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Data Usage Error- iPhone reports using 4GB sent & 4.1GB received??

My iphone 4 reports having Sent 4GB and received 4.1GB of data. There's no possible way I could've used that much data, especially sending that much. I hardly use 3G and I remain on WiFi where it's available. I also reset my usage statistics at the start of billing cycle so it's not accumulated. I contacted AT&T knowing that that amount of data would cost a fortune seeing that I'm only on the 200 mb plan. I figured it had to be an error of some sort because I never received an alert for reaching the half or full data limit. AT&T replied that I have only used 75 mb. What a relief! I remained on the phone for another 40 minutes trying to find out why I got an error. However, they weren't able to help me.

To avoid being stuck on the phone for another 40 minutes, I went to the Genius Bar. The "Genius" there had no idea why the phone reported that amount. He claimed that the amount was accumulated, I replied that there's no way I could've used that amount of data since July and I have reset the counter on 10/4/10. My send data is always 1/10th of what I receive. He claimed that the data counter includes Wifi usage. I stressed that the counter says that it is "Cellular Network Data" again and again seeing if he might correct himself. His final solution was to just restore the phone.

I went home, reset the usage counter, connected to wifi, downloaded and an app, and voila! the data usage says 0 bytes received proving that my wifi has not been running up the counter. Apparently Apple needs restaff that store.

I've discovered a few ways to accurately check my data through AT&T:

1) Get AT&T's myWireless app (which I am unable to access because I am not the AT&T account holder.)

2)*3282# receives an alert on data usage.

3) simply call AT&T

Here's my question: How could the counter come up with that outrageous of a number? I wouldn't want it to someday send that data amount to AT&T and bill me for it.

iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on Oct 20, 2010 4:06 PM

Reply
70 replies

Oct 20, 2010 4:19 PM in response to Detortugo

Here's my question: How could the counter come up with that outrageous of a number? I wouldn't want it to someday send that data amount to AT&T and bill me for it.

How long have you had this phone and how often have you checked the usage (on the phone)? Are you sure it read "0" when you first received it?

AT&T doesn't use the phone's data use report for their billing. They keep tract of what's sent and received from their end. Since you weren't billed for all that data, don't worry about it.

Oct 20, 2010 4:26 PM in response to Detortugo

Here's my question: How could the counter come up with that outrageous of a number?


Obviously a glitch in reported usage. The usage counter on any cell phone including the iPhone is not accurate and is not what a carrier basis their billing on. Accurate usage and what billing is based on is what is reported at a carrier's website for your account, which can be checked with AT&T's free app for the iPhone, by dialing the number provided for an alert on data usage, or by calling AT&T.

Since you are unable to access AT&T's myWireless app on your iPhone since you are not the account holder, I though you would have trouble calling AT&T requesting info as well.

Oct 20, 2010 4:40 PM in response to modular747

I got the iphone 4 when it first came out and and it has read "0" after every time I reset it for each billing cycle. It just jumped to 8GB total( 4 sent, 4 received) in a matter of a day. And I realized that AT&T tracks their data on their own. I just can't believe how far off the data calculator was. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this or if Apple is aware of it. I imagine it would alarm anyone.

Oct 20, 2010 6:13 PM in response to Detortugo

I have exactly the same error with my iPhone 4. Cellular data usage, 4 Gb received, 4.1 Gb sent.

At 10.30pm the previous evening my total cellular data usage was 105 Mb. The following morning the reported data was as above.

I checked with Rogers, my provider, the CSR told me he'd had several reports, exactly the same that day.
He was only able to proved me with data usage upto the previous evening, 105Mb.

No possible way to use that amount of data in 12hrs and my phone had data and 3G off overnight.
It has to be a bug with the phone or firmware.

Oct 28, 2010 11:30 AM in response to Detortugo

Glad to find this thread -

My 3G did that last week too. And I was abroad! I'm usually very careful w/ international data roaming (I do have some allowance on my plan) so I reset statistics before I land in other country, only fetch email manually, keep checking usage, and turn data roaming on and off as I need to.

Last week it suddenly jumped in one day from 50MB or so to 4G in 4G out. No way I could've used that.

Can you imagine the bill at "excess International Roaming rates"?

Anyhow, checked this week and AT&T was only seeing 159MB. Will keep on checking to ensure other weird roaming doesn't come in later, but given everyone's notes and what I know of my usage when abroad it looks like an iPhone fluke.

Note, it didn't happen on my iPhone 4 (personal) - that one doesn't have roaming enabled so I didn't even use it last week when out of the country except on wifi.

