How far will 50MB of data go?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › How far will 50MB of data go?

JackAttackNZ

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#77066 10-Feb-2011 14:53

I'm planning on switching to a 2degrees Android phone. I would go for the $10 text plan (I send around 200-500 a month) and the 50MB data for $6. But my question is how far will that 50MB go. I use Facebook and Twitter alot, and also blogging but only on my PC, so I was wondering how optimized mobile pages/data is.

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#437798 10-Feb-2011 15:36

3 days... I got a week out of it.

vinnieg

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#437813 10-Feb-2011 16:03

Depends what you do, Facebook, Twittering through the Apps should be nearly enough for 2-3 weeks. Turn off Background sync, otherwise the Market will update apps every few days and kill that data in a few days!!!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

mruane

420 posts

Ultimate Geek

#437833 10-Feb-2011 16:25

Yes - quite hard to predict how much data you will gobble. For me, using an iPhone, I consume about 40MB a month just with handling email and contact syncing with GMail. All the other things are extra. Usually 50 mb lasts me about three weeks.

Cheers Mike

xcubed

194 posts

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#437851 10-Feb-2011 16:49

With WiFi available at home and work, 50MB lasts me a month for light usage (email, maps, web) while I'm out and about.

xpd

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#437953 10-Feb-2011 19:39

50mb lasts me 3-4 weeks but I only use email, 4square and occasional Facebook/Twitter.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Toiletduck

119 posts

Master Geek

#438062 10-Feb-2011 23:24

In answer to your question - - - Mobile optimised sites are very efficient (including facebook and twitter).
As to how much data you will use - this is really subjective.

In my experience - - - people who have just started using a new android phone tend to use more data initially as they download and try new apps, play with youtube (before discovering the implications) etc. Then (several months later) you settle into the routine of your usage.

I recommend giving it a go - - - monitoring your balance (which with 2d you can do real time by calling *100*1#) and buying packs as necessary knowing that initially you will be more greedy. You can benchmark your usage at any time yourself.

I would also set up the phone to use wifi at home (assuming you have wifi at home) - this will mean the overnight synchronising of email or playing with youtube or downloading apps (or app updates or whatever will use extra than normal data) can be done in the evening without incurring data charges through your mobile provider. As mentioned by others, configuring the frequency of the synchronisation of apps/email/twitter/facebook is an important factor.

Blogging really depend on the site and whether they have a mobile optimised address or how often you access it.

Hope this helps (I am not a typical user so I am not giving real world detail of my usage).

bongojona

253 posts

Ultimate Geek

#438132 11-Feb-2011 08:44

You should avoid multimedia data (pictures and especially video)

stick with text data, and try to use mobile versions of all the sites you use.

Text based data is VERY efficient and will use almost nothing. Video is the worst and will chew through your data fast.

A great efficient use of data would be forums (such as this) -as long as no pictures are posted.

I have found I can make my 50mb last 3 weeks of moderate use on strictly text data, but can chew through it in a few hours when watching multimedia heavy data.

Now I watch all videos/large pictures etc at home only.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

reven

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#438138 11-Feb-2011 08:56

i tweet a lot, check emails, use the trademe app (on iphone), check google maps, online banking, and the occasional webpage. and i rarely run out of my 50mb of data a month (usually around 10mb left).

so it really depends on how much your doing, and what you're doing, but 50mb a month is very much doable.

yann

134 posts

Master Geek

#438357 11-Feb-2011 17:12

As most people have said, it depends on how you use it really.

My usage varies, but I tend to use between 500mb - 900mb per month. I don't tend to use WiFi as I figure I can just let the phone use the data allowance that I have. But knowing that I am not watching my usage meter means I will happily pop onto vimeo or download apps, updates and browse media rich websites without worrying too much about how much data it is consuming.

One thing I do though is I top up about $30 per month which gives me 300 text messages to use each month. I use $20 for 1Gb of data for the month which leaves $10 if I need to use for calls or it just accumulates if it doesn't get used.

I could limit myself to 50mb and use WiFi when it is available, but I find it easier and satisfying knowing I can use it pretty much as much as I like without worrying about data.

That's just me though!

Y :)

blakamin

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#438367 11-Feb-2011 17:29

I have used 127mb with 9 days to go...
I did use 20-30mb when Cyclone Yasi hit FNQ as I lived there a while (even had a tattoo done in Mission Beach) so went hard on the news while at work.

I tend to go through a bit with twitter, gmail, Engadget app and the NZ Newspapers app when I'm at work, but I work 14hr days and even then, I turn data off a fair bit.
That being said, when people link to interesting things on twitter, I'll normally give them a look.

Last month was only 97mb

2 days a week data is off as I have a wifi connection at home.

I have a 200mb data cap through TCL and the lowest I've used since they started it was 95mb and that was the first month of being very careful.

BTW, 200mb of data with TelstraClear is only $20 a month :D

And GEEKZONE NEEDS AN ANDROID APP! hehehe.

editing to make more sense

fallen

199 posts

Master Geek

#438662 12-Feb-2011 19:10

As other have said, it really depends on your usage. I was using up my 50mb data pack in 2 weeks. Browsing multimedia sites really chews through data.

dpf81

58 posts

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#438846 13-Feb-2011 13:57

mine usually lasts 3-4 weeks, but my phone stays on wifi at home/work

jonb

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#439205 14-Feb-2011 12:12

Have you seen the latest in this post? http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=85&topicid=77283

There's a new 100MB data pack, and access to mobile facebook is free..

btw - I have a sony erricsson non-smartphone and don't manage to go thorugh the 50mb data pack. If you go to the mobile optimised versions of popular sites it would be take some doing to reach 50mb a month. e.g. m.guardian.co.uk is only 6kb.

Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#439249 14-Feb-2011 13:43

Hey JackAttackNZ - consider installing the Android App NetCounter. It's a great wee app that accurately monitors your usage on both the 3G and wifi network.

As suggested, consider a 100mb pack and see how much you're using.

Regs

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Snowflake

#439270 14-Feb-2011 14:17

i have half a dozen users that only use email synching on their windows 6 phones. they rarely go over 20mb per month.

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