ipad 2/iphone query

Chorlie

NeilF3485 wrote: »

iOS5 is out in "autumn" - presumably accompanying an iPhone 5 (4GS?)

Yep, I didn't buy an iPhone 4 because IMO it wasn't a big enough upgrade from the 3GS to justify £600, so might buy an iPhone 5 if it's got everything it should have, but if it's a 4GS I might wait for the true iPhone 5.

Wickedkitten

Chorlie wrote: »

Just buy one of these every 3 months or when the 3GB is used up (whichever comes first) works out alot cheaper than £2 a day (£60 a month...!!!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Broadband-Preloaded-Dongles-Unlocked/dp/B004O73WXM/ref=pd_sim_computers_3

You just need to cut it down to size or buy a sim cutter and away you go, just remember to turn your 3G settings to OFF on your iPad or it will use your data when you don't want it. If you don't have it turned off it will connect several times a day (to check for emails etc), so you will get charged £2 a day whether you think you've used it or not.

The £2 a day option is IMHO a very bad deal.

Also you can't tether an iPhone 3GS / 3G, it's only iPhone 4's you can do this with.

I agree entirely. Rather than getting a 16gb 3g ipad, I got the 32gb wifi for the same price and over the past week have been tethering it to my android mobile since our holiday cottage has patchy broadband. £15 got me the all you can eat data package from 3 for 30 days.

buglawton

Chorlie wrote: »

Just buy one of these every 3 months or when the 3GB is used up (whichever comes first) works out alot cheaper than £2 a day (£60 a month...!!!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Broadband-Preloaded-Dongles-Unlocked/dp/B004O73WXM/ref=pd_sim_computers_3

You just need to cut it down to size or buy a sim cutter and away you go, just remember to turn your 3G settings to OFF on your iPad or it will use your data when you don't want it. If you don't have it turned off it will connect several times a day (to check for emails etc), so you will get charged £2 a day whether you think you've used it or not.

The £2 a day option is IMHO a very bad deal.

Also you can't tether an iPhone 3GS / 3G, it's only iPhone 4's you can do this with.

You have mentioned something that is bugging me with a new iPhone: It's on a Virgin SIM which charges a modest 30p for any data usage up to 25 MB in any one day.

I have discovered that even while at home all day with the WiFI as the data connection, it is accessing the 3g or GPRS data connection exactly once every 15 mins - this would cost £10 per month.

So far I cannot determine what app or setting causes this (have a suspicion about MobileMe). If course I can turn off all the 3g settings - but want them if out of the house.

any suggestions?

Chorlie

buglawton wrote: »

You have mentioned something that is bugging me with a new iPhone: It's on a Virgin SIM which charges a modest 30p for any data usage up to 25 MB in any one day.

I have discovered that even while at home all day with the WiFI as the data connection, it is accessing the 3g or GPRS data connection exactly once every 15 mins - this would cost £10 per month.

So far I cannot determine what app or setting causes this (have a suspicion about MobileMe). If course I can turn off all the 3g settings - but want them if out of the house.

any suggestions?

I have 3GB a month with my iPhone so it's not an issue for me with the iPhone, but my iPad I have an old style 1GB none expiring Vodafone Data Sim in it (which I cut down) and it will also connect to 3G every 15mins whether I'm at home with my WiFi connected.

I've not found if it's an App or if it's the iOS that's doing it, but I've noticed with my iPhone when it's in standby (turned on but screen blank) and I press the home button to active it, it's shows the 3G icon in the top left and a second or 2 later it kicks to WiFi icon, it's like it's turns to 3G when in standby....

The only way around it is to turn the 3G to off in the settings and only use it when you need 3G. This isn't an issues with an iPad but kind of defeats the purpose of an iPhone if you have to turn 3G on when you need to use it.

The other option for you is to switch to a tariff that gives you some Data included in your package. I'm not sure if your on PAYG or Contract and whether your a High or Low phone user, but there are options...

buglawton

A low user with occasional bouts of activity, so Virgin PAYG is ideal.

