Prepaid

[RemyTweaks]

This is an issue I see is all too familiar with users in forums around the place.

I have an iPhone4 and recently the data usage has been larger than expected. I'll admit I do use the 'net a lot, streaming and app downloads and all those high usage activities. But what seems to be putting me over my limit is random packets being sent at all hours. I have wifi on at home and email is set up to manually download emails but i'm still confused as to why there would be packets sent over 3g every 10 minutes at all hours of the night. See below.

11/06/2012	04:13:33	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	04:03:43	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:01	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:53:53	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:02	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:44:02	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:34:12	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00

I reset the usage stats last time I recharged and the phone is telling me that 60.2Mb UP and 684Mb Down, far below the 1Gb cap I have signed up for, also using all the included credit of $1000.

Any ideas people??

[Bruno · Accepted solution]

Hi RemyTweaks,

RemyTweaks wrote:

I have an iPhone4 and recently the data usage has been larger than expected. I'll admit I do use the 'net a lot, streaming and app downloads and all those high usage activities. But what seems to be putting me over my limit is random packets being sent at all hours. I have wifi on at home and email is set up to manually download emails but i'm still confused as to why there would be packets sent over 3g every 10 minutes at all hours of the night. See below.

11/06/2012	04:13:33	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	04:03:43	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:01	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:53:53	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:02	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:44:02	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00
11/06/2012	03:34:12	PKT	internet 1Kb	00:05:04	PKT	$2.00

I reset the usage stats last time I recharged and the phone is telling me that 60.2Mb UP and 684Mb Down, far below the 1Gb cap I have signed up for, also using all the included credit of $1000.

Any ideas people??

Because of the many ways that your iPhone can use data (from pushing data, to backups and refreshing advertising in applications), pinpointing the cause of these packet sessions can sometimes take a bit of investigating.

The first place to start is with your application settings, ensuring that your push notifications are disabled will minimise background data. Another good idea, is to set iCloud to only backup documents and data over WiFi (settings> iCloud>Documents & Data> Use Cellular switch off)

Even when you're connected to a WiFi network, after a period of inactivity, your phone will remove itself from the WiFi network. When this happens, any background data operations will occur over 3G and use up your data inclusion.

One of the best steps that you can take to manage your data really well, is to install a data monitoring application. There area few available through the App store and they will tell you which functions/applications are using up your data and how much they are using.

The regular intervals of the packet sessions, indicates that a function or application on your handset is checking for new information every 10 minutes. As the sessions are only 1Kb each, it is unlikely that it is a backup of any sort, so it is more likely that it is an application installed on the phone. A data monitoring application will show you exactly what it is on your phone that is causing this usage.

I've also included a link to our support page for you, which has some great information on troubleshooting data usage on your smartphone.

If you have any other questions, or if there is anything else that I can help you with, please let me know.

Cheers,

-Bruno.

[RemyTweaks]

Hey Bruno,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I do not use icloud so I can scrap that idea. I have canceled all the push notifications and have installed a data monitoring app as recommended. I have found that it's OS Services & IMCore that are using the random data. It's not a problem when there is still data on my cap, but when you guys start charging $2 per packet my remaining credit gets chewed up pretty quickly, and as you say the phone switches back to 3g after a period of inactivity.

I have now changed to the flexicap with 3Gb of data so we will see how we go this month.

Maybe it's part of Apples plan to take over the world.....

[James]

Hi Reamy,

RemyTweaks wrote:

Hey Bruno,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I do not use icloud so I can scrap that idea. I have canceled all the push notifications and have installed a data monitoring app as recommended. I have found that it's OS Services & IMCore that are using the random data. It's not a problem when there is still data on my cap, but when you guys start charging $2 per packet my remaining credit gets chewed up pretty quickly, and as you say the phone switches back to 3g after a period of inactivity.

I have now changed to the flexicap with 3Gb of data so we will see how we go this month.

Maybe it's part of Apples plan to take over the world.....

It's always good to up your cap if you're finding that there's a good chance you could go over your allotted amount each month.

When you're using IMCore, are you connected to a WiFi service, or using this when you're only connected to 3G? Using a function like facetime will require you to be connected to WiFi, are you ensuring that WiFi is active whilst attempting to use this feature? Also, are you able to let me know the method you used to pinpoint the exact program/function that is using the data? 

I'm looking forward to hearing from you again.

Kind Regards,

James.