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My wife and I are going to Europe for a month this summer and we would like to bring our phones to use as portable wifi devices. What is the best way to guarantee that we get no data/text messaging/phone charges?
Ideally we could just remove the sim card but I heard you can't use the device when you do this (even for wifi). Is this true even if we have sim unlocked the device? Do we have to install ADP1 for this trip to do this?
I also read that we could change the APN to something invalid and that would prevent data charges but what if someone text messages us?
Thanks
As long as your device is activated, as in you are not prompted to sign into your Google account when you turn on the phone, you will be fine. Just take the SIM out of the phone when you arrive.
you could always disable the radios. There are ways to turn off cell radios and leave wifi or even turn of data all together but leave the cell radio on.
Rekna said:
My wife and I are going to Europe for a month this summer and we would like to bring our phones to use as portable wifi devices. What is the best way to guarantee that we get no data/text messaging/phone charges?
Ideally we could just remove the sim card but I heard you can't use the device when you do this (even for wifi). Is this true even if we have sim unlocked the device? Do we have to install ADP1 for this trip to do this?
I also read that we could change the APN to something invalid and that would prevent data charges but what if someone text messages us?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's an app on the market that lets you disable/enable your APN settings with a simple tap or two. Search for APN.
it is called APNDroid, its brilliant! Really easy to use. One click to disable APN's, click again to re-enable them!
I'm on prepaid right now so I'm trying to not use data at all. However, even with apndroid and turning off all 3g/data, I was still losing money in my prepaid account. The only thing that I could do to stop the random charges is to uninstall any apps that require internet access (last.fm, skype, etc).
Just a warning for anyone travelling - it looks like 3rd party apps can access data even if you disable it on the g1. You can google reports of people getting charged crazy amounts of roaming data charges even after turning off their data.
I had problem last month where i unlocked my g1 to use with the 3 network, worked great and i was very happy. I did not realise however that the g1 was for whatever reason using the 3g internet rather than my wifi, for some reason or another it continuously was charging me for data i thought i was getting form my wifi! over £100 the g1 cost me in that little incident.
My advice to you is either take out your sim or use the apn blocker. I would not even put your sim in when in another country!
Does anyone see any fault in this plan of mine to avoid data charges after buying the phone (I'm going to get it today or tomorrow).
The phone is already unlocked.
1) Borrow my friend's sim with a data plan. and register phone
2) Do not fill in correct APN info upon setup (so I can't be charged data)
3) Put in my sim
4) Spend 10 hours reading these forums and trying to install custom firmware/tinkering with the phone etc.
5) Download APNdroid, run it 24/7, then enjoy my dataless phone while I browse wifi all night downloading cool apps and tweaking my phone.
Sorry this is a bit later but for anyone who is looking for an asnwere to this i found one -
Here is how you turn off data service on your G1:
------------------------------------------------
1. Use Anycut to create a shortcut to "Testing"
2. Click on Testing.
3. Click on Phone Information
4. Hit Menu button
5. Click on More
6. Click on Disable data connection
This turns off all data access. Note that GPRS service switches to "disconnected".
Now you should have a phone that does voice calls, but no data access.
Wi-fi still works which is great.
try txtFeeder.com to avoid data charges
I am not sure what your planning doing with your phone, but you should try txtFeeder.com - a free mobile feed aggregator to avoid data charges. It'll let you keep up with news, weather, or whatever site you normally read, on your mobile, without paying data charges. it works really well.
try txtFeeder.com to avoid data charges
I am not sure what your planning doing with your phone, but you should try txtFeeder.com - a free mobile feed aggregator to avoid data charges. It'll let you keep up with news, weather, or whatever site you normally read, on your mobile, without paying data charges. it works really well.
Hey i know ive asked quite a lot of questions in the past but here i am with more.
1) I was wondering if there was an app to turn you data on and off so you switch from wifi to 3g data
2) I was also wondering how you can tell what your usage is mabye an app that doesn't count wifi as well.