Alec

Nov 1, 2010 4:49 PM in response to Detortugo

Hi guys... Exactly the same happened to me today. I check the data counter every day and yesterday as 7PM it said 10MB sent 17MB received and today, at 1PM it says 4,0GB sent and 4,0GB recieved (I almost have a heart attack, at U$S 3/MB it could be about U$S 24,000).

I called my provider (Claro Argentina) and they told me I was used just about 23MB of data transference. So, it must to be a bug.

Anyway, any report from Apple would calm me down.

Nov 2, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Detortugo

Hello all I see this is one hot topic so I would like to join in if I may. Well I am anyway 🙂 ok this reported usage is a simple tool and my thought for these outrageous data usage issues may be the iOS4.xx capability of multitasking has anyone in this string have apps that are hitting the web? and if so have you cleared the recent and or running apps? if not then there's where these " I have 100MB when I go to bed and when I wake up it's 4GB" may come into play. maybe we should take an hour and READ THE BOOK yes there I said it the BOOK you know the USER'S GUIDE! that is online even bookmarked on our iphones in safari unless it's been deleted to make room for those more important bookmarks! Folk's clear the recent and running apps "Double-click the home button, display shift's upward you'll see a row of icon's on the bottom gently place your finger on an app hold it there until the red circle with the white minus sign appears then tap the minus signs on all of those running and recently ran apps and clear out the cache you'll all be surprised on how many anomalies this will correct.

Nov 2, 2010 5:33 AM in response to Detortugo

"Here's my question: How could the counter come up with that outrageous of a number? I wouldn't want it to someday send that data amount to AT&T and bill me for it."

Just to reassure the op, that is not how your bill is calculated, so don't fear that. AT&T has to bill you for the data as calculated by their equipment on their end. They cannot charge you for data that their in-house systems cause.

Also, the iPhone records all data, not just that which actually incurs a bill entry on your statement. Reset your counter before going to bed, and clear all apps from the recent task bar, and make sure no background tasks are running (no push mail and so forth). Check your useage in the morning, and there will be at the very least a few 10's-100's of kilobytes sent and received. I have never heard a detailed explanation for this, but it is some sort of housekeeping data exchange. This data will not show on your billing statement.

At least that has been my experience with my 3Gs and AT&T.

Others have reported far greater data flow overnight then what I typically see (I've never had more than 250K), again without getting an explanation from AT&T about what it is, but they are not being charged for it.

Nov 2, 2010 2:43 PM in response to Detortugo

Hi, I'm glad to find this thread, although I'm in the UK and am having the same problem!

I've contacted my provider o2, to find out what is happening, I'm just really worried I'm going to get sent a massive bill which I cannot pay! My o2 online account says I have used just over 300mb but I'm not sure if this is just because it hasn't updated.

My usage on my phone says 4.0gb sent and 4.3gb received. Is this definitely wrong? I just don't understand how it could be right, how much would you be using your phone to get this amount of usage?!

Help please!

Nov 2, 2010 2:51 PM in response to Chacky1989

There is nothing to worry about and nothing to help you with.

Copied from the previous post.

Just to reassure the op, that is not how your bill is calculated, so don't fear that. AT&T has to bill you for the data as calculated by their equipment on their end.


Insert the name of your carrier in place of AT&T. What is reported with the iPhone's data usage is not what your carrier bases their billing on. The iPhone's data usage indicator has never been 100% accurate and probably never will be. It is impossible to use 4GB of data while you are sleeping - in 8 hours or less. I've never used more than 600MB of data in a month. This is a glitch or bug with the iPhone's data usage indicator which has no affect on your bill or your actual data usage as calculated by your carrier's equipment on their end.

Nov 18, 2010 1:55 PM in response to Detortugo

Im writing from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and today I faced the same usage error on my iphone 4, suddenly it showed 4 GB sent and 4GB received and yesterday it was 200MB.

It literally gave me a heart attack and I was feeling dead as it would have been 2,000 US DOLLARS for this usage.

Can APPLE try to solve this PATHETIC ERROR or BUG.

Dec 1, 2010 11:25 PM in response to Detortugo

I got the same problem today!!
but what i find it stunning with this problem that we all share the same amount of data exchange!!(4.0G sent 4.1 received!)

Me, who was watching out approximatively everyday my Data network usage... i badly got surprised by my the amount of using my data plan... i seldom use my 3G .. around 100Mb per month.

We need an explication from Apple as soon as possible!

Data Usage Error- iPhone reports using 4GB sent & 4.1GB received??

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