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cnpeyton Author

Level 1

2 points

Unknown data usage early morning

With the changes to the data plans, i decided to look at my wifes data usage on her iphone. What i have found is odd and a bit concerning. Overall her data usage is pretty much nothing, except for something that occurs every morning around 1 or 2 am. I have included data usage on the AT&T account below. As you can see, something happens around 1 or 2 am every morning, i just dont know what it is. The amount of data being transferred is REALLY high if you ask me, as high as 75336KB back on the 17th. I called AT&T support and they said it was the phone updating or mail being downloaded, basically they have no idea. I have the mail set to fetch manually already. Anyway to determine what is going on???

06/04 01:22 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 3368KB
06/03 01:45 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 18906KB
06/02 01:45 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 6878KB
06/01 01:45 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 9460KB
05/31 07:45 PM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1918KB
05/31 01:27 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 7551KB
05/30 02:27 PM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1224KB
05/30 01:17 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 2685KB
05/29 01:39 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 8120KB
05/28 01:39 PM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 5410KB
05/28 01:07 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 5068KB
05/27 10:42 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 21778KB
05/27 01:06 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 10419KB
05/26 09:26 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 20657KB
05/26 01:50 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 8467KB
05/25 02:21 PM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 18086KB
05/25 01:25 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 5249KB
05/24 01:25 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1012KB
05/23 01:25 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 12978KB
05/22 01:25 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 9749KB
05/21 01:41 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 19166KB
05/20 01:17 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 23860KB
05/18 11:56 PM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 15440KB
05/18 01:06 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 29900KB
05/17 01:12 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 75336KB

Posted on Jun 5, 2010 4:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

choroid

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Sep 5, 2011 4:43 AM

this is from data manager application between 7am and 8am, I was at bath had breakfast and drive. look at the data downloads both from 3g and wifi. It can be some application but after 8 am ıt just stops without any intervention. Any ideas ? (iphone 4)

View in context

2,094 replies

Jul 29, 2010 8:56 AM in response to cnpeyton

I'm definitely see the same thing.

I'm not even up at that time of night 98% of the time. Yet, somehow, even with wireless on in my own home, I'm getting 500KB to several MBs of data being sent over the wireless network?

That doesn't even make sense. DEFINITELY an issue.

Yeti575

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 8:58 AM in response to cnpeyton

Every day 12:30ish it sends back to the mother ship...
DATE TIME TO/FROM TYPE DIRECTION MSG/KB/MIN
6-Jul 12:36 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 28183KB
7-Jul 12:36 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 39923KB
8-Jul 12:45 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 2247KB
9-Jul 12:21 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1012KB
10-Jul 12:14 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 6722KB
11-Jul 12:29 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 10945KB
12-Jul 12:53 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 905KB
13-Jul 12:53 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 99KB
14-Jul 12:01 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 40785KB
15-Jul 12:39 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 56017KB
16-Jul 12:47 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 12500KB
17-Jul 12:19 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 112KB
18-Jul 12:50 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 12388KB
20-Jul 12:28 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 45994KB
21-Jul 12:17 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 4656KB
22-Jul 12:02 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 115299KB
23-Jul 12:37 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 28719KB
24-Jul 12:30 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 10186KB
25-Jul 12:30 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 12291KB
26-Jul 12:30 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 66136KB
27-Jul 12:44 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 2570KB

Mpowered

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:00 AM in response to knania

Looks like I am having the same problems. The uploads are anywhere from 31 MB to 3 MB. Luckily, I have a grandfathered unlimited plan. This would be a huge problem if I were on one of the metered plans.

R_Brackin

Level 2

154 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:03 AM in response to cnpeyton

I've never felt so lucky.
I don't have 3G, and our Edge only works on rare occasions with our iPhone 4's.
Here are my early morning unattended usage stats:
We have identical 32GB iPhone 4's but we tend to run different apps.
Most usage is on our wifi.

My Phone:
DATE TIME TO/FROM TYPE DIRECTION MSG/KB/MIN
07/28 02:02 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 46KB
07/27 01:46 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 23KB
07/27 12:46 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 50KB
07/26 01:37 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1384KB
07/25 04:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 112KB
07/25 01:03 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
07/24 01:34 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 2KB
07/23 01:26 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 25KB
07/22 01:27 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 4KB
07/20 01:52 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 32KB
07/19 01:08 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 439KB
07/18 01:08 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 4605KB
07/17 01:12 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 3297KB
07/16 01:46 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 33KB

My wife's phone
DATE TIME TO/FROM TYPE DIRECTION MSG/KB/MIN
07/28 12:29 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1725KB
07/27 01:46 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 280KB
07/27 12:46 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 34KB
07/26 07:41 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 564KB
07/25 03:59 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 156KB
07/24 06:27 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 320KB
07/24 01:01 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 1KB
07/23 02:12 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 47KB
07/22 12:59 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 13KB
07/21 04:16 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 13KB
07/20 05:53 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 178KB
07/20 01:24 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 6KB
07/19 01:24 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 689KB
07/18 01:24 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 346KB
07/17 01:08 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 45KB
07/16 01:08 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 91KB

Jul 29, 2010 9:06 AM in response to chrisageorge

chrisageorge wrote:
I'm definitely see the same thing.

I'm not even up at that time of night 98% of the time. Yet, somehow, even with wireless on in my own home, I'm getting 500KB to several MBs of data being sent over the wireless network?

Wireless on at home is irrelevant. When the phone is on Standby WiFi is off to preserve battery life, so all data must go over 3G.

