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All posts tagged "data"


Thursday, January 19, 2012

AT&T Raises Data Prices

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android News" @ 11:00 AM

http://consumerist.com/2012/01/att-...-and-costs.html

According to AT&T's official release, new smart phone customers will have a choice of three new monthly data plans—300MB for $20, $30 for 3GB, and $50 for 5GB, including the ability to share the wireless data connection with other devices.

Sure they're giving you another 1GB for $5 a month but most people don't use more than 1GB a month so the 2GB for $25 was a better option. If they offered a 1GB plan for $10 or even $15 a month that would be great and work for the vast majority of smartphone users. I'm sure that will never happen though. What are your thoughts? How much bandwidth do you use in a typical month?

Tags: data, price, carrier, plan, att

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Manage Your Data Usage With Onavo Lite for Android

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android Software" @ 10:00 AM

http://mashable.com/2011/08/30/onavo-android/

"“We are all addicted to data, but like junkies we don’t stop and count the cost — we just want our hit,” Onavo cofounder and CEO Guy Rosen says. “With capped plans now the norm, we’re here to remove the confusion and baffling small print to make it clear and simple.”"

Onavo Lite for Android is an app that monitors and helps you manage your data usage. It can notify you of a specific app that's using a lot of data or let you know when you're close to your monthly data limit on your plan. If you have you had problems going over you're monthly limit this could be a huge help to you. Even if you haven't it could be cool to see which apps, that you may not expect, are using the most data. Follow the "Read" link for a bunch of screen shots and some more information.


Friday, September 2, 2011

Onavo Guards Against Overage!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android Software" @ 12:30 PM

https://market.android.com/details?...android.onavoid

"Onavo Lite helps you control your 3G data and manage your data plan to avoid overages."

Need something to keep your data consumption in check? Well Onavo is on it with this handy free app!

Tags: data, ovano, overage

Monday, May 30, 2011

abroadband: Data Access for Travellers

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.abroadband.com/

My friend Rafe Blanford pointed out this service, which I hadn't heard of until now. It looks interesting - at current rates, it's about 86 cents USD/CAD per MB, and they support SIMs, microSIMs, and USB sticks. That's not "I'm going to order a TV season on iTunes and download it all" cheap, but if you were careful about not downloading email attachments and were sparing with your Internet access, you could make a $40 investment last a week or two. While you can check your online balance easily, it seems this isn't a true pre-pay solution...the metre keeps running without stopping, so be careful what you decide to download.

Note that this is for data only: this is for your laptop, tablet, or I-only-want-Internet-phone. If you want to use your phone abroad and do voice calls, text, etc. you'll need to get a SIM from a wireless carrier. Anyone know of a service similar to this but for full phone service?


Friday, May 20, 2011

Connection Checker Saves You Battery Power By Automatically Checking Your Connections

Posted by Karey Westfall in "Android Software" @ 09:30 AM

http://lifehacker.com/5802885/conne...battery-savings

"Android: Try as we might, you can never avoid finicky Wi-Fi and low-signal areas. Connection checker will save your phone's battery (and a little bit of your sanity) by disconnecting crappy connections automatically."

Why doesn't this app come standard with all phones? You would think a built in connection tester would be a standard feature for a mobile phone that could potentially move through different areas with spotty data connections. Maybe phone developers neglect to include such feature because having your phone search for networks uses up the battery causing you to charge it more often and eventually replace the battery when it dies. Maybe it's their ploy to get you to buy a new battery faster which gives them your hard-earned money. Well, not anymore!

Install Connection Checker and it will automatically check for wi-fi and data connections then disconnect you if you have no signal saving you battery power (and hopefully your battery from frequent recharging). Plus, it will save you from having a drained battery if you forgot to disconnect your data connection before visiting friends in the boonies with no cell service (Yes, there are still areas without cell service. Trust me, I know!). The app is free or you can download a pro version for $1.74. Not too bad for something that should come with your phone anyways!


Thursday, April 21, 2011

How Safe is Your Data With Android?

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Talk" @ 11:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/#!5791977/wha...hout-encryption

"Start capturing traffic from Android phones, and you'll learn something about security."

Lifehacker points to an article which highlights some of the security shortcomings of Android. What isn't clear from the article is if this capture was done over Wi-Fi or the cellular network. To my limited knowledge, there isn't an easy way to sniff 3G data, so this should only be a concern if you are on Wi-Fi. In other words, if you're concerned about who may be able to see your data, stick with your wireless data plan when using apps that may compromise your security.


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

FCC Tells AT&T And Verizon To Play Nice: Mandatory Data Roaming

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android Mobile Operators" @ 05:00 PM

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...ta-traffic.html

"AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless must let smaller competitors use their networks for mobile Internet service under rules approved today by a divided Federal Communications Commission."

I'm sure there are some guys in suit wearing blue and red ties gritting there teeth right about now. In a move that can only be good for regional carriers and irritating for the big guys, the FCC has mandated that AT&T and Verizon must negotiate fair data roaming agreements with smaller regional carriers much as they are required to do with voice roaming now. I'm not really sure how much of an impact this will make on the on the big guns but it has certainly changed the ball game. Any of you out there rockin an Android on Podunk Wireless excited about this move?


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Androiders Use More Data!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android News" @ 01:30 PM

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS...E6B721X20101208

"Users of Google's Android phones, such as Samsung's Galaxy S, use more data services than those with other smartphones, threatening to choke wireless network capacity, an industry study showed. The growing popularity of Android-operated phones -- made by companies including Asian vendors HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics -- comes as handsets look set to overtake computers as the most used device for browsing the Web."

We've been hearing for years that our increased data usage (on phones, on computers, anywhere) is going to choke networks. I'm thinking that supply will meet demand with only minor glitches along the way. What I want to know is why do Android users use more data? The article mentions better cameras and video editing abilities, although I wonder if they're just more fun to play with!


Friday, September 3, 2010

Verizon Offers Prepaid Data for Android, Sorry Windows Mobile

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android News" @ 12:30 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/...-data-packages/

"BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced it will be expanding its portfolio of prepaid offerings to include a new 3G Prepaid data package that lets customers access unlimited data on select 3G Smartphones and Multimedia phones for $30 monthly access. Multimedia phone customers also have the option of selecting a new $10 monthly data package for 25 MB per month ($.20/MB overage). These new prepaid data packages will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Store today and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Sept. 28."

Verizon still has Windows Mobile devices (Although perhaps not for long), yet those don't get in on this $30 a month prepaid unlimited data offer. I'm not sure what their reason for snubbing WM here is - I can't imagine it costs them any more money to add it to the other smartphones in their line, and perhaps they just didn't mention the WM devices in the press release. Perhaps some brave soul should test it out when it becomes available!

However it looks like most, if not all, of the Android offerings do (Oh yea, those blackberries and palm devices are eligible too...). Not a bad price if you just want a non-contract data device lying around. Anyone Android-fan going to take Verizion up on their deal?


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