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Verizon Wireless iPhone Users Consume The Most Data
Average of 1.58 GB Per Month
New data from the NPD Group suggests that Verizon Wireless iPhone customers have the most voracious appetite for bandwidth, nearly double of rival Sprint. According to the firm, Verizon Wireless iPhone users consumed an average of 1.58 GB of cellular data per month in September, compared to 1.35 GB per month for iPhone customers using AT&T, 0.72 GB per month used by Sprint customers, and 0.19 GB per month used by T-Mobile iPhone customers (T-Mobile doesn't sell the device but is attempting to lure unlocked iPhone users to their network). The difference of note given that AT&T and Verizon no longer offer users an unlimited data option (unless they're grandfathered), while both T-Mobile and Sprint do. Network speed of course skews these numbers, with most of T-Mobile's iPhone users running over their EDGE network. This data appears to be pre-LTE, and new data would likely extend Verizon's consumption lead even further.
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88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

1 recommendation

88615298 (banned)

Member

coming close to that 2 GB cap

So when are carriers going to stop with the "2 GB is more than enough because only 2% go over 2 GB".
Os
join:2011-01-26
US

Os

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

Then they'll celebrate all the overage fees they're getting.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

What this tells you is that if you have a crappy network offer unlimited, and if you have a good one, offer by the drip.

Once Sprint gets NV completed and TMO on 1900, the unlimited parties will end.

I think Verizon has the best policy for those who have unlimited (for now): Only throttle if the cell is congested, otherwise use that bandwidth. AT&T--draconian cut you off when the politburo says, is in a whole new league if you get on their magical 5% list.

I actually went to Straighttalk on Tmobile just because I heard of the horror stories of AT&T throttling at will. TMO is smooth sailing for me, and it's fast (9 Mbps)--$45...
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

1 recommendation

Crookshanks to Os

Member

to Os
said by Os:

Then they'll celebrate all the overage fees they're getting.

Not likely. Rate plans have always been carefully calibrated to meet the needs of the majority of users, while monetizing the minority. In this manner they keep churn low, discourage heavy use that compels capital investment, while bringing in additional revenue.

To be sure, they always find a way to maintain their current ARPU/ARPA. Verizon went from multiple SMS options to just three (per-use, 1000, unlimited) prior to Share Everything. Ditto for minutes, the only options became 450, 900, or unlimited. Now the only choice is unlimited for both, with tiered data. The end result is that you get more for the same, which is better than less for more, but we'd all certainly prefer to see more for less.

I would wager that as usage goes up so will the rate plans. You'll wind up paying a lot less per MB, but your overall bill will stay the same.
slckusr
Premium Member
join:2003-03-17
Greenville, SC

slckusr to 88615298

Premium Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

So when are carriers going to stop with the "2 GB is more than enough because only 2% go over 2 GB".

2gb is enough, bandwidth isnt free and every consumer needs to pay their fair share.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

said by slckusr:

said by 88615298:

So when are carriers going to stop with the "2 GB is more than enough because only 2% go over 2 GB".

2gb is enough, bandwidth isnt free and every consumer needs to pay their fair share.

A) No it's not enough. And I get that unlimited is not sustainable. I'm not even arguing that point.

B) And you know $30 for 2 GB is "fair" because......?

I do know that to go from 2 GB to 4 GB and so on, on their Share Everything plan is $10. Or $5 per GB. $30/$5 per GB = 6 GB in my book. And we all know $5 per GB is also a rip off.

dib22
join:2002-01-27
Kansas City, MO

dib22 to slckusr

Member

to slckusr
said by slckusr:

...bandwidth isnt free and every consumer needs to pay their fair share.

It could be. They are moving us backwards to monetize us.

quotasux
@qwest.net

quotasux to 88615298

Anon

to 88615298
I have two phones - one on the Sprint network, one on VZ. Since my company pays A LOT per month for my VZ phone, I use my VZ phone to watch Youtube vids, stream music, etc....although I havent gone over my quota yet.

My other phone, with Unlimited data...I never really use it...I guess since its cheap and unlimited data, I just dont feel the need to "get my money out of it"...if that makes sense.
tcope
Premium Member
join:2003-05-07
Sandy, UT

tcope

Premium Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

This is what I was thinking... I'm betting Verizon has a good portion of business users... with push emails and attachments being downloaded to phones.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray to 88615298

Member

to 88615298
said by 88615298:

So when are carriers going to stop with the "2 GB is more than enough because only 2% go over 2 GB".

The Apple iPhone 5 users use substantially more than the the 4 and 3gs, both of whom used more data than the average smartphone user. The ~2GB threshold still works just fine. If and when 2GB plan subscribers start exceeding the limit and incurring overage charges in any significant amount, i.e. more than 2%, then carriers will adjust the bucket-size offerings and terms to keep Mom from bolting.

