Data package

[Chaoster]

How do you know how much data you need with a smart phone? If you have internet do you really need texting? Would 250 Texts a month be enough? It seem like a lot. Very hard to pick the right data package. TIA.

 

[sookie]

i would NOT only do 250 a month. i only send a few text a day, and honestly - mine racks up to over 1 k a month - every text someone sends me gets charged to me too i think because txts both sent and received are counted. if this is for a teen at all or young adult - i would do unlimited text messages.

 

[MickeyManiac]

Because I have a teen I need more texting. Since he's a newer driver he always texts me when he's arrived at his location safely. The nice part about that is he can be discreet about it so his friends don't know he's checking in with mom.

It really just depend on how the people around you chose to communicate. If a lot of your friends/family members like to text you can end up receiving a lot more than you realize. 250 would never be enough for me. I'd have to atleast double it.

 

[momto2inKC]

We tried going with 250 texts a month, first month we went WAY over and AT&T happily switched us to unlimited and didn't charge us for the overage. The 3 of us can easily put 2,000 texts on our bill a month, well worth the $15 we are paying!
As far as data, it just really depends on what you'll be doing on your phone. We have unlimited data on our phones. My husband uses a TON, but he also watches a lot of YouTube and Netflix on his iPhone, along with a lot of ap games. Mine is hardly used at all. I FB, check email, use my Disboards ap and a couple times a week play Bejeweled.

 

[bridget]

Do you have access to wi-fi? On AT&T, I have the $15 data package for my iPhone. So far this month I've only used 48 MB out of my 200 MB. I pretty much use my iPhone at home (wifi) or when I'm waiting for my children to finish activities.

AT&T has a data usage calculator to help you plan. Youtube uses LOTS of data! I never use it (at home or out and about).

I also have the 250 texts a month. I only get texts from a few people. I don't think I've ever had more than 75 texts in a month!

 

[Chaoster]

I don't know what 150MB is. Is that enough if I only check email and do light web surfing?

 

[8esther8]

I just got the Iphone on AT&T. I have the $15. data package, and unlimited texting. With 3 teenage boys, that's a necessity. Two of them are texting 2500 texts a month, each. I had more than half of my data left over at the end of the month. Use your network when you are at home, and you won't use any data. Make sure you download apps at home, not on wifi. And don't watch movies or (much) youtube and you will be fine. All games that you use, if you are not playing with another player, do not use your data. I check Facebook and my email several times a day. The AT&T calculator made it seem that I would use way much more data than I actually am.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

Thank you for the information regarding the $15 data plan. We have Verizon and the Iphone is coming out Feb 10th. I checked with the Verizon store and one Sales guy said the $15 a month plan is plenty as long as you are not watching movies or anything like that. Another said that I definitely need the $30 plan which I think is unlimited. I was not going to do the Iphone if I had to get the $30 plan.

 

[bridget]

I check email, Facebook, weather. I also have a runkeeper gps program that I use when I run/bike outside to keep track of milage. I also have used it when traveling for mapquest. Sometimes if I"m at the store, I'll google to find out if something is gluten-free.

I know my iPhone keeps track of data usage (you can also check online w/your AT&T account).

You really just can't download stuff or watch YouTube.

If you just want it for web surfing & email, you should be fine.

I did NOT want to pay for the more expensive package, so the first month, I really checked my usage. I've had my phone for 7 months and I usually stay around 50MB for the month.

 

[sookie]

get unlimited if you can! att discontinued their unlimited plans is my understanding. just incase...

 

[TOTMGMWDW]

We recently got the $15 data package for our new Droid's. I use mine for checking my email, FB, lots of texting, and a few google searches. I haven't been anywhere near my 150MB. I'm on my phone checking my email atleast 50 times a day but just for a few minutes each time. I've never been over. However, my husband goes over each month by listening to music on his.

I think you will be just fine with the smaller package.

 

[njsweetP]

I just got the Iphone on AT&T. I have the $15. data package, and unlimited texting. With 3 teenage boys, that's a necessity. Two of them are texting 2500 texts a month, each. I had more than half of my data left over at the end of the month. Use your network when you are at home, and you won't use any data. Make sure you download apps at home, not on wifi. And don't watch movies or (much) youtube and you will be fine. All games that you use, if you are not playing with another player, do not use your data. I check Facebook and my email several times a day. The AT&T calculator made it seem that I would use way much more data than I actually am.

