Save your data! Netflix update for iOS brings Wi-Fi only option

posted by Alan F.

May 31, 2012, 11:43 PM

Save your data! Netflix update for iOS brings Wi-Fi only option

Netflix iOS update lets you choose to view on Wi-Fi only

Remember the old days when unlimited data plans ruled the States and Apple iPhone users could watch Netflix movies to their heart's content? Now carriers like AT&T and Verizon have become so worried about clogging up their pipelines that they are even thinking about ways to charge Netflix for the bandwidth used by users of its app. Netflix has tried to make things easier for its iOS using fans by adding a Wi-Fi only option in an update to the app.

It's almost as if there is no way out. Those still grandfathered with unlimited data plans are throttled if they are among the top consumers of data in a region, while others are on tiered data plans that limit how often video streaming services like Netflix can be used. The aforementioned update allows users of the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad to toggle the device's 3G/4G connectivity on and off basically giving the user a chance to view Netflix only through Wi-Fi. While that could save you a ton of data, the trade-off is that you will have to find a Wi-Fi signal before you view a movie or T.V. show.

source: GIGaom via SlashGear

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7 Comments

7. rallyguy

Posts: 620; Member since: Mar 13, 2012

Why is WiFi only a good thing? If I want to use up my data on Netflix and nothing else why not? This is a bad thing. Like remixfa said. Doesn't the iphone start using WiFi for data as soon as it connects and stops using carrier data?

posted on Jun 01, 2012, 10:28 PM 0

6. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

wait.. there wasnt a wifi option on the netflix iOS app already? You couldnt just turn your iphone to Wifi and run netflix like you can with any app on android!?!?!? And this is the "easy" OS?? WTF....

posted on Jun 01, 2012, 11:53 AM 1

5. thedarkside

Posts: 654; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

its about damn time they did an update. all last week netflix didnt work on the iphone. that bothered me when i got half way through HIMYM and it wouldnt let me on. stupid URL problem.

posted on Jun 01, 2012, 11:37 AM 0

3. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

And why do you think Comcast started to cap their Internet plans, now? Their rationale is -ok guys you can cut the cable, but we will get you on the other side with overages.

posted on Jun 01, 2012, 2:43 AM 1

2. ChargeusMoreplease

Posts: 2; Member since: Jun 01, 2012

I don't know about everyone else but both comcast and atnt have limits on their internet usage as well. I don't get the point of buying all these high end phones and the need to buy faster ones when were being limited???

posted on Jun 01, 2012, 2:42 AM 2

4. thedarkside

they put a limit on it because only 95% of people with smart phone use 2GB or less a month. i hit 2gb in my first few days. im actually working on hitting 8gb of data. boy do i love my unlimited data.