Tips for using less data on iPhone?

[MariDisney]

I added 2 iPhones to my AT&T plan this week for my brother and DH. They both have the $25 2G data plan. We have wi-fi at home and many places we go, but my brother does not. I just checked the data usage out of curiosity and DH has used 40 MB and DB has used 150 MB. I would guess that their actual usage has been similar, but since DH is accessing wi-fi he's not using up the plan data.

Are there any tips for using less data overall? Does the phone use data even if you're not interacting with it? (e.g. when sleeping?) If so, turning it off could hep.

Thanks!

 

[scrapquitler]

I don't have anything useful to add. I'm subscribing because I am new to the iphone and I'm trying to figure out about exactly where/when the data usage goes up and how to best utilize my phone. I've got about 4 or 5 days left in my 'month' and I've used just about 1 gig so far, but I have wifi at home and lots of places I go.

 

[Rora]

I hope others will have tips but I've found that the only way to lower your data use is to use Wi-Fi.

As far as turning off your phone, I don't think it makes a difference. You're only using data when the 3G thingy is spinning, I believe. BUT, that's something to double check.

 

[joviroxx]

Try this:

If you are using email, turn off the PUSH setting. You can also lengthen the frequency of when the phone fetches your email. You can do this in General setting. Unless you need immediate notification of your email, you can always open your email manually, it will fetch immediately at this point. Or you can set it to fetch t for hourly or manually, etc and this saves data usage as well as battery life.

Many apps push notifications like the news apps. If you don't need that, turn it off. Other apps are always searching through GPS where you are. Turn that off. As well, some , like sports sites, are always accessing the internet for constant updates, you can turn that off too.

I use my Iphone A LOT. I have 3 emails, constantly online and have never gone over my data plan but I have 5GB. Haven't even come close.

 

[Frantasmic]

Reduce/eliminate the following:

email usage
internet usage
streaming movies over internet on iphone
don't purchase music from Itunes on Iphone (do this at computer and sync)
don't update apps from Iphone (do this at computer and sync)