Are you using Siri?

When Siri is actually working, I do use it, mainly for voice dialing.  When I was talking to Apple, I actually asked if Siri could account for an increase in data usage, and they indicated that it shouldn't account for anything like this.

 

When I had the largest spike to date on 11/3, Siri was on one of its "vacation days" where it wasn't working.

 

Chris

You need to look at your apps that are running in the background.  Something is communicating with a server somewhere.  Double tap the home key to bring up the doc.  Press and hold one of the apps and close all your suspended apps.

I would agree with you, youngjm, but why wouldn't this communication show in the data sent and received on the phone under usage?

Not really sure but I have also never verified that what the phone shows as usage matchs with ATT sees?

I regularly do the double-tap and close out running apps. I'm not running apps, and short of being on iOS 5 instead of iOS 4, I'm running the same set of apps I've been using for months.  I've found similar threads over in the Apple forums, so I'l probably just watch over there to see if anyone comes up with ideas.

 

Chris

---

youngjm wrote:

Not really sure but I have also never verified that what the phone shows as usage matchs with ATT sees?

---

I have checked it a few times and it matched for me.  I haven't checked recently, and I'm still running iOS 4.x.

---

21stNow wrote:

I would agree with you, youngjm, but why wouldn't this communication show in the data sent and received on the phone under usage?

---

If it wasn't cleared, yeah it should match more or less (within a few %)

 

 

I'm going through the same thing between mine and my wife's phone ..I have been getting killed with data I have everything shut off been on the phone with apple and AT&T tech .. It was told to me buy apple their is a problem with AT&T server s and the new iOS and they won't admit it .. All they keep doing is giving me credit but I have to call them evry 4 or 5 days .im now waiting for a manager to call me back

---

Kajphotos wrote:
I'm going through the same thing between mine and my wife's phone ..I have been getting killed with data I have everything shut off been on the phone with apple and AT&T tech .. It was told to me buy apple their is a problem with AT&T server s and the new iOS and they won't admit it .. All they keep doing is giving me credit but I have to call them evry 4 or 5 days .im now waiting for a manager to call me back

---

I see that you have a separate thread over at http://forums.wireless.att.com/t5/Apple-iPhone/Insane-data-usage-with-the-new-iPhone-4s/td-p/2952781... on the same issue, although unlike me, you made some progress with Apple.  I sent you a private message hoping to learn who at Apple helped you, especially since AT&T claims 140MB of data for my phone on Monday, which is completely insane against my actual use.  Others who are having this issue may want to move over to that thread as well so we can keep the issue together.

 

Chris

Same here...  

 

I have a 200MB plan and according to my data usage trend, my peak is at 162.4MB (only when we were out of town on vacation).  Otherwise, other months average at 65MB.  October was 79.7MB.  I never made any changes besides upgrading to IOS 5.  I always use Wi-Fi at home and at school, and I don't surf the web/use data at all when I drive between home and school.

 

Also, everything is set to manual, no auto push notifications, fetch, only 2 apps using location services but apps are closed.  I don't use iCloud, Twitter...bottom line - I did not make any significant behavior changes that would affect my data usage. 

 

However, I get these weird excessive usages:

11/08	05:13 AM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	10663KB
11/07	09:41 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	10218KB
11/05	09:52 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	20756KB
11/05	03:04 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	3704KB
11/04	09:37 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	30308KB
11/04	08:34 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	14651KB
11/04	06:37 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	3542KB
11/04	02:12 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	1485KB
11/01	07:09 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	2258KB
10/31	07:09 AM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	11150KB
10/29	01:44 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	29055KB
10/21	09:53 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	20457KB
10/21	03:04 PM	phone	Internet/MEdia Net	Sent	37963KB

 

Most, if not all, of these times I was using Wi-Fi at home/school (or was already sleeping or haven't gotten up in the am).

I chatted twice with AT&T Tech Support & they just went through the regular script that some apps use data even when you're at Wi-Fi, etc. and that the time stamp is not accurate.  Also, there's no way for them to check what the data are for.  I told them about all the forum discussions I saw but tech support claimed he wasn't aware of it and referred me to billing dept. instead.  It's frustrating.

 

I have 5.0.1 now; hopefully, it would help fix the problem.  I'll be happy to hear any progress on your end.  Good luck to all of us!

Do you have Apple diagnostic data turned off? I think it used to be in iTunes, but now I think it's an option on the phone in the Settings somewhere.

I have "Diagnostics & Usage" set to "Don't Send"

This has been discussed multiple times and is not specific to the 4S or any iPhone for that matter.