It isn't that hard to understand. Really.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ
(Software) pfSense
Asus RT-AC68
Asus RT-AC66

MovieLover76

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

You do understand what an average is? in order for the average person to be using 1.58 GB and the fact that many users don't use a lot of data a lot of customers are already using more than 2GB of data monthly.

I hope they will adjust the bucket-size offerings, but we can't be sure they'll do anything.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

said by MovieLover76:

You do understand what an average is? in order for the average person to be using 1.58 GB and the fact that many users don't use a lot of data a lot of customers are already using more than 2GB of data monthly.

I hope they will adjust the bucket-size offerings, but we can't be sure they'll do anything.

The headline refers to the population of Verizon iPhone users.
Ray BF69's quote regarding the 2GB threshold refers to all "smartphone" data plan subscribers on all major carriers.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

said by elray:

said by MovieLover76:

You do understand what an average is? in order for the average person to be using 1.58 GB and the fact that many users don't use a lot of data a lot of customers are already using more than 2GB of data monthly.

I hope they will adjust the bucket-size offerings, but we can't be sure they'll do anything.

The headline refers to the population of Verizon iPhone users.
Ray BF69's quote regarding the 2GB threshold refers to all "smartphone" data plan subscribers on all major carriers.

Last time I checked they don't have one data plan for iphone users and one data plan for everyone else. The average data use have been increasing by 40% or more every year for the last few years. By this time next year that means the average will be 2.2 GB.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: coming close to that 2 GB cap

said by 88615298:

said by elray:

said by MovieLover76:

You do understand what an average is? in order for the average person to be using 1.58 GB and the fact that many users don't use a lot of data a lot of customers are already using more than 2GB of data monthly.

I hope they will adjust the bucket-size offerings, but we can't be sure they'll do anything.

The headline refers to the population of Verizon iPhone users.
Ray BF69's quote regarding the 2GB threshold refers to all "smartphone" data plan subscribers on all major carriers.

Last time I checked they don't have one data plan for iphone users and one data plan for everyone else. The average data use have been increasing by 40% or more every year for the last few years. By this time next year that means the average will be 2.2 GB.

No, they don't. But if you've paid attention on this forum, you would have noted that surveys and statistics collected distinguish between iPhone data consumption and other "smartphones".

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
·Verizon FiOS

Mike

Mod

How much that actually costs.

I'm doing an experiment. I'm trying to use the lowest amount of data possible. Without actually browsing on my iPhone 5 off over LTEi, I used 282mbs of data.

I pay $82 (with a 15% service discount) for the absolute bare minimum.

This means your average person is paying $120 per month FOR JUST A PHONE.

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

1 edit

bobjohnson

Premium Member

Re: How much that actually costs.

I don't use much data on the phone but I know if Sprint told me I was paying for 2 gigs I would make sure I got up to 1.99 every month and turn off the data. Get what I pay for, but with unlimited I don't use it that often because I know it's always there and by the end of the month I didn't use hardly any? That's strange how that works.

Edit: Missed why I posted anyways... Since I have had the S3 alot of people ask me how much I pay... $150 for 2 lines, the ones with at&t iphones generally tell me they pay in the $120-150 range for one phone. Actually had a customer the other day with Verizon show me his bill and it was $215 with taxes for 2 iphones with 10gigs of data but they only used 1.5 gigs between the two.

MovieLover76
join:2009-09-11
Cherry Hill, NJ

MovieLover76

Member

Re: How much that actually costs.

In those cases the customer clearly doesn't know what they are doing, they are paying for data they are nowhere near using. and with share everything you get unlimited talk, text and 2gb of data for $100. Not sure how they are getting to $150

bobjohnson
Premium Member
join:2007-02-03
Spartanburg, SC

bobjohnson

Premium Member

Re: How much that actually costs.

The majority of customers don't know what they're doing and don't want to go over, so they pay way too much. Most of the people I talk to are on legacy plans and with VZ and Att and you can't just change your plan without contract extension. Legacy Nation 900 with unlimited text and 3gigs for an iphone is $110 with $20 or more in taxes... That's close enough to $150 i suppose.

norbert26
Premium Member
join:2010-08-10
Warwick, RI

norbert26 to Mike

Premium Member

to Mike
i only used 30 mb thats it. I offload to WIFI and simply wait until WIFI is available . I don't need data every second of the day between WIFI hotspots. No verizon im not feeding your cash cow. and i have only the required 300mb of data i would have no data if i could and just use WIFI.

djrobx
Premium Member
join:2000-05-31
Reno, NV

djrobx

Premium Member

AT&T iPhones jump onto AT&T Wifi automatically

I pretty frequently find myself automagically connected to AT&T's wifi hotspots. That might contribute towards AT&T's lesser cellular data number.

