flexible Booster and still get 'always-on' internet

If you want to use iplayer, the data usage is irrelevant as it'll only work over a wifi connection.

I mailed the BBC about this. They mailed back and told me that currently only those on 3, and Vodafone contracts are currently 'set up' to use iplayer over 3G.

But yes, using your home wifi (or anyone else's) does not eat into your mobile data usage.

Yeh as mentioned above, it will automatically pick up your home wifi.

I have a HTC Desire too and yea it's always synching. Like lots of other users, I've actually turned off a lot of this synching do I don't use up too much of my allowance - you can tinker with lots of settings like this e.g. specify when your peak and off peak hours are for email downloading so it doesn't check as regularly when you're asleep.

You can also set email size and date limits.Install 3g watchdog before anything else to keep an eye on what you download.

I have a couple of email accounts, some browsing and a Twitter addiction and only use about 20mb a day. 3Gb is loads - about 100Mb a day which would be hard to hit unless you're watching video away from home.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I've read in a different post that T-Mobile apparently block iPlayer on the basis of it being P2P file sharing. I don't know if that's actually the case (though T-Mobile don't permit P2P) but I wouldn't have thought iPlayer would count as it isn't strictly speaking person to person. I'll have to check that out too!

Thanks for the usage guide - I probably would be more likely to watch YouTube etc than iPlayer, but I wanted to know. When it's your first more-than-a-phone it feels like a big leap!

If you want to use 3g, then the app myplayer will allow you watch BBC programmes. It is not dependant on a particular network.

BBC iPlayer is blocked on Orange and O2 aswell, not just T-Mobile.

Yup, the BBC asked all 5 networks if they wanted to allow access, because if they wern't going to the BBC could them put up a proper message and not have to deal with support queries over why it didn't work etc

Only Vodafone and 3 said they wanted to allow it, the same as 3 are the only network that allow VOIP and appear to believe in net neutrality.

Thank you, that's helpful. Yes, I wasn't meaning to single out T-Mobile, it's just that they are the ones I was looking at.

Maybe once the Orange/T-Mobile 3G merge is fully complete, iPlayer will be allowed as the network will be fairly strong.

I'm getting iPhone 4 at Xmas and also looking to get it on T-Mobile

I doubt it as they are doing away with all but 3,000 of the Orange masts.

I mean because 3 is also part of the deal isn't it? 3 definitely has the best 3G network so should benefit T-Mobile/Orange customers

Don't seem to be able to find that app. All that comes up is magic myplayer, which is a stream for Magic FM.

Where'd you get this info?

Weird. I can't find it either (edit on app brain)
However it can be found here: http://www.skynetsoftware.com/myPlay...atform=android
edit but you can't download it!! (Though a market search on my desire seems to find it).

Just tried it and it is still working, though I'm only on a 'G' connection in my location, so I can only try radio.


edit:
According to this http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=700150&page=9
it's not on the market any more but it is possible to get the apk file.