Q: Unknown data usage early morning

How about for the times of day when you see the phantom data charges?

Lightsp33d, the manager gave me his full name and direct telephone number.

I haven't been charged overages the entire time I've had my phone since I've been very careful not to exceed my 2 GB. The issue is that I'm not able to use the phone as much as I should be. I've called them all four months I've had the phone and this is the first time I've made any progress. Whether they ultimately resolve the issue is still to be determined, however, this is a small step in the right direction.

11/20 01:47 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 186K
11/16 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 208KB
1/15 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 339KB
11/14 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 216KB
11/13 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 211KB
11/11 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 354KB
11/10 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 532KB
11/08 12:13 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 678KB
11/07 12:24 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 82KB
11/06 12:24 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 254KB
11/05 12:48 AM phone Internet/MEdia Net Sent 462KB

I meant the iPhone log.

bradley.ryan wrote:
Lightsp33d, the manager gave me his full name and direct telephone number.

I haven't been charged overages the entire time I've had my phone since I've been very careful not to exceed my 2 GB. The issue is that I'm not able to use the phone as much as I should be. I've called them all four months I've had the phone and this is the first time I've made any progress. Whether they ultimately resolve the issue is still to be determined, however, this is a small step in the right direction.

Well, either this is again AT&T posting in this thread, or AT&T just absolutely loves you. I'm inclined to believe the former.

AT&T,

Help me understand, when you say +"The issue is that I'm not able to use the phone as much as I should be."+ Do you mean to say that you don't care if you're being overcharged real money for data usage that you may not have made? Do you mean to say that everyone who sees phantom overages on their bill, 13 times as much as their phone would report, should just call AT&T and be content with some person, claiming to be a manager, giving some name and a phone number promising to call in a month?

This is NOT a step in the right direction.

How about just file a complaint with the FCC?

What exactly do you mean by +"not able to use the phone as much as I should be?"+ How much should you be using the phone? Why not just use it? If you cannot use it as much as you want, just return it.

No, AT&T, this is NOT the problem. The problem is that people are complaining about data usage that they have not made, and are being charged for data usage that they have not made. The problem is that usage that they have not made is causing people to go over the limit of their plan (crafted and offered by you) and are thus incurring overage charges.

*Everyone who sees data charges on their bill that they have not made should file a complaint with the FCC.*

Here we go again with the childish allegations about anyone who doesn't see this problem in precisely your terms. You're so keen for everyone to file FCC complaints one could even suspect you're working with an AT&T competitor...

The iPhone log is enabled when you synch with your desktop and have the iPhone Utility running-- so it's not real practical in the sense that you are asking me for phantom data usage---

In the context of the log: when I test calls to/from the iPhone: I can assimilate some of the messages and when I synch with my Mac, I can determine some of them too.

Do you have documentation that delivers on the syntax to help users understand the full meaning of the log data? IF so, I'd love to have it.

From what I can see early on - <24 hours after installing it: the user must keep the iPhone connected and synch'd with the iPhone Utility running--- then you must begin to sort of out the data which I think would be fruitless.

DATAMAN is the solution for newer iPhones, my iPhone is the original model. The security fixes announced yesterday may be the solution? I don't know but it's worth trying especially since Apple acknowledges there are vulnerabilities to the iPhone OS.

All in all, I don't think that these level of user diagnostics to fix an Apple or AT&T or both issue(s) should be the burden of the user. The recourse is complain to the FCC and stay on Apple/AT&T as squeaky wheels.

I*'m theorizing* that the data traffic is not phantom but the metrics for which AT&T bills or some process is corrupted. Then, there are vulnerabilities to exploit the iPhone OS which would generate traffic and then there's the question of hardware manufacturing vs. software/firmaware. The problem is simply iPhone data usage by users is seemingly billed by AT&T as a higher metric than what users think they are using and this is with or without DataMan to backup their thinking. The AT&T portal for calculating traffic makes no sense at least when it comes to my data traffic. What does make sense is that the iPhone I use (Original Model MA712LL) (Modem Firmware: 04.05.04_G) is slow on data tasks: Safari, Email, application updates, etc... IF I could calculate the time it takes to do these CHORES then I'd correlate it to the AT&T bill and it would probably be right--- TIME vs Bandwidth. My best guess is some programmer setup TIME vs a metric to measure packets/packet flow and users are being billed for DATA TIME not actual DATA USAGE.

Now, again, it's just a theory.

What we'd all like to know is why are so many people complaining when there's a lot more in life to do than keep account of this issue? I don't think the claims are unfounded. I'm amazed at the bandwidth AT&T say's I am using because I purposely have deleted apps and avoid using Safari, email, etc..... Seems kind of silly since my data plan is unlimited but I know there's an issue and it maybe more than one issue.