There is an HTC Widget to turn the main radio off on the CDMA version. On my phone it is under:
Press "+" from the home screen-->HTC Widget-->Settings-->Mobile Network
On the CDMA phones that shuts down both voice and data. If you have a GSM version, i am not sure what it will do.
On the GSM version, if you just want to turn mobile data on and off but leave the phone "on", you can hold down the power button to bring up the "Phone Options" menu, and one of the options "Mobile network" - press this and it will toggle mobile data off and on.
Regards,
Dave
blood9656 said:
Hey i know ive asked quite a lot of questions in the past but here i am with more.
1) I was wondering if there was an app to turn you data on and off so you switch from wifi to 3g data
2) I was also wondering how you can tell what your usage is mabye an app that doesn't count wifi as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a couple of good apps for turning data on/off. The one I prefer is APNDroid as it's got a notification icon that can be displayed in the taskbar to indicate whether data is on or off. Placing a shortcut on your home screen make it easy to change whether data is active.
The app I use for monitoring data is NetCounter which is easy to use and clear to understand.
I recently used them both on a trip to Dubai as I wanted to prevent data roaming charges. APNDroid deactivated the data connection and at the end of the week long stay, NetCounter was showing zero data usage during the trip.
Thanks im also abit worried about all the ads that come with apps or games do they use much data and when an app like taskiller shows them still running does that mean they are using data?
And if i got my phone a week ago will it have the latest and fastest rom?
There's an HTC widget that allows you to switch wifi on and off, thus swapping from 2/3g to wifi. Also, take a look at Y5, its good for managing when you have wifi on / off.
Florida.
Ok ill have a look i was more worried about apps running in the background as ive found that when you press the home button they don't actuallly exit.
I suggest that what you really need is Netsentry. This will monitor the traffic on all the Hero network interfaces (usb, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G) and warn you when any particular interface hits a user defined limit. It will also "self-reset" the counters according to a schedule that you define.
For example, say you are on Orange with their miserly 500mb data limit, and you're billing cycle starts on 1st on the month, you could set up Netsentry to warn you when you get to say 475mb, and automatically reset the counter on the 1st of every month.
I'm sure there are other apps that do something similar, or even better, but Netsentry seems to work well enough for me.
Regards,
Dave
Righto, after a good look in the market last night, I can't find anything thats exactly what I'm after. Going to put the idea out there so hopefully some developer picks it up and makes it happen.
Basically its like the 3G watchdog, but instead of just monitoring the 3G usage and giving you a warning when you get close to your data allowance, I'd like an app that i can program with my monthly billing period and data allowance, for example, 28th June - 28th July with 500mb Data. When the 500mb is reached within a billing period, it automatically cuts off the 3G connection to the network, or just changes the APN's. Come the start of the new month it restarts the 3G with another 500mb of usage.
Another handy little feature would be to program it to turn off 3G overnight, when the screen is off etc etc. I know there is a few apps out there like JuiceDefender and APNdroid that do something along those lines, but i can't seem to install them and they look rather complicated.
Just a nice user friendly app to set the billing period, monthly data allowance, auto cut off and 3G off overnight kind of thing
Any thoughts?
I'd love the first idea. Been wondering if one was available somewhere.
But an easy solution to your other problem w/ 3G, turn it off manually or go into Plane Mode.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
yeah I have been turning it on and off manually with a 3G switch, but i'd like something to run in the background just to prevent it going over and getting charged an arm and leg from service provider
Righto got it sorted. Successfully installed APNdroid after a few attempts and have set 3G watchdog to cut off at 99% of quota
The belgian provider Proximus (also my employer ) has developped something like this called "Hello Proximus".... it's a tool to switch on/off your data sessions (by simply renaming APN's) and to monitor your data usage based on your real billcycle (off course only for Proximus customers)
In addition it shows an icon in the notification bar which will let you know if you're connected or not
Also all EU operators have been obligated to notify their customers whenever they reach/exceed their data limit... this was a new rule enforced by the EU to protect the customers from billshocks, especially when abroad
Cheers
B
Hi guys,
Why every time when I try to open android market, there is a notification says this transaction costs me 1 cent?