How can you distinquish what service you are using (wifi or data?) when downloading apps? I have the Touch and wifi is the only way to download, but how do you do that with the iPhone? I am getting the iPhone next month thru Verizon and am also deciding which data plan to get - 150MB or unlimited..???
I would mostly use it for checking emails, but what if one month I go over, that's a lot of $$..

 

[momto2inKC]

How can you distinquish what service you are using (wifi or data?) when downloading apps? I have the Touch and wifi is the only way to download, but how do you do that with the iPhone? I am getting the iPhone next month thru Verizon and am also deciding which data plan to get - 150MB or unlimited..???
I would mostly use it for checking emails, but what if one month I go over, that's a lot of $$..

When i'm at home, my iPhone automatically connects to our wifi. It'll say 3G in the corner if its not connected. You can manually go in and turn it on and off too.
You also should be able to keep track of your usage online (at least you can with AT&T) and if needed you could switch to the higher data package. But for what you said you'll be using yours for, you shouldn't use all that much. It's just when you start watching videos or playing ap games online that the usage starts going way up.

 

[njsweetP]

When i'm at home, my iPhone automatically connects to our wifi. It'll say 3G in the corner if its not connected. You can manually go in and turn it on and off too.
You also should be able to keep track of your usage online (at least you can with AT&T) and if needed you could switch to the higher data package. But for what you said you'll be using yours for, you shouldn't use all that much. It's just when you start watching videos or playing ap games online that the usage starts going way up.

Thank you! Yes, I would mostly use it for emails and light internet usage. The only time I see using alot of data is when maybe I'm in the parks and accessing some Disney apps for wait times, etc.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

If you decide to go with the $15 data plan please watch it carefully. If you are coming close to going over just give Verizon a call and bump up to unlimited. True, the unlimited is $14.99 more, but the overage charges will be a lot more!

 

[Nik's Mom]

I was wondering the same thing. We are about to renew our contract with Verizon and all the phones that we like now require a data plan. I currently have the 250 text message and have never gone over that amount. I would probably only use the data to check e-mails and use the grocery shopping apps or WDW apps. I was thinking we wouldn't need anything more than the basic data plan.

 

[pixiewings71]

So, if I get the iPhone next month (I have VW and am eligible to upgrade now) I can get the cheaper data plan? I have wifi at home and I'm not working right now so I would mostly use it here. Since we have wifi any time I used the phone here it would be free? No data charges on the phone?

 

[bridget]

So, if I get the iPhone next month (I have VW and am eligible to upgrade now) I can get the cheaper data plan? I have wifi at home and I'm not working right now so I would mostly use it here. Since we have wifi any time I used the phone here it would be free? No data charges on the phone?

If you are using wifi, you don't use your data. There is an icon at the top of the screen that shows you if you are using wifi or not.

 

[delmar411]

So, if I get the iPhone next month (I have VW and am eligible to upgrade now) I can get the cheaper data plan? I have wifi at home and I'm not working right now so I would mostly use it here. Since we have wifi any time I used the phone here it would be free? No data charges on the phone?

you would need to setup your phone to be on wi-fi and log into your wi-fi network. Most home user networks are locked and need a passkey to use them, if you don't set that up, your phone is not going to just automatically use your home network.

and I'd honestly say you should start with the unlimited and then see where you are after a month or two. If you are way below the $15 usage them you can switch to the lower plan.

 

[pixiewings71]

If you are using wifi, you don't use your data. There is an icon at the top of the screen that shows you if you are using wifi or not.

Thank You

you would need to setup your phone to be on wi-fi and log into your wi-fi network. Most home user networks are locked and need a passkey to use them, if you don't set that up, your phone is not going to just automatically use your home network.

and I'd honestly say you should start with the unlimited and then see where you are after a month or two. If you are way below the $15 usage them you can switch to the lower plan.

Yes our network is protected, we know how to set it up, we have 2 iTouches in the house. I assumed it would be the same. It is our network, we don't use anyone else's, we have 2 Touches, 2 laptops and 1 netbook, we are well versed on the wifi set up. lol I just didn't realize you would use your home network when you were home, I assumed you needed a plan that would cover you no matter where you were.

I was thinking I'd start with umlimited and adjust from there, thanks for the input and support of that idea.