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Wildfire and data useage
Stormsorrow
31-01-2011
I recently got a Wildfire and it's the first time I have had a smartphone so I am still in the getting used to it all phase.

After resigning myself to the fact that the battery isn't going to last as long as my old phone and that even just having the 3G on seems to zap the battery pretty fast, I have found that I am getting through my 250mb allowance much quicker than expected. Some people I have spoken to and the guy in the Vodafone store said that they watched YouTube videos and did a fair amount of browsing without going over the limit but I have watched no videos, only viewed a couple of sites which are not too content-rich, backed down email and Facebook syncing, turned off auto-sync for the weather app and been switching off the 3G when I am home or not wanting it on and apparently have nearly reached the limit in just over 2 weeks

I'm not really using any downloaded apps, just the occasional game and I can't find anything much running in the background that I wouldn't expect to be there so does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be eating it up or what I could do please? I don't really want to miss out on the experience of having net access but I am watching the data counter closely.

Thanks
Lee_Vodafone
04-02-2011
Hi Stormsorrow,

I hope you're still liking your Wildfire.

It's true to say that Android phones can be quite data intensive but to give you some further guidance on how your usage compares against your inclusive data allowance check it out on our data calculator here.

However, you may wish to follow the advice provided on our eForum here to see if there's a suitable solution out there for you.

Should you come across anything else which you're unsure of then there are lots of hint and tips in our Help Centre here.

Thanks,

Lee

Web Relations Team

Vodafone UK
stephen25uk
05-02-2011
my wife bought as san francisco on payg...just download a data on and off widget and turn on and off when needed,just leave your 3g and every thing on and use the widget
cavemanjames
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by Stormsorrow:
“I recently got a Wildfire and it's the first time I have had a smartphone so I am still in the getting used to it all phase.

After resigning myself to the fact that the battery isn't going to last as long as my old phone and that even just having the 3G on seems to zap the battery pretty fast, I have found that I am getting through my 250mb allowance much quicker than expected. Some people I have spoken to and the guy in the Vodafone store said that they watched YouTube videos and did a fair amount of browsing without going over the limit but I have watched no videos, only viewed a couple of sites which are not too content-rich, backed down email and Facebook syncing, turned off auto-sync for the weather app and been switching off the 3G when I am home or not wanting it on and apparently have nearly reached the limit in just over 2 weeks

I'm not really using any downloaded apps, just the occasional game and I can't find anything much running in the background that I wouldn't expect to be there so does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be eating it up or what I could do please? I don't really want to miss out on the experience of having net access but I am watching the data counter closely.

Thanks ”

Are you using Yahoo! for your email?
There's been recent reports that their servers are sending out ~25 times more data that it should be. I'm not sure if this actually affects Android but both Windows Phone 7 AND iPhone have been affected by this.
simonb65
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by Stormsorrow:
“I recently got a Wildfire and it's the first time I have had a smartphone so I am still in the getting used to it all phase.

After resigning myself to the fact that the battery isn't going to last as long as my old phone and that even just having the 3G on seems to zap the battery pretty fast, I have found that I am getting through my 250mb allowance much quicker than expected. Some people I have spoken to and the guy in the Vodafone store said that they watched YouTube videos and did a fair amount of browsing without going over the limit but I have watched no videos, only viewed a couple of sites which are not too content-rich, backed down email and Facebook syncing, turned off auto-sync for the weather app and been switching off the 3G when I am home or not wanting it on and apparently have nearly reached the limit in just over 2 weeks

I'm not really using any downloaded apps, just the occasional game and I can't find anything much running in the background that I wouldn't expect to be there so does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be eating it up or what I could do please? I don't really want to miss out on the experience of having net access but I am watching the data counter closely.

Thanks ”

I have a Wildfire too and use it for occasional browsing, checking e-mail etc. Nothing heavy like streaming videos.

My usage has been 230 MB in the last month. It may be worth you downloading the 3G watchdog app from the Android store, that gives a running total of your usage.
JulesandSand
05-02-2011
I downloaded a couple of free games on to my Wildfire from Android market, on one of them I get a constant stream of adverts. Is this using 3G to constantly download while the app is open?
lost boy
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by simonb65:
“I have a Wildfire too and use it for occasional browsing, checking e-mail etc. Nothing heavy like streaming videos.

My usage has been 230 MB in the last month. It may be worth you downloading the 3G watchdog app from the Android store, that gives a running total of your usage.”

+1 for 3G Watchdog, I have it on my Wildfire too - which is probably just as well as using Youtube on it appears to zap through data like there's no tomorrow (I use some other video sites too, but Youtube appears particularly data hungry). I'm about halfway through the month and have used over half my 2GB internet monthly add-on from 3 already.
Stormsorrow
05-02-2011
Thanks so much for the suggestions

I'll check out those links Lee. Thank you for taking the time to post

cavemanjames~ I am using Hotmail mostly but it is interesting that you mention that about Yahoo. I did read something about Windows Mobile doing something along those lines. It's not good!

simonb65 and lost boy~ I will check out the 3G Watchdog app I was using Data Counter but I am not sure how accurate it is. I checked it against my billing and seemed on the low side.



I still love my Wildfire, I just want to be able to use it more!
b.lever
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by Stormsorrow:
“I recently got a Wildfire and it's the first time I have had a smartphone so I am still in the getting used to it all phase.

After resigning myself to the fact that the battery isn't going to last as long as my old phone and that even just having the 3G on seems to zap the battery pretty fast, I have found that I am getting through my 250mb allowance much quicker than expected. Some people I have spoken to and the guy in the Vodafone store said that they watched YouTube videos and did a fair amount of browsing without going over the limit but I have watched no videos, only viewed a couple of sites which are not too content-rich, backed down email and Facebook syncing, turned off auto-sync for the weather app and been switching off the 3G when I am home or not wanting it on and apparently have nearly reached the limit in just over 2 weeks

I'm not really using any downloaded apps, just the occasional game and I can't find anything much running in the background that I wouldn't expect to be there so does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be eating it up or what I could do please? I don't really want to miss out on the experience of having net access but I am watching the data counter closely.

Thanks ”

i Bought mine on pay as you go super phone .but sent it back no way can i aford to use on pay as you go .
Stormsorrow
05-02-2011
I bet it could cost a small fortune on PAYG


Quick question for those of you using 3G Watchdog- I have read that it stops your phone from sleeping so kills your battery life. Would you guys agree with that?
legends wear 7
05-02-2011
Facebook, Email and Web-Browsing i nail through 900mb a month, not gone over my 1GB allowance in any month.

No way could i get by on just 250mb
alanwarwic
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by Stormsorrow:
“I bet it could cost a small fortune on PAYG ”

A fortune on contract too if you go over.
JulesandSand
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“A fortune on contract too if you go over.”

I see that Tesco have reduced their out of allowance browsing cost from £4/MB to 60p.
alanwarwic
05-02-2011
Originally Posted by JulesandSand:
“I see that Tesco have reduced their out of allowance browsing cost from £4/MB to 60p.”

My mistake then. £600 per GB as opposed to me thinking it was £400.
Stormsorrow
05-02-2011


Vodafone texted to let me know when I was apparently approaching my limit and said it would be £5 per 500mb over the allowance. Would still rather not go over though.
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