You're Wasting My Cellular Data!

Today, it's almost a given in the U.S.A. that, if you have a cell phone, you have a data plan, right? While some of the more affluent or income sacrificial of us have unlimited data plans, at about $99/month, that's generally not affordable for the average American family. Which means we have data limits on our cell phones, which means data usage is precious because every MB costs us money. For non-selfie posting, anti-InstaGram, non-YouTubing people like me, avoiding data overages should be a no brainer, right? Think again. I mean, I've got wi-fi set up and connect to it constantly, as evidenced by the rapid drain of my phone's battery as I drive across town and watch it go nuts trying to connect to every hotspot I pass. So how is it I keep dipping into my Data Stash, as T-Mobile so kindly warned me about again this morning?

Data Drain Scenario 1 - Spammers

We all get frustrated by those unwanted, irritating robocalls that ping us all hours of the day, and sometimes night, offering to lower our interest rates, renew warranties on cars we sold ages ago, and free trips to wherever as long as we pay a "small fee" (i.e. share our bank/credit card info for the caller to steal). Those are a nuisance, but the cost for most of us is little more than time and patience given that unlimited talk & text is somewhat de facto for phone plans today.

As careful as many of us are not to answer those irritating calls, those scammers have still found a way to cost us money, even if it doesn't end up in their own pockets. Not me! You may proclaim. You're probably wrong, and here's how.

Spammers embed images and other crap in those emails they send you every 10 seconds. Most email settings allow you to set the number of days you sync, but sync EVERY message you receive during that time range. Now, by default, they only download headers and not the whole message, which is a good start as you're only downloading a few KB per message. However, if you click that message to open it, or if your settings download messages and images, you're paying to download every byte of data in that message, including those virus-laden, hidden URL-toting images. So, not only do you run the risk of getting your OS jacked by the intended scam behind that message, you're paying your provider for the privilege of doing it.

What you can do:
Check your sync settings. Don't sync your Junk folder. Make sure you download headers only. Don't open messages from advertisers, mailing lists, and people you don't know on your phone. With Microsoft Outlook, available on all platforms, you can switch to a list view, check off that junk mail without ever opening it, and delete it. As for the advertisements you actually want (are you nuts???), open those only when you're connected to wi-fi to avoid draining your data plan.

Data Drain Scenario 2 - iPhone Users

Ah, the iPhone sheeple. Gotta love you! If not for you, the smart phone market would still be focused on productivity instead of fart machines and dog-ear masks for our photos.

If not for you, our SMS messages would be, well, SMS. However, you insist upon using those "cool" add-on apps to create your text messages and, even if you're just sending text, you're sending us MMS. Guess what? MMS is NEVER downloaded via wi-fi. That's right, every MMS you send me uses MY data plan to open that message. So I'm getting charged to see you typed "LOL". Thanks!

What you can do:
For those of us victimized by our poor, deluded iPhone toting buddies, all I can say is, don't block their numbers. Let your iPhone friends know they're costing you money. Ask, even beg them to use the built-in app for sending their text messages, or, just delete their messages when they send them. There are PLENTY of other options to send/receive messages that leverage wi-fi or SMS. And real friends don't drain your data plan on purpose. They just don't know any better. If you point out what they're doing to you with their hipster version of note-passing and they simply don't care, well, THEN you can block their number. Or, better yet, forward them all that spam. Oh wait, that will drain your data plan, too. Better do that from your PC.

Data Drain Scenario 3 - "Free" Apps

Your favorite apps could possibly be your biggest enemy. I recently installed InstaGram and Facebook again to support an event I was participating in. Almost immediately, my phone starting running hotter and I could see my data usage skyrocketing.

Why?

Because those apps are "always on" by default - at least on Windows Phone and Android. (Sorry, if you couldn't tell by my comments earlier, as a true, dyed-in-the-wool techie, I am not a fan of the easily hacked, badly managed, consumer-targeted, money-sucking, unpredictable iPhone, so I did not test it.)

Many of these feed-oriented apps, like SnapChat, WhatsApp, etc, sync constantly out-of-the-box and are ad-driven. While this ensures your news about BettyBobBuddy is always up-to-date, it also means your phone is CONSTANTLY pulling data via every available connection if you have 400+ friends, which is about average in this acquaintence-following world. Not to mention it's using YOUR data to feed you those annoying ads. If you're one of those social media addicts with 1000's of "friends" or who follows 1000's of people you've never met - I'm sorry. You should just go with unlimited data AND seek counseling.

What you can do:
First of all, pony up for the ad-free version. It'll save you money in the long run if you're not paying for unlimited data or confined to your home.

Unfortunately, most phones don't allow us to set which apps can use our data plan and which are relegated to wi-fi only. Generally, it's an all-or-nothing option. Your best bet is to set your phone's data usage policy to "wi-fi" only. Then, if you absolutely MUST check your email or the latest SnapChat goings-on, go manually switch it to data plan and turn it back off once your social media fiending is satisfied. The only other option is to avoid installing apps which read feeds for you, buy a phone with a REAL browser (Windows, Android), and check your feeds via the browser when you're on wi-fi. This may shock you, but my tween has managed to survive both 6th and half of 7th grade without the crutch of having these apps running constantly. (Or even installed. It must suck living with a digital security guru, but at least she's safe and I have money to feed her body & mind instead of her phone.)

The short of it is: don't be blind to where your data is going. Pay attention to the types of apps you install and what data you allow it to download. I'm betting you'll save so much money your jaws will drop and cell phone companies will hate it. (Yes, that's a reference to yet more irritating ads we unknowingly pay to view.)