The consensus in the thread above, if you read it, is that the nightly data report is a summary of data transfers over the previous 24 hours, not data actually sent at that time. In support of this is the observation from people who have had the phone a long time is that initially EVERY data exchange was listed on the AT&T bill, which could result in bills of 100 pages. AT&T updated their billing system to aggregate usage in a few line items to solve this problem.

That doesn't even make sense. DEFINITELY an issue.

The real issue is that the reported total on the bill does not match usage as tracked by the phone.

knania

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:09 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

but AT&T DIDN'T aggregate their system - I get two bills, one for me and one for my husband. Mine is in lumps, and his is individual. My data is off the charts, and his is next to nothing. We use our phones in a similar manner.
argh!!

BulaRae

Level 1

24 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:25 AM in response to cnpeyton

Based on my several hours conversations with supervisors about this now, I have concluded that the only way we are going to get this issue looked at by AT&T is if everyone calls them and reports it. They are still very much in the "it's not us" phase and blaming the phone or the user. Obviously something is up.

In my case because I was roaming internationally, they are trying to stick me for almost $3000 in data overage charges and assure you, that is not going to happen!!

I was lectured by the Supervisor that it had to be my usage of an app that I have been using for 4 months while traveling, despite the fact that these mysterious and massive data amounts suddenly appear only on July 16 and 17 and are for hundreds of megabytes of data, while my phone only showed 27MB.

And I assure you, I was not using my phone for anything new, unusual nor can I conceive of what could possibly amount to that kind of data.

Interestingly they claim "privacy" and won't tell me exactly where that usage comes from either. Do I have to file a legal claim and subpoena that information? This whole situation is just so wrong.

Please, everyone call it in and make them document it so we can get them to address this issue.

Oh, and I was also told by AT&T customer service (before the Supervisor) that talking to Apple about it doesn't change or have anything to do with the data billing and they won't pay attention to anything Apple says about it because they look at is cut and dried "you used it, it's your phone, therefore you pay".

R_Brackin

Level 2

154 points

Jul 29, 2010 10:33 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence, If you are referring to my post on this page, your observation that my phone only reported data usage over a 24 hour report may be incorrect.
Of course I may be misunderstanding your statement.

I filtered out all the other data transfers that happen during waking hours.
I only included the recurring nightly data transfer.
Sorry if I confused the situation.

bortoni

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 10:51 AM in response to R_Brackin

Why not use some logging tools with a wifi router and see it the data goes out over wifi at night?

You'd need to leave the phone charging and sleeping etc... but this would show if any data is being sent and to who.

-Ed

Jul 29, 2010 11:57 AM in response to knania

knania wrote:
but AT&T DIDN'T aggregate their system - I get two bills, one for me and one for my husband. Mine is in lumps, and his is individual. My data is off the charts, and his is next to nothing. We use our phones in a similar manner.
argh!!

Are you on two separate accounts or is one a family plan with the other? And if family plan which is the primary?

I am the primary and I see the bigger chunks, while my wife has some of them but not nearly as much.

BTW spoke to another Apple rep last night who again was helpful, but eventually said they don't know what to do to get ATT's attention even if I am correct.

knania

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 12:02 PM in response to Edmund Pirali

Great question - it's a family plan and I'm primary...but when we opened the account, he was primary. We switched it after three or four days for billing purposes. So it's not that...definitely something to do with the phone.

Jul 29, 2010 5:09 PM in response to Mick68

This is more insane than ever now. Gizmodo published a quote from this thread stating people are concerned about all these data charges. They quote ATT's reponse which I requote here:

And AT&T's official statement is:

This is a routine update of your daily data activity on your device to ensure the accuracy of your data billing. Customers are not charged for data usage, given that no data session is generated. It's not uncommon for devices that are ‘always on', like iPhone, to process data event records for billing purposes after a certain amount of inactivity or after long periods of time. It's also separate from how our system lets you monitor your data consumption. [end quote]

=
Do you see that? "Customers are not charged.." But the total amount of MB shows clearly on our statments and we are billed accordingly. It's on the bill!!! How on earth can they say that?

Here's the link to the whole thread.

http://gizmodo.com/5599621/those-nighttime-iphone-downloads-are-actually-not-dow nloads

Jul 29, 2010 6:39 PM in response to knania

knania wrote:
Great question - it's a family plan and I'm primary...but when we opened the account, he was primary. We switched it after three or four days for billing purposes. So it's not that...definitely something to do with the phone.

Well reason I ask is that I am primary and have same chunks, my wife does not. I saw it on the iPhone 4 and now on the 3GS (I went back) and the counter on my phone doesn't match. I am starting to believe it is a real billing error on part of ATT and not usage by the phone.

macs4bg

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:22 PM in response to Mick68

Lol, good idea. Unfortunately, I don't happen to have any DOD documents laying around. I already put them through the shredder...

Remember that fascinating PBS.org documentary from a few years ago re the ATT/NSA Spy Network:
http://www.google.com/search?q=pbs-+attspy&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

~~~~

macs4bg

Level 1

0 points

Jul 29, 2010 9:40 PM in response to Eddie Strauss

Re: Here's the link to the whole (Gizmodo) thread.
http://gizmodo.com/5599621/those-nighttime-iphone-downloads-are-actually-not-dow nloads
(...)

Sounds like Giz is siding with ATT & trying to blow the whole thing off as nothing. However, the pic of Jobs & the Reader Comments made it worthwhile to have a look.

~~~

I have read every single post in this multi-page thread & empathize with users & the curious data. Fortunately, I still have the unlimited ATT plan, did not upgrade iphone nor OS yet, & don't plan to change anything for now. Since I use iphone like a computer, my total usage per month runs approx. 3.5 gig.

Unknown data usage early morning