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

7 Comments

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posted on 01 Jun 2012, 00:36 3

1. Gemmol (Posts: 792; Member since: 09 Nov 2011)

This is great news, I knew AT&T and Verizon care about us

posted on 01 Jun 2012, 02:42 2

2. ChargeusMoreplease (Posts: 2; Member since: 01 Jun 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 01 Jun 2012, 11:36 1

4. thedarkside (Posts: 654; Member since: 30 Apr 2012)

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.

posted on 01 Jun 2012, 02:43 1

3. JunitoNH (Posts: 1934; Member since: 15 Feb 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 01 Jun 2012, 11:37

5. thedarkside (Posts: 654; Member since: 30 Apr 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 01 Jun 2012, 11:53 1

6. remixfa (Posts: 14604; Member since: 19 Dec 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 01 Jun 2012, 22:28

7. rallyguy (Posts: 620; Member since: 13 Mar 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?