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How much data does siri send/recieve when sending a text message?

I am seriously thinking of upgrading my iphone 4 to the 4s, simply for Siri and it's available talk to text feature and I know that siri uses either the available wi-fi connection or uses your data plan when you use it....


However my question is simply that of how much data does it use in order to do something simple that would not normally require using your data plan or wifi????

Siri question

Posted on Oct 8, 2011 4:16 PM

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16 replies

Oct 15, 2011 11:32 AM in response to cpertiet

Based on my quick experience last night, Siri uses tons of data plan. I tried several times and finally got a short text message sent-- maybe 3-4 attempts, and my data plan usage was already >7MB. I'm only on the 200MB plan, so I guess i'm only using Siri from home or on wifi. *****. you'd think with the fast processor on-board, they'd at least let non-internet usage work locally. Big disappointment that you basically have to pay for more data to use the new feature-- wish they'd made that much more up-front.

Oct 27, 2011 9:03 PM in response to cpertiet

Siri hardly uses any data. I've had my iPhone 4s for 2 days and only used 12.67 MB using Siri and web browsing combined. And I've been using Siri non stop. Sending text messages, setting reminders, checking my work schedule, making calls. no offence but if you have a smart phone with a 200 MB data plan your wasting your money even without Siri. I couldn't be happier with the iPhone 4s. Speed, intelligence, graphics, simplicity, the small amount of Internet that Siri requires to run is well worth it.

Nov 3, 2011 8:31 PM in response to Wylie 5an

Ok, so what is causing the massive Data increases?


I too noticed that my data was the highest it has ever been with the new Iphone 4s.


So is it Siri that is causing the increase in data? Does Siri use data? Or do only certain aspects of Siri use data?


I'm wondering if the huge increase in data usage was from using Icloud and having calendar, contacts and documents in pages all sync from a computer to my Iphone?


Also, I've nnoticed that now that I turned off Icloud, Siri won't work. Doesn't seem like those two things should be related but I can't even get Siri to call someone using a voice command and the only thing I've done differntly is turn off all my Icloud things so I won't use Data to transfer info.

Nov 18, 2011 2:28 PM in response to cpertiet

Apple has certainly goofed with not letting its customers know that Siri uses data (and a significant amount for someone like me who's accustomed to a 200MB/month plan)! I watched the entire keynote talk that Jobs usually gives and read everything in my phone's settings. I'm lucky that my phone company says they're willing to neglect me going over my limit this first month. What a scam! Sure makes me wish I'd gone with an Android!


This is my second bad encounter with Apple since I did the "switch" a couple years ago. Apparently iLife only comes with a new computer and not with the operating system, so after I formated my hard drive my local Apple Store wouldn't give me my iLife back. Thanks for letting us know, ********! Sure makes me wish I'd gone with a hackintosh!


...I guess you need to pay the price in customer relations for the functionality and friendly user interface...

Nov 19, 2011 6:19 PM in response to pvonk

Sorry to have led us off topic:


I bought my Macbook Pro from the Apple Store. It came with iLife already on it along with Safari, Photobooth, etc... I had no reason to think that iLife was any different than Safari, Photobooth, etc... I went to our Apple Store to buy a Snow Leopard disc. I backed up all my important files and reformatted my hard drive upon installing Snow Leopard not knowing that I would loose iLife. I contacted the Apple Store where I bought the computer and they want me to pay for a new copy of iLife.


I am also upset that they are trying to sell people new iPhones with Siri, keeping the fact that it uses a significant amount of data a secret. I had no reason to think that it would use data and did more than enough looking into the phone before buying it. Scam alert.


Two really bad encounters and it has not been that long since doing the "switch". Bad business.

Nov 19, 2011 9:11 PM in response to omgjp

While I do not liken it to a scam, I agree that it was not blatently obvious that in order to utilize Siri, it required a data plan. However, being logical about it, I realized that Siri has to get all that info. from somewhere and that likely it would be the internet.....so before I purchased my yet-to-be-received iPhone 4S, I ASKED.

Nov 21, 2011 2:36 PM in response to omgjp

During the demo, on the box, on this web site, etc., it clearly states that an internet connection is required to use Siri. The more often you use it the more data. If you are using it on free WiFi it won't cost you anything.


You can use 3rd party software to extract the iLife apps from the disks that came with your computer. If you backed up your computer you could restore the apps.


Message was edited by: deggie

Nov 21, 2011 2:39 PM in response to omgjp

omgjp wrote:


Being logical about it, with a minimum 16GB drive there is no reason to think that it would use data. They are obviously omitting this information in order to sell more phones.


Nonsense. Apple's said right from the outset, including in the keynote when they announced the iPhone 4S, that Siri would require a data connection. And the Siri page in the iPhone 4S information:


Siri is available in Beta only on iPhone 4S and requires Internet access. (...) Cellular data charges may apply.


So is was by no means "omitted" in any way. As to how much data Siri uses, Ars Technica did an analysis and found that that "local" tasks such as asking Siri to set an alarm use an average of 37KB, while those that require Siri to look up something online average 95KB. Not likely to make uch of an impact on someone's data cap unless theyr'e doing a ton of requests to Siri.

Nov 24, 2011 11:43 AM in response to varjak paw

It's NOWHERE on the Canadian website. It's NOWHERE on the Canadian box.


As for the Americans' website:
You shouldn't have to watch videos in order to be made aware of this as some of us are trying to keep our data usage down *cough*cough* I see there's a TINY and HIDDEN notice at the bottom of the American Siri info page.



This coupled with my other bad experience mentioned earlier…

User uploaded file


PS. Apple still uses child labor? Definitely should have gone with a hackintosh (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/sep/11/laptop-most- eco-friendly-ethical)

Jan 4, 2013 4:14 AM in response to omgjp

I'm sorry to thread dig. But I just had to sign up to the board so i could reply to you.



If you supposedly watched the keynote etc then you would have listened to them say that it needs a net connection. They told us this by telling us the questions we ask are sent to their servers.....



Wouldn't you by now know that net based dl or ul cost you $

How much data does siri send/recieve when sending a text message?

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