The device is not sending chunks or data at some strange time during the night.

 

AT&T simply bills data usage in blocks throughout the day, typically in the early morning hours.  Those large chunks of data are simply a total of the data used since the last time data was "billed" to your account.

Billing "data usage in blocks throughout the day" explanation ONLY makes sense if the user actually use those data; however, if these abnormal usage didn't happen until recently (same time as IOS 5 release), then there's really an issue. 

 

Also, conscientious users made the same observations.  Users here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3410990?start=15&tstart=0 have very similar experiences.

 

I don't mind getting billed if I actually use the data but getting billed for services we didn't use is a different story.

Did you use an international calling card? You could be charged data for calls.

 

Let me just say that I have a 3GS and very similar thing happened on me a month ago even before iOS 5 hit. All of a sudden I used over 200 MB of data while I averaged 160 in the past 12 months.

 

I dug into my phone bill to find a clue and found that one phone number I called was pretty suspicious. It was a calling card (something like 10c per minute to call abroad) that I have been using for years. I found that I was charged data whenever I called access number for this card. One of the calls I made was more than 15 minutes long resulting in 90 MB of data usage. I suspect the phone card actually uses IP phone technology and somehow that messed up in the ATT system causing it to think it's a data connection. I am attaching the phone records below and you can see the caller ID to this number is listed as "PSDN MAIN".

 

I have since changed to call a different access number and the problem hasn't occurred. Needless to say ATT reps on the phone were not so helpful even when I told them of my investigation. Still I am happy I got refunded my data usage charge.

 

Here is the log. Note the time coincidence on both. Warning: do not call that evil number with your iPhone.

 

Voice:

Date         Time         Call To         Number Called         Rate Period         Feature         Minutes

09/24         08:45 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         NW                   2

09/24         08:18 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         NW                   16

09/23         07:36 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/19         07:19 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   10

09/16         07:54 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   16

09/16         08:18 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   5

09/13         07:12 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   15

09/11         06:02 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         NW                   2

09/09         08:15 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   8

09/09         08:14 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/09         07:54 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   20

09/09         07:53 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/09         07:51 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/09         07:49 AM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   14

09/06         06:29 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/02         07:40 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   16

09/02         07:40 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

09/02         07:21 PM         PSDN MAIN         626-389-0035         DT                   1

 

Data:

09/24         08:18 AM         phone         Internet/MEdia Net         Sent         91671KB

09/13         07:12 AM         phone         Internet/MEdia Net         Sent         1906KB

09/11         06:02 PM         phone         Internet/MEdia Net         Sent         54KB

 

@nanotube
That's a great analysis -- helpful information. Thanks for sharing!

I never used a calling card though; however, I still double-checked all the calls I made (which weren't much at all) and all the numbers are familiar to me.

I'm really convinced that it's a network and/or OS issue. Even if I used data while not in Wi-Fi, there's no way I could have used huge chunks of data unless there were transmissions that I never initiated. As I've mentioned, I never changed anything but updated to iOS 5.

I've been checking other forums as well but it doesn't seem like it has been resolved or that other users have heard anything concrete from either AT&T or Apple (unfortunately).

ATTENTION PLEASE READ:

 

INSANE DATA USAGE PROBLEMS

 

DELETE / SIGN OFF from iCLOUD on your iPhones. Seems there is a bug in the iCloud which keeps sending and receiving data on the 3G cellular connection. Also follow these steps as well it has worked for me and I just recieved my iPhone.

Disable Siri, All notifications, Location Services and while on location services disable system services...Turn off fetch new data... in mail, contacts, calendar section, turn off iMessage, Turn off store <- MAKE SURE YOU DO ALL OF THESE TO MAKE IT WORK AND ALSO DELETE RUNNING APPS WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING THEM. KEEP THIS UP UNTIL THERE IS AN UPDATE!

---

coolguy2860 wrote:

ATTENTION PLEASE READ:

 

INSANE DATA USAGE PROBLEMS

 

DELETE / SIGN OFF from iCLOUD on your iPhones. Seems there is a bug in the iCloud which keeps sending and receiving data on the 3G cellular connection. Also follow these steps as well it has worked for me and I just recieved my iPhone.

Disable Siri, All notifications, Location Services and while on location services disable system services...Turn off fetch new data... in mail, contacts, calendar section, turn off iMessage, Turn off store <- MAKE SURE YOU DO ALL OF THESE TO MAKE IT WORK AND ALSO DELETE RUNNING APPS WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING THEM. KEEP THIS UP UNTIL THERE IS AN UPDATE!