Count Zero
Premium Member
join:2007-01-18
Milton, FL

Count Zero

Premium Member

Re: AT&T iPhones jump onto AT&T Wifi automatically

said by djrobx:

I pretty frequently find myself automagically connected to AT&T's wifi hotspots. That might contribute towards AT&T's lesser cellular data number.

Very good point - and AT&T definitely has the most wifi hotspots.

I actually noticed that at Starbucks and B&N recently when my iPhone stayed on LTE... took me a minute to remember why LOL
ExoticFish
join:2008-08-31
Zebulon, NC

1 edit

ExoticFish

Member

Not surprising

With Verizon offering the most LTE coverage I'm not surprised their iPhone users use the most data. I'm sure if you did this with another group it would be similar. I'm thankful to be grandfathered on unlimited data with Verizon because so far on my new Razr HD I've used over 500MB in several days.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: Not surprising

said by ExoticFish:

I'm not surprised they're iPhone users use the most data.

Do you realize you just said "They are iPhone users use the most data"?

Their is a possessive, i.e., "Their property", or "Their customers"

There refers to a place, i.e., "I was over there yesterday." or "I am looking at flowers over there."

They're is a contraction for "They are", i.e., "They're cute."
ExoticFish
join:2008-08-31
Zebulon, NC

ExoticFish

Member

Re: Not surprising

Typo. God forgive me.

JasonOD
@comcast.net

JasonOD

Anon

Demand is rising

Which is justifying the new data plans (VZ & ATT). I find it amusing that sprint's 'unlimited' users are using the least amount of data among the authorized carriers.

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221

Member

Re: Demand is rising

said by JasonOD :

Which is justifying the new data plans (VZ & ATT). I find it amusing that sprint's 'unlimited' users are using the least amount of data among the authorized carriers.

Sprint also has some of the crummiest speeds and coverage which might skew the results

Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium Member
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL

Maxo

Premium Member

1.58?

Consuming 1.58GB/month is for sissies. I make it a point to never go under 3 gigs.

jmn1207
Premium Member
join:2000-07-19
Sterling, VA

1 recommendation

jmn1207

Premium Member

Re: 1.58?

I'm averaging 9GB each month.


6 Month Usage
bookertdub
join:2012-10-08
San Diego, CA

bookertdub to Maxo

Member

to Maxo
I agree, I make it a point to never use less than 6 gigs a month on my Sprint plan. Sometimes I'll blow it up to about 15 gigs & sometimes on a rare occasion 20 gigs a month.

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221

Member

pre-LTE

I go 5-10 GB a month on my Iphone 5. Couldn't really do this on my 4s...3G so overloaded Netflix and Youtube and email wouldn't load. Had to use wifi. LTE is good, I turn my wifi off and get pretty decent battery life

cruz111
@sbcglobal.net

cruz111

Anon

Its the SPY data constantly sending! iPhone users dont use m

Yep, I think it's all the "spy" data constantly transmitting from Apple products. Location, hot mic recordings for "siri" or some lame excuse...

jasqid
Fiber In Your Diet?
join:2002-04-02
East Palestine, OH

jasqid

Member

well below average

I am well below that average. I have 4 iPhones on a 4gb plan. I've been averaging 1.5 (combined),the last several months withe shared data x4!
videomatic3
join:2003-12-12
Pleasanton, CA
ARRIS S33

videomatic3

Member

data usage is also skewed because

AT&T THROTTLES
verizon does not
im doing what i can to raise verizons average, 60 gb used last month, 42 used halfway through this month, just enabled tethering to the device, get stable 2.5MB/s download 1.5MB/s upload on a torrent
»videomatic3.diskstation. ··· ited.jpg
MyDogHsFleas
Premium Member
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX

MyDogHsFleas

Premium Member

This data is useless and no conclusions can be drawn from it

A) no controls to ensure it's a statistically valid sample. Users who volunteer to be measured, and in this case actually take the trouble to download and activate a metering app, are almost certainly not your average user. Also the sample size is way too small.

B) no report of the skews. By all reports, cell data usage is a highly skewed curve. Average (mean) usage is not very meaningful. If you want a single number, median is more meaningful. Most useful would be a set of percentage breakouts. E.g., 88% of users use less than 1.2 GB/mo.

But, that would not feed the "caps are bad and users are getting overcharged" narrative. So, the data gets reported in a misleading way to support the desired conclusion.