PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • Your carrier probably miscalculates data usage, study shows

Your carrier probably miscalculates data usage, study shows

Posted: , by Nick T.

Categories:

Share:

Discuss 22
Your carrier probably miscalculates data usage, study shows
Here is another way our cellular carriers get more money out of our pockets than they should – by overcharging us for the mobile data we consume. Well, they aren't doing it on purpose, most likely, but according to a recent study, two of the major U.S. carriers (no names were mentioned) sometimes register about 5 to 7 percent more data than a subscriber actually uses.

Here is how that happens: a wireless carrier measures data consumption based on the amount of megabytes sent to the customer. However, when certain factors are in effect, not all of that data reaches the consumer's smartphone or tablet. That occurs primarily when the user is streaming music or video due to the way those protocols work. In a nutshell, an app that streams media may continue requesting data even when the smartphone or the tablet cannot receive it, which is what usually happens when the user's reception is low.

Now, a 5 to 7 percent difference might not seem like much, but it is enough to throw a subscriber beyond their monthly allowance, which could cost them extra. For example, Verizon and AT&T both charge $15 for each additional gigabyte a user consumers. Of course, the flaw could be fixed if carriers choose to modify their data counting algorithms accordingly, yet we don't see that happening anytime soon.

Share:

Discuss22

22 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 14 Sep 2012, 08:37 14

I look at my bill regularly. If I EVER find out that Verizon is ripping me off, I will with the quickness of cheetah introduce them to my lawyer. lol

We ALL pay too much money to these letches, just to find out they are ripping us off. Please let me find out Verizon is screwing me.

Reply

3. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 14 Sep 2012, 08:41 6

**leeches** lol

Please let me edit PhoneArena.com. lol

Reply

6. Contreramanjaro posted on 14 Sep 2012, 09:27 3

PhoneArena does let you edit until a bit of time passes or you get thumb.

Reply

7. g2a5b0e posted on 14 Sep 2012, 09:34 3

You can only edit a post before the next post has been made.

Reply

9. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 14 Sep 2012, 10:20 2

I know & that sucks because if it's an article that has a lot of posts then you are screwed if you are not fast enough. lol

Reply

18. serious9010 posted on 15 Sep 2012, 03:11 2

you lol too much.

Reply

2. ajac09 posted on 14 Sep 2012, 08:39 3

I would NOT be surprised. I have an app on all our phones showing data usage vs what it shows on the AT&T website and I really really wonder... its usually off buy just enough not to matter but enough to make me investigate.

Reply

4. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 14 Sep 2012, 09:00 2

The new data usage feature in ICS and JB is usually right on the money with T-Mobile's reports for my data usage.

Reply

5. Rayvelynn posted on 14 Sep 2012, 09:21 3

Their talking about AT&T with out a doubt, lol

Reply

8. alpinejason posted on 14 Sep 2012, 09:59 2

and verizon for certain

Reply

10. Savage posted on 14 Sep 2012, 10:34

Not really new. The data usage in Android 4.0 shows less than my carrier's bill always. Though not by much.

Reply

11. dsDoan posted on 14 Sep 2012, 11:18 1

Be logical. This is the fault of the protocols, not the fault of the carriers.

That is, of course, unless the carriers designed the protocols.

Reply

17. 305Bucko posted on 15 Sep 2012, 01:07 1

cue the dramatic music O_o

Reply

12. 1ceTr0n posted on 14 Sep 2012, 11:24

Lets file this under the "f**king duh" category

Reply

13. e.wvu (unregistered) posted on 14 Sep 2012, 18:41

Miscalculation? Yeah right.

Reply

14. e.wvu (unregistered) posted on 14 Sep 2012, 18:44 1

Carriers are aware that most of their customers don't look at their data usage on their bills. With that said, it's easy for carriers to "miscalculate" your data usage w/o your knowledge.

Reply

15. DonMateo28 posted on 14 Sep 2012, 20:03 1

Shouldn't matter if you on an unlimited data plan

Reply

16. 305Bucko posted on 15 Sep 2012, 00:55

JUST CONFIRMED!!! My last Sprint bill says 8.5GB of data when in fact I used 8.7GB

Im gonna call them right now. Theyre about to hear what UNLIMITED outrage sounds like =D

Reply

19. DigitalMD posted on 15 Sep 2012, 07:55

What about all the spam and advertising we are forced to take even though we don;t want it? They do not subtract for that. You want to know if your cell carrier is ripping you off? Just look at any bill, you can be assured, they are ripping you off.

Reply

22. uofmrules posted on 16 Sep 2012, 09:30

What are you talking about? The only advertisments you may get are from an app you downloaded by your choice. So how is that the carriers fault?

Reply

20. EspHack posted on 15 Sep 2012, 13:36

i hate all carriers, they are all the same, robbers with lawyers, after the school they are the thing i hate the most and would like to see killed with fire

Reply

21. uofmrules posted on 16 Sep 2012, 09:29

I love how the article trys to say the carriers add extra data to get more money out of you. The average consumer uses less then 2GB of data so even with the supposed adding of 5-7% more data won't make most people go over, and if they did it would be a whole $10 they pay, which again is rare. More people go over there minutes then data, and get charged a higher rate when they go over then data.

Reply

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920