---

So based on your suggestions... why in the world would anyone have a smartphone or iPhone.  Basicially, you are suggesting they turn off all the features of the phone and use it as a dumb phone.  Why not simply get a Razr at that point??????

 

I'm not implying some of your suggestions are not logical or realistic, but that's just extreme.

I've the same issue 90% of my data plan gone within 15 days. I was with AT&T and Apple for an hour and all they have is execuses.

AT&T says that the 4s goes into sleep mode and drops the WIFI connection. And any updates are done over the cellular network. Why the phone connects via 3G when it has a WiFi conn. available ? they have no answer. 

All they say is turn off cellular data if you don't want that to happen. How dumb is that for a smartphone ? 

This is very frustrating, I am considering returning my phone if in a day Apple or AT&T won't fix this issue.

***********************************************************************************************************************************

coolguy2860 wrote:

ATTENTION PLEASE READ:

 

INSANE DATA USAGE PROBLEMS

 

DELETE / SIGN OFF from iCLOUD on your iPhones. Seems there is a bug in the iCloud which keeps sending and receiving data on the 3G cellular connection. Also follow these steps as well it has worked for me and I just recieved my iPhone.

Disable Siri, All notifications, Location Services and while on location services disable system services...Turn off fetch new data... in mail, contacts, calendar section, turn off iMessage, Turn off store <- MAKE SURE YOU DO ALL OF THESE TO MAKE IT WORK AND ALSO DELETE RUNNING APPS WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING THEM. KEEP THIS UP UNTIL THERE IS AN UPDATE!

---

So based on your suggestions... why in the world would anyone have a smartphone or iPhone.  Basicially, you are suggesting they turn off all the features of the phone and use it as a dumb phone.  Why not simply get a Razr at that point??????

 

I'm not implying some of your suggestions are not logical or realistic, but that's just extreme.

***********************************************************************************************************************************

 

 

I completely agree with you , If we have to turn off everything then why do I need a smartphone. 

---

pravinl wrote:

 

AT&T says that the 4s goes into sleep mode and drops the WIFI connection. And any updates are done over the cellular network. Why the phone connects via 3G when it has a WiFi conn. available ? they have no answer.

---

Simple... it's not specific to the 4S.  This is the way iOS is designed to work by Apple.  It has been this way since the original iPhone was released in 2007.

I've noticed the same thing. Going over my Data Usage back when I had the 3GS up until October 14th I was using around 500 MB per month. Since October 14th I am now going above 2GB per month and nothing has changed in my daily habits. Send a couple emails a month, stream a hour MAX a month of Pandora (normally just listen to what I have on my phone for music) and maybe watch Netflix on my phone a couple times.... 2 hours tops of that.

 

I've put in a message to AT&T but I'm not expecting much results from the looks of all the forum posts I've read about the same thing. I've been dinged an additional $10.00 because of this spike and I will either get a credit or I will cancel the phone and go with another Carrier and a different phone.

 

This is ridiculous.

 

I don't know if anyone's said this but when the phone is plugged in it stays on wifi.

I'm having no data problems had my phone for 5 days only used 125 mbs, that's low, i have 2gb data plan.

Having the same problem: used up my normal data allotment in the first 6 days of my billing cycle. This is only since switching to the iPhone 4s and iOS 5.

I found a potential quick fix. Turn the following preference OFF:

General / Network / Cellular Data
"Turn off cellular data to restrict all data to Wi-Fi..."

Am now researching it further, but this could stop the leakage.

---

dogweather wrote:
Having the same problem: used up my normal data allotment in the first 6 days of my billing cycle. This is only since switching to the iPhone 4s and iOS 5.

I found a potential quick fix. Turn the following preference OFF:

General / Network / Cellular Data
"Turn off cellular data to restrict all data to Wi-Fi..."

Am now researching it further, but this could stop the leakage.

---

Well, that will certainly stop the device from using cellular data, but unless you toggle it back on, you will not have data access when away from Wi-Fi.  At least to my way of thinking, what's the point of paying for data if you simply turn it off?

I don't know if this will apply to your specific situation, but the info helped me out a lot. iMessage uses up data from your plan. I couldn't figure out how I made it to 100MB in about 2 days when I barely had it out of the box.

 

I switched off iMessaging and will be using text messaging (since I have unlimited) from now on.

How much data does a SMS message use? I'm thinking you would have to do a ton of texting to use 100MB in 2 days, unless you are also sending a bunch of MMS messages with pictures.