Too bad we are not getting the support we pay for and instead as was posted above-- continue to get lip service and placation each month with the expectation that we are to keep calling AT&T and APPLE to complain.

That expectation is unreasonable as is the level of detail and troubleshooting that users are doing to keep their data traffic within the billable window to avoid penalties.

FYI to everyone---

Apple iOS 4.2 Includes 40 Security Fixes
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=2283004 55

*These fixes ONLY apply to newer iPhones: 3G, 3GS, 4 iPhones--*

So the older iPhones: the Legacy is you/we will be trapped into buying a newer iPhone-- one of the "things" about moving technology.

BackPacker57 wrote:
So the older iPhones: the Legacy is you/we will be trapped into buying a newer iPhone-- one of the "things" about moving technology.

Ain't it the truth - my Mac LC with 10 MB hard drive is totally useless; can't even upgrade it to OS 7.0 from 6.3...

And don't even get me started on my Apple Newton.

I get a kick out of you, Lightsp33d.

You clearly haven't followed along with any of my posts in this forum. I've been one of the biggest AT&T bashers in this thread. I've placed at least six phone calls to AT&T in the 4 months I've had my phone. Each time they blow me off and do nothing to help me. For once, they are actually trying to work with me. Let's be clear -- my issue is no where near resolved and I have very little confidence they are going to ultimately do what's right -- but when I've been blown off every single time I call, it's nice to finally feel like there's at least a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

And by the way, I've already filed a complaint with the FCC. I received my letter from them just under a week ago. Would you like my case number?

Wow LC--- that's pre-pre-Performa. What 20 years? Can't you run the Mac OS from a thumb drive or firewire enabled drive for the LC??????? using adapters? (Serial to USB)

Sorry to get off topic

EVERYONE ELSE: Post your FCC Complaints!

bradley.ryan wrote:
I get a kick out of you, Lightsp33d.

You clearly haven't followed along with any of my posts in this forum. I've been one of the biggest AT&T bashers in this thread. I've placed at least six phone calls to AT&T in the 4 months I've had my phone. Each time they blow me off and do nothing to help me. For once, they are actually trying to work with me. Let's be clear -- my issue is no where near resolved and I have very little confidence they are going to ultimately do what's right -- but when I've been blown off every single time I call, it's nice to finally feel like there's at least a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

No, I don't track who's done what, where, how in this thread. In a few days, I'll be asking you again if you've filed a complaint with the FCC.

And by the way, I've already filed a complaint with the FCC. I received my letter from them just under a week ago. Would you like my case number?

No, that's okay. As long as you have filed a complaint with the FCC, and follow through with it, your relationship with AT&T is your own.

AT&T says I've used 517 Mb in the past week, even though my 3Gs-iOS4 (not JB) says I've only used 45 Mb (settings -> general -> usage), and even though the past three months since I got this phone, both AT&T and my phone agreed I'd used 485 Mb total.  I haven't changed my usage or apps, and have no idea where this phantom usage is coming from.  It's not just late at night either.

Turning off "cellular data" seems to stop the tide, but as soon as I turn it on, AT&T's myWireless app shows them billing me 1 Mb or so every few minutes, even though I'm on WiFi, and no apps are running besides myWireless (not even in the multitasked background).  All notifications and everything else I can think of is turned off.  AT&T cust svc was useless, refused to consider they're billing me for data I've not used.  AT&T store manager acknowledged huge discrepancy between phone's setting's usage tally and AT&T's billing, but could only offer implausible explanation of unidentifiable apps using data even when they're not on and with no way for me to know.  He did give me a $30 credit for 2x $15/200 Mb overage charge.

Have I been hacked? Is this a virus?  Who do I complain to the FCC about?  AT&T?  Apple?  Unkown hackers?

Ok, I'm confused about one thing - it was said here many times that when in "sleep" state, the iPhone turns off WiFi and will only use 3G/cellular data for communication when idle. It was said it cannot initiate WiFi connection by itself like that...

Well, I disagree. Like many of you I also keep having issues with AT&T data billing/logging. Ever since they slapped me with 120Mb of data I didn't use one evening, I keep my cellular data off and only turn it on when needed.

However, overnight I can hear my phone vibrating when it checks for, and receives, new email over my IMAP (push) and POP3 (pull) email accounts. The phone is idle, in "sleep", cellular data OFF and with only access to WiFi. And yet, it initiates wifi connection and downloads email unassisted.

Am I missing something? Or is iPhone in fact able to initiate WiFi connection from idle when WiFi is available?

that is not correct. when both data and wifi are on, the phone will use data when sleeping. however, if data is off and wifi is available, the phone will use wifi.