Mobile Data Allowance.

[sapelesam]

As a recent adopter of mobile tech, fifties child, can anyone tell me if receiving emails on my smartphone uses any of my data allowance. Many thanks in advance.

[hc4361]

Yes it does. Each email uses approximately 100 kB of data.

[sapelesam]

Thanks hc, can you give an old man a breakdown of GB, kB etc?

[hc4361]

From the smallest:

1 byte
1024 bytes = 1kb (kilobytes)
1024 kb = 1 mg (megabyte)
1024 mb = 1 gb (gigabyte)
1024 gb = 1 tb (terabyte)

Generally, web browsing and emails use small amounts of data whilst watching video (or tv) uses lots. Some games use a lot of data, too.
Good guide here:

http://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/guides/broadband/guide-to-internet-data-usage

[Togo]

Switch off roaming wifi and only use it when urgent. At home let it be hooked up to your home wifi router.

[hc4361]

What is your current data allowance? I currently have 500 mb per month as I am using wifi at home and work a lot but that is plenty for emails whilst I'm out and about. I leave my mobile data switched on but like most modern phones it connects to wifi automatically when I am at home and work.

I would think twice about streaming video when not connected to wifi, though.

[sapelesam]

Again, many thanks for all the advice, what a great community this is. To hc, I have just moved my phone to BT Mobile, £8 a month inc 2GB and 500 minutes of calls. Seems like I have enough data. Sorry I didn't get back to you last night, I man a charity phoneline at night.

[hc4361]

2GB is loads! You should have a BTapp on your phone which will tell you have much data you have used, so check it regularly until you get a feel for your phone and data use

[CrapAtCryptics]

A recent article from Ebuyer covers android and IOS

http://www.ebuyer.com/blog/2015/10/how-to-cut-down-your-data-use/?event=cct&mp=13&mid=155437&tuid=9856295&utm_source=2016-03-31&;utm_medium=campaign_email&utm_campaign=B2C_%28Thursday%29_Openers