How to use your mobile data with confidence

plan.com
plan.com
Aug 24, 2017 · 6 min read

Go back 10 years and things weren’t so complicated. If you had access to the internet it was probably via a PC that was the size of an armchair, and plugged into the wall with a cable the width of a drain pipe. If you wanted access to data on the move you’d pop into an internet café (remember them?) and use one of their armchair-sized PCs while drinking instant coffee from a chipped mug.

Now, you can access anything from anywhere.

And the assumption is that you can do it for free. But you know what they say about assumptions…

The good news is that a little bit of knowledge goes a long way. Here’s what you need to know in order to use your mobile data with confidence, from anywhere.

The difference between wi-fi and mobile data

Mobile data

Mobile data is data that can be accessed anywhere that there’s a data signal. You’ll see symbols at the top of your phone saying ‘4G, 3G, H+ or G’ when you’re connected. These indicate the quality of data signal your device is receiving.

To get mobile data, you’ll need data as part of your mobile tariff. This will define how much data you can use each month. With some consumer accounts, your data may be barred when you’ve used 100% of your data limit. With business accounts, you will be given the tools or options to set data alerts and limits.

There are a number of ways you can check or be alerted to your data usage. If you’re not sure how… ask your service provider.

But we’re also going to give you some hints and tips in this article.

Wi-fi

Wi-fi is most often someone’s broadband that’s shared via a wireless router, creating a wi-fi hotspot. You’ve probably got one in your home, in the office and can find them in the local cafes and restaurants. Using wi-fi is usually free, although some public and private wi-fi hotspots want your details before you gain access, or may ask for your bank details.

It’s often considered as being ‘free’ because many homes and businesses pay a set monthly charge for an unlimited data package, so it doesn’t really matter how many emails you access, Facebook posts you read or how long you watch Netflix for. However, there’s always a Fair Usage Policy, so be careful if you’re thinking about letting your neighbours use your wi-fi!

The grey area

You probably have your phone set so that your mobile data turns off when you’re connected to wi-fi. This means you can go home or go to work without worrying too much about draining your mobile data usage.

But you can’t put all your trust in wi-fi.

If the wi-fi router goes down or has a hiccup, if you’re in an area of the house/office/building with poor visibility of the wi-fi signal, or if something kicks you off wi-fi, your phone may default to its mobile data.

For example, when you’re using someone else’s wi-fi e.g. at work or at friend’s house, they may have changed the wi-fi password and you might be streaming a video using your mobile data without even realising.

Know your handset

Each handset (iPhone, Samsung, Nokia etc.) and operating system is slightly different. There’s also a number of different settings on your phone that change the way that data is accessed. There’s not one single, simple, universal way to know if you’re connected to wi-fi, or to be alerted when you’re not. But it’s quite easy to find out how data is used on your device. If you’ve thrown away the guide that came in the box, have a look online. Five minutes of research can save you a lot of time and energy in the future.

The apps quietly absorbing your data

Here’s the thing that trips a lot of people up… you don’t have to open an app for that app to use data. Your email, Facebook, weather app… in fact a vast number of apps and services (some of which form part of your phone’s operating system and you may not even be aware of) use data without you accessing them.

Your phone is in constant contact with a whole host of data sources, which update information on your device (e.g. the weather, or how many Likes your latest social post is receiving). Your phone may also be automatically updating apps or even its operating system!

All this usage is just that — usage. Even if you’re not aware of it or haven’t asked for it or don’t really want it. Even if you’re in Dubai and have no roaming data bolt-on.

And it isn’t a ploy by network providers for you to use up your data. It’s the device and the apps that are using this data. There’s no conspiracy ; )

What can you do about it?

Constantly monitoring your phone use as you near your data cap at the end of each month is no way to live. A better way is to stop data-hungry apps from using too much data in the first place.

The apps that use the most data typically are the apps that you use the most. For a lot of people, that’s Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Snapchat, Spotify, Twitter and YouTube. If you use any of these apps daily, change these settings to reduce how much data they use.

On an iPhone, you can check how much data each of your apps use by going to Settings > Mobile Data. For each the apps on the alphabetical list, you’ll see a small number listed below its title that shows how much data it has used.

Facebook

Apps like Facebook love to preload and auto-play videos in your news feed that you may not even care to watch. Those apps that use data in the background should be working for you — not the other way around!

Thankfully, you can limit auto-play videos to wi-fi only or disable them altogether. Here’s how:

1. Open the Facebook app, tap the triple-line button in the lower-right corner and then tap Settings.

2. Select Account Settings and then tap Videos and Photos.

3. Tap Autoplay and then choose either On Wi-Fi Connections Only or Never Autoplay Videos.

Snapchat

While you’re using Snapchat 20 times a day, you probably haven’t noticed it slowly but surely starting to take over your phone. Constantly using the app can crush your battery and demolish your data tariff; it can also seriously clutter your camera roll!

In 2015, users took to the web to complain about Snapchat because it was burning through background data without users realising.

Fortunately, you can prevent preloading on Snapchat by enabling a semi-hidden feature called Travel Mode. It means that Snaps and Stories will take a bit longer to load, but your data plan will thank you.

1. Launch the Snapchat app and swipe down to see the profile screen.

2. In the upper-right corner, tap the gear icon.

3. Scroll down and tap Manage and then tap to turn on Travel Mode.

In a nutshell

When you’re streaming lots of movies and music or engaging in other data-heavy activities, it makes sense to use wi-fi, if it’s available and trustworthy. But if you’re checking your bank account on the road, consider turning off wi-fi and using your mobile data to protect your privacy.

Knowing the difference between wi-fi data and mobile data helps you better manage your overall data usage. Plus, when you’re discussing your next tariff, you’ll have a better understanding of which option you need.

When travelling, take extra care. Roaming data usage can be very expensive because the pricing is controlled by the foreign network on which you’re visiting. To prevent this, choose a roaming bolt-on and monitor how much data you’ve used. For example, don’t use your phone’s sat nav or watch your nephew’s cello recital while walking down the street!

At plan.com, our customers have access to our dedicated customer app, my.plan, which is tailored for individual business requirements and gives unprecedented levels of control and support, with most day-to-day management tasks completed online in just a few clicks.

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plan.com

Offering mobile, voice and data services to UK customers via our large partner network.

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