Mobile Data Allowance.

sapelesam | 23:08 Wed 30th Mar 2016 | Technology

8 Answers

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.

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I Phone 5

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hc4361

Best Answer

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

23:11 Wed 30th Mar 2016

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hc4361

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

sapelesam

Question Author

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

Question Author

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