Now I can only open android market in airplane mode. Do you know how to solve this problem?
WOw that is pretty interesting.
Two things
1. I would email google about it
2. Try to delete the market cache from menu - appliction - manage applications.
Is it something related to your data plan
or it does charge when you connected to wifi too?
This phone has an issue. Even though u select not to use mobile data, it will still try to use it with some apps, market is one of them. Next time u open market, look at the status bar, u'll notice H for a brief moment, that's why u get charged, it's not google, it the phone itself. I called dell and talked to them about this, they though the model I got was.faulty, so they sent me a new one, but the new one acts the same way. I also called at&t and have them fully remove data of my phone, but they said they can't do it. the only sollution I thought of, is to use market through your browser.
or try some antivirus program.
I also see this issue, every time I open android market app - it downloads something (can see the H in notification are for a brief moment). But with amazon market app, it doesn't do this. Seems like AT&T is the problem here; maybe their policies are ok to steal 1 cent from non-data plan users.
I had G2X for a few days and this was not happening on that phone and I used the same sim card. It's not a virus, it happens even after factory reset.
This is nothing, try to factory reset your phone and see how much you get charged at initial android set up. You will lose at least a $1 by skipping set up steps in a hurry just to get to options and disable data. wtf is the phone downloading when you aren't even hooked up to your google account? It just choses to use data for no reason...
I reported this before
I reported this before. I even wrote to the FCC and AT&T looked at it and said in their report it was not them, It has to be Google and the Market Software.
If 3G data is off they shouldn't be turning it on and running up your data cost.
That's my complaint. I have a 2Gig plan. and have only used 200Meg at the most during the a month. It's the principal of the issue. You have Data disabled, and it turns it on. By the way, It adds 1K to data each time you access the market.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=970826
I turn off the data network when I'm not using it and have never had it turn itself on. When you use the market there will always be some data traffic back and forth as it loads the 'specials' etc. and even when you don't use it there will be activity as the device checks for application updates and emails.
As for the 1 cent charges, do they actually appear on your bank account?
Doesn't your phone need internet access to go on the market? Like to Download what Apps are on the market? Makes sense really
Did they reply your complaint? Were you complaining to ATT or Google?
I think I should send a complaint about this issue too.
Troute said:
I turn off the data network when I'm not using it and have never had it turn itself on. When you use the market there will always be some data traffic back and forth as it loads the 'specials' etc. and even when you don't use it there will be activity as the device checks for application updates and emails.
As for the 1 cent charges, do they actually appear on your bank account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use mobile network at all, in the settings, the mobile network for att is not activated. I use wifi all the time.
However, sometimes when I open android market, the mobile network is enabled automatically (yes, I can see an "H" icon in the notifacation bar). I think there is a bug with the android market.
BTW, I'm a prepaid plan user, att did charge 1 cent every time.
Alexanderbooth said:
Doesn't your phone need internet access to go on the market? Like to Download what Apps are on the market? Makes sense really
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I use wifi, and the mobile network is disable.
I guess android market enables the mobile network automatically, but only for a very short time when it starts up, after that, it starts to use wifi.
This probably is a bug of android market, I will report this to Google. Do you guys know how to report bugs to Google?
rainsia said:
Yes, but I use wifi, and the mobile network is disable.
I guess android market enables the mobile network automatically, but only for a very short time when it starts up, after that, it starts to use wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I get what you mean, that does suck. Especially when you have it in airplane mode, thought that stopped everything!
This isn't just the market app, I had this happen to me in Skype, so I uninstalled it. I also tried Amazon market yesterday, mobile network is never in use with them, so it's a good idea to use that instead.
I think it's Dell, because like I said before, I had Optimus 2X for a few days and market doesn't do this on that phone. I also talked to At&t several times, they refuse to turn off data access
shouldn't charge just to look at the Apps.....something not right there. I persoannly have not seen this yet.
