BaltTech: AT&T, the iPad and the mysterious 3G data usage - Technology news: Digital tech, innovation, Apple and Microsoft news from reporter Gus Sentementes

Is something hinky going on with AT&T and its iPhone/iPad data usage and billing practices?

Electronista posted a story about a new federal class action lawsuit that claims AT&T is over-stating the data that iPhone/iPad users on its data plans.

The reason this story jumped out at me today is that I ran into a similar problem with my iPad using AT&T's 3G service. I signed up for the 250 MB plan a little more than a month ago and I started getting alerts as my coverage was starting to run low.

But what I found was that my 3G data plan, for which I was paying $15 monthly for, was apparently consuming data even while I was in the Wi-Fi hotspot zone of my house. In fact, my iPad was often less than 10 feet away from my Wi-Fi router as the data plan was winding down.

I didn't understand this behavior then, and I still don't. Somehow, my 3G data plan was being used even while I was clearly on my Wi-Fi network. I did not renew my 3G plan because of the mysterious data usage leak.

So, AT&T (and other iPad/iPhone users): is this really a problem?

Comments

Had the same problem. Used all my capacity in one day? No way - I wasn't streaming video or downloading.

I had the unlimited plan and never used much, but after switching, all of a sudden my use spiked? Something definitely hinky.

Posted by: JijiN | January 31, 2011 3:57 PM

I always keep "cellular data" switched off unless I'm in a place where I need to use 3G. I've used it in travel, and last week at home when our wireless modem was going bad, but I've never gone over my $15 allowance.

Posted by: Annie | January 31, 2011 4:29 PM

Same thing! I've noticed my iPhone displays 3G even when our wireless laptops are working just fine in the house. And right after I switched from the unlimited plan, my use went through the roof. Highly unlikely, as I mostly check e-mail and read the newspaper on my phone.
Annie, how do you turn "cellular data" off? Is that only on the iPad?

Posted by: Kate | January 31, 2011 8:51 PM

Something most people are forgetting is that when iOS 4 was released it introduced multi-tasking. Not only does an application continue to run in the background it continues to use data. Little tiny sips of data every so often add up after a few days of constantly running. iPads recently had the same multi-tasking added.

Now that is not the only issue here, but i know it changed my data usage for a month or two until i realized what was going on.

Posted by: Kenn | February 1, 2011 12:51 PM