Three's 500mb internet cap

mamamoo_3

I received my desire last Mon (24th)and got a text this am saying I had reached my internet limit and will be charged if I use more (I received a propotionate internet quota for this month until my new contract starts on Tues). Whilst I thought I was getting unlimited internet I believe all new three contracts have the 500mb monthly limit. Whilst the free internet did kick in prior to Mon I didn't use any at all until I got my new phone. I would consider myself a low user prob less than average so am gobsmacked. I have installed 3g watchdog, app killer and have stopped the weather and bbc news synching. I have wifi at home and there has been little use outside wifi. I have downloaded about 8 apps and don't use my phone for music just a little web browsing. What is going on with my phone for it to be using so much data? Or is the 500mb limit not a fair use?

bubblesmoney

I think 500mb is low for this sort of phone. Yesterday i crossed 50mb with probably about an hour and twenty min drive using Google navigation plus a few

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[/code]hours surfing. Didn't access any video or music. Today the day isn't over and I have again crossed 50mb with a bit of surfing, with no video or music. So it is pretty easy to go over the limit on an Android phone. If I continue like the past 2 days then I will hit 1.5gb excluding the usage via WiFi !!!

Anyway my friend with an iPhone 3gs was telling me today that on a couple of occasions he forgot to switch on WiFi on phone after getting home and ended up touching 750mb and Orange throttled his connection in his first month after using it for 3weeks.

Just check if you have been using the phone with WiFi switched off. Also set all updates to manual only (there is no point the phone updating everything like Facebook weather currency mail news friend stream etc even when you are sleeping or not using the phone. I have set the phone to daily weather update, manual news rss feeds etc. I switch off synching when I don't want things synching. Most of my use is surfing or some tech news videos or some medical procedures videos etc but don't see videos on net daily. At home it is always set to WiFi but have forgotten to switch it on the phone after reaching home on some days.

You could do the switching automatically if one used software like locale etc but I havent got around to doing that yet.

The T-Mobile 3gb Android limit is sensible for this sort of phone. I have got 1gb internet from three but soon after my order they changed the limits down to 500mb for new orders. One can buy an add-on for 5pounds for additional 2gb internet though.

Next time around renewal time unless three has similar limit to T-Mobile I might choose T-Mobile instead. The Orange and Vodafone and three network 500mb present limits for internet is ludicrous for even moderate users of android phones like the desire unless you only use the phone on WiFi at home.

I uninstalled 3g watchdog as was hogging the battery. Have netcounter instead now.

I don't know the compression rate for HTC browser but opera mini compresses data use by 90% I am told. Will probably start using that now for routine use but not for any website that I don't want opera knowing my passwords etc for. I read some where that opera mini isn't good for https or for security reasons as it goes via their servers for compression etc. I am a lay person so going by what I understand from my reading into it.

Make sure apps etc update only when on WiFi etc.

mamamoo_3

Thank you bubblesmoney...really useful advice/info. At no stage was I told of the limit...even if I was I would have assumed as a relatively low user I would have been ok. Makes sense how I got such a good deal now....If anyone is reading this and looking into getting a desire you really do need to compare the data allowances between networks!

bubblesmoney

mamamoo wrote: »

Thank you bubblesmoney...really useful advice/info. At no stage was I told of the limit...even if I was I would have assumed as a relatively low user I would have been ok. Makes sense how I got such a good deal now....If anyone is reading this and looking into getting a desire you really do need to compare the data allowances between networks!

You could buy the additional 2gb internet add on for 5pounds a month. They have full contract add ons and monthly add ons. See what's suitable. Did you buy in store, if you weren't told limit that would be misselling. See paperwork you signed. If online or phone order then again see order paperwork if you are interested in cancelling contract for misselling.

mamamoo_3

bubblesmoney wrote: »

You could buy the additional 2gb internet add on for 5pounds a month. They have full contract add ons and monthly add ons. See what's suitable. Did you buy in store, if you weren't told limit that would be misselling. See paperwork you signed. If online or phone order then again see order paperwork if you are interested in cancelling contract for misselling.

I got as an upgrade so all negotiated via telephone and it took me a few calls to negotiate a good deal but I did get one in the end. I didn't get any paperwork until Friday..i.e 5 days after receipt of my phone and I have never signed anything. Fair use policy not mentioned at all. However as I mentioned above I would have assumed that I would have been ok as I don't listen to music, watch videos, use the social networking sites and I only played with the gps for the first time yesterday and it was for 20 mins tops. I have a few favourite web pages I look at and my daughter has played some of the preschool games apps on it. I will prob just stop using it rather than pay the additional money...hopefully now I have stopped all the synching as you advised my allowance will be used when i want it rather than for background stuff.

bubblesmoney

mamamoo wrote: »

I got as an upgrade so all negotiated via telephone and it took me a few calls to negotiate a good deal but I did get one in the end. I didn't get any paperwork until Friday..i.e 5 days after receipt of my phone and I have never signed anything. Fair use policy not mentioned at all. However as I mentioned above I would have assumed that I would have been ok as I don't listen to music, watch videos, use the social networking sites and I only played with the gps for the first time yesterday and it was for 20 mins tops. I have a few favourite web pages I look at and my daughter has played some of the preschool games apps on it. I will prob just stop using it rather than pay the additional money...hopefully now I have stopped all the synching as you advised my allowance will be used when i want it rather than ofor background stuff.

Download opera mini as it compresses by 90%. I will try it as well. Some apps have advertisements continuously in them if u got the free versions. I dont know if the ads use up more data. Use the phone just check the setting for everything and set updates for manual. If you have set up the email feature and you get loads ofemails like do then do the synching on wifi and at other times only wwhen you want manually only.

Make sure your kid hasn't been pressing the wrong buttons wile playing the apps and increasing your data use. Do you have some live wallpapers set to refresh photos regularly from online etc that might eat the data too.

Google earth, maps etc, currency or share tickersconstantly updating or tv on planet 3. Kid might have pressed tv / video buttons while playing with the phone.

Skype works only on 3g and not wifi so might be eating into data.

When you browse, make surein settings you hve chosen option to select mobile website rather thanregular website as regular website will eat more data. Many websites have mobile versions.

gjchester

mamamoo wrote: »

Or is the 500mb limit not a fair use?

Regardless of what people think this is the limit you have. Unfortunatly you need to stick to it or be charged.

It's because more people are getting smart phones and in the past people have taken the michael that these limits have been put in place.

mamamoo_3

bubblesmoney wrote: »

Download opera mini as it compresses by 90%. I will try it as well. Some apps have advertisements continuously in them if u got the free versions. I dont know if the ads use up more data. Use the phone just check the setting for everything and set updates for manual. If you have set up the email feature and you get loads ofemails like do then do the synching on wifi and at other times only wwhen you want manually only.
.
When you browse, make surein settings you hve chosen option to select mobile website rather thanregular website as regular website will eat more data. Many websites have mobile versions.

Thanks again. Opera mini makes a huge difference. High usage again today and couldn't work out why but looks like I haven't been connecting properly to wifi. Got netcounter too. Great advice thank you.