Now, a 3g Nokia if mine with the same tariff always prompts me by asking, before making any 3g connection - very safe, the Symbian designers knew all about data tariffs!

I wonder if there is a way to set the iPhone to always prompt when 3g is needed.

Chorlie

buglawton wrote: »

A low user with occasional bouts of activity, so Virgin PAYG is ideal.

Now, a 3g Nokia if mine with the same tariff always prompts me by asking, before making any 3g connection - very safe, the Symbian designers knew all about data tariffs!

I wonder if there is a way to set the iPhone to always prompt when 3g is needed.

Not sure if there is a way to prompt you, but you can turn it Off/On.

How much do you spend a month & how many mins do you use a month, it maybe cheap for you to switch to GiffGaff (and buy a £10 goodie bag each month) or switch to a 30 day rolling contract with Chitter Chatter for £6 a month and add free Internet.

GiffGaff is on the O2 Network
Chitter Chatter is on T-Mobile (which is the same at Virgin)

https://www.giffgaff.com
https://www.chitterchatter.co.uk/simonly.php

buglawton

Before getting the iPhone, usage was about £4 per month with almost no data needed.

Now it will be the same handful of calls plus occasional bouts on data on days out - say 100 MB max in a month.
If I change the tariff to another provider, any sort of practicable European data roaming might be very useful.

Looks like might have to turn 3g off on the iPhone - (but will the same app then call home via GPRS I wonder).
Seems dumb that a clever iPhone does not have the sense to have a setting where actual data connections always result in a prompt to the phone's owner (like my old trusty Nokia did).

Chorlie

buglawton wrote: »

Before getting the iPhone, usage was about £4 per month with almost no data needed.

Now it will be the same handful of calls plus occasional bouts on data on days out - say 100 MB max in a month.
If I change the tariff to another provider, any sort of practicable European data roaming might be very useful.

Looks like might have to turn 3g off on the iPhone - (but will the same app then call home via GPRS I wonder).
Seems dumb that a clever iPhone does not have the sense to have a setting where actual data connections always result in a prompt to the phone's owner (like my old trusty Nokia did).

I guess it will connect via GPRS, so not sure if you'll get charged for that also.

As for clever iPhone, to be honest it's a clever gadget but not a clever phone. Compared to Nokia and looking just at the phone side, the Nokia would win hands down. You just have to look at the quality of the camera on the iPhone compared to Nokia etc and you'll see there are better phones, but you can't beat the iPhones operating system and all the Apps etc and it's a great overall device.

If you're spending about £4 a month, then Chitter Chatter maybe an option, it's £6 a month for which you get 100mins/100text and a choice of a free booster (so unlimited data, but you could change this each month) and the coverage should be the same as you get with Virgin. It's a pound or 2 more but you don't have to worry about the extra cost of data.

buglawton

Good suggestion (I had missed the bit in Chitter Chatter site about FREE booster...), I wonder if a PAYG Virgin number can be ported to A.N.Other PAYG.

As the family was getting v. good inter-Virgin mobile rates that bit would be lost, but can't have it all.

I still plan to definitively test if it is only MobileMe's locate my iPhone feature causing the data accesses.

[ edit ] Just noticed that Chitter Chatter is one of those cashback things - I really HATE the idea of jumping through cashback hoops - if they can offer a price, then why not just offer that price?

Chorlie

buglawton wrote: »

Just noticed that Chitter Chatter is one of those cashback things - I really HATE the idea of jumping through cashback hoops - if they can offer a price, then why not just offer that price?

Please note all promotional credits (automatic cashback) will be paid directly into your bank account each month untill the end of the contract. There are no claim forms required.

As for PAYG, it's a 30 Day Rolling Contract so should be easy to transfer your number.

I believe Chitter Chatter is part of T-Mobile (run/owned).

I'm with T-Mobile 12 month contract paying £7.66 for 600 mins, 500 text, Unlimited Landline Calls & Unlimited Data. They have done this deal (or something like) a couple of times over the last few months, so it might be worth keeping you eye out on here for when they next release it.


If a Contract isn't for you, then GiffGaff is a better option or call Virgin and see if they can offer you something better to stay.