help with Android GPS charges and wi-fi on my new San Francisco

grace2much

Hi all, I need some help. Yesterday my San Francisco arrived paid for by the 2 x 1 tesco clubcard offer so for me free...yipeeeeeeee:rotfl:

This is my first smartphone so I'm at the mistake every 5 mins stage. Anyhow as yet I'm on a good 400mins/unlimited text £2.99 per month after cashbacks but NO data for internet use.

I'll need to look at a small data bolt on later but at present I'll just use my home wi-fi to experiment with the phone and downloading apps etc.

To my question. With no data in my contract in order to test the GPS performance, I downloaded the free RunKeeper app from the Android Market to track my 80minute walk outdoors. But will this GPS use be charged to me or is this a free service? Like wise if I download googlemaps and use it outside (so away from my wi-fi) will I be charged. I guess what I need from someone is the way wi-fi and GPS work regarding charges if I don't have a data allowance.

Later this month I may give this sim to my wife when her contract ends and unlock my San Fran and then sign up with giffgaff for their £10 per month unlimited internet use. Or has anyone else any other ideas for the best value sim monthly or paygo with generous data allowance without the cashback hassles...........Thanks for any help offered

allan673

yes the gps will use data, and you will get charged for it. you get charged for all data, obviously not when your connected to your wifi at home though.

try and keep track of your data usage !!!!! you should have a counter on the phone, or get an app that resets every month.

p.s i highly recomend three !!! best network ive ever used and i go all over the country. there payg offers unlimited data, or the sim only deals are really good value too and offer 1gb per month which is a lot. depends what you want to pay per month.

also the three app is excellent as it shows real time usage and allowances remaining, unlike the other networks which are a couple of days behind.

grumbler

allan673 wrote: »

yes the gps will use data, and you will get charged for it. you get charged for all data, obviously not when your connected to your wifi at home though.

GPS signal is free. Only apps can use the data (not necessarily). E.g. 'My Tracks' from google can just record the coordinates on the move. Later you can see the route on the PC or using WiFi.
"Navigation" app uses data (google maps), but it can be pre-cashed while on WiFi if you plan the route in advance.

bubblesmoney

why should the gps use data? arent they different sensors on the phone. I think unless any app that uses gps also needs to download data then only data charges apply, but you could always switch off the mobile network off using settings or widgets and keep the data connection off other than wifi and not get data charges.

You could still use the gps that way in apps that dont need data use like in the tricorder app i guess.

same goes for apps that have preloaded maps on your phone like copilot navigation apps, they dont need data, they just use your gps sensor and you dont get data charges.

wifi shouldnt get charges anyway. but make sure you have the mobile network turned off on your phone that way the data use does not happen when not on wifi.

JJ_Egan

GPS as of itself does not use mobile data .

I have data off and use Copilot with installed maps = no data charge .

I use My Tracks with data off also .

If i use Google maps then unless i have recently downloaded the area i am at then data charges apply to the are of maps i download .
Likewise some of the location services find your nearest ATM and that sort of thing can use a small amount of data .

jje

allan673

my running app uses data, not much granted. agree gps is free sorry i meant some apps that run with gps.

terrierlady

so back to question what is the best sim to use for internet use as hes on pay as you go?

grumbler

This depends on your definition of "the best".

grace2much

grumbler wrote: »

This depends on your definition of "the best".

You're right...definitions are everything.........as a good friend often reminds me:o By "best" I mean getting the best mix of data, mins and texts for the cheapest price. And for me personally I need no more than 200 mins and 200 text max per month as for data, being new to this smart-phone stuff I'm unsure how much I'll need. Though I would like to buy a sat nav app and I'd prefer too pay for much (within reason) data than always needing to check if I'm getting close to my limit. So like most things its a balance of cheapness/value compared to service and quantity. After a few months I'll be better informed to make my own mind up, but until then I'll rely on my MSE buddies...............:T

grumbler

chitter-chatter (t mobile): 100+100+500Mb/unltd for £6
talkmobile (voda): 200+500+500Mb for £8
giffgaff (o2): 250+unltd+unltd for £10
three: 300+1000+unltd for £15

grace2much

grumbler wrote: »

chitter-chatter (t mobile): 100+100+500Mb/unltd for £6
talkmobile (voda): 200+500+500Mb for £8
giffgaff (o2): 250+unltd+unltd for £10
three: 300+1000+unltd for £15

Thanks grumbler for the list, very helpful. I've looked at the giffgaff option so I'll do some comparing. All now I need to do is hunt down away to unlock the new orange Monte Carlo smartphone as this San Fran is amazing, so my wonderful, long suffering wife may be getting an unexpected present of my San Fran and I'll try to justify the expense of a 4.3" Monte Carlo. Yes I know, I'm a poun£ wise and a fiver foolish.....!!!!!!!!!!