More Info about Report
I filed a complaint to the FCC naming AT&T, and Google. Only AT&T responded to the complaint. When Filing the complaint online you are limited as the how much you can type so I had to shorten it. Only AT&T contacted me, and stated that it was not them. As I kept checking this, It has to be the Market Place, and Google Software issue. If you have Mobile Data turned off, and operate only on WiFi, Mobile Data is activated when connecting to Market Place, and 1K of data is transmitted and it is added to your data usage.see below.
04/26 12:46 PM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
04/26 12:44 PM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
04/26 12:45 AM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
04/25 01:01 PM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
04/25 01:15 AM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
04/24 07:41 PM wap.cingular Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
Every time you access Market Place, as I did checking for updates on my installed apps.
FCC Complaint
My complaint is that my phone is using data when data is turned off.
Phone = Dell Streak 5
Application = Google Market Place
Carrier = AT&T Mobile
The phone, has an option to turn off 3G data connection so that you won’t be charged data when connected to WiFi. I use the phone most of the time when home on a WiFi network expecting not to incur data usage and the charges associated with using a 3G data connection.
After updating my phone to the latest software on the 23, February, 2011, and installing a program called 3G Watchdog to track 3G data usage, my data use was increasing. I checked this over the next 2 hours and it went from 7 KB to 23 KB of data use. After checking the phone several times making sure the data connection was still turned off, I observed that when using WiFi only that accessing the Google Market Place (an application to download software that came with the phone) that it was turning on the 3G data connection even though it was turned off. I had to go into the settings of the phone and turn the setting on then off to cancel the 3G data connection. Note: after a minuite of so it will shut off by itself.
My complaint is that there is no place that states that Google Market Place will turn on and use 3G data connection when you have it turned off. Dell just released the software update for the phone. After talking to Dell Support tonight for about an hour. They said it just does that.
If you turn off 3G data, so it cannot be used:
Why is Google Market Place turning it on and using the 3G data connection?
Why is Google Market Place or the Dell software update allowing access to your 3G data connection, turning it on and using your data without your authorization when you have your 3G data connection disabled and turned off in the phone settings.
When accessing Google Market Place 3G data connection charges are being incurred.
This unauthorized 3G data use could create an over limit of your data account and cause an increase of your billing for data use of almost double on your data account.
Resolution:
I would like to see the phone or software work as you would expect it to.
1: If I turn off the 3G data connection it would stay off and not be used until it was turned back on.
2: A stop of automatic 3G data usage with out authorization when disabled and turned off.
3: A rewrite of the Dell software update and/or Google Market Place software application or any other software for the Android operating system to not turn on and use a 3G data connection when you have turned off or disabled it.
if you go to accounts& sync setting there is a option call Background data uncheck it, thenyou won't see that happing.
Wouldn't everyone with a streak get the same problem if it was Google that was to blame? Mine stays on wifi, when I load the market app. Maybe its certain streaks or carrier problem.
Hello from Singapore!
I need to enable international roaming on my phone. I (like an idiot) set my phone to 'home only' on a cruise ship to avoid a bunch of charges, and now that I'm off the ship, I went to switch back to 'automatic,' and the 'roaming networks' setting is greyed out. I am rooted, and I do have a solid WiFi connection, but I'd like to avoid reflashing my phone because of google authenticator. Tomorrow we fly to Tokyo, where I understand we have free data and SMS, but I need to be able to roam to do so.
If anybody is aware of certain apps that can do this, or a system pref that I can edit to enable this, I'd be grateful.
Thanks, all!
JackMetz said:
Hello from Singapore!
I need to enable international roaming on my phone. I (like an idiot) set my phone to 'home only' on a cruise ship to avoid a bunch of charges, and now that I'm off the ship, I went to switch back to 'automatic,' and the 'roaming networks' setting is greyed out. I am rooted, and I do have a solid WiFi connection, but I'd like to avoid reflashing my phone because of google authenticator. Tomorrow we fly to Tokyo, where I understand we have free data and SMS, but I need to be able to roam to do so.
If anybody is aware of certain apps that can do this, or a system pref that I can edit to enable this, I'd be grateful.
Thanks, all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update PRL and Profile maybe?
Also if you have your MSL you could quite possibly change your APN settings. There is one for Gloabal Roaming-Sprint.