Q: The iPhone 5 uses Cellular Data over WiFi?

Apple_mock_customers wrote:

 

I tell you why there is no solution, Apple is paid by network operator to keep this problem(use mobile instead wifi), there is no logic behind this stupid behaviour and lack of reaction!  The only way to give them a reaction is to stop buying theirs products until they will listen us.

And of course Android phone manufacturers are NOT paid by network operators? Give me a break!

As iPhones still outsell all other smart phones by a wide margin that is still getting wider, you have a tough row to hoe to get people to buy other phones.

I used Android and Blackberry before but on any phone wifi is used instead mobile because is free. What does the Apple do is face robbery.

But why would carriers bribe Apple, but not bribe Samsung? Or LG? Your hypothesis makes no sense at all! How is Apple "face" robbery? Apple doesn't get anything if your phone uses cellular data instead of WiFi. What is interesting is that it doesn't on my iPhone; mine always uses WiFi when its available. I think this is a conspiracy against YOU alone.

Read all the replies on this forum an you will understand that all the customers have this problem. On any phone on the globe wifi is used instead mobile because is FREE. What is so hard to understand? I contacted also Customer Support and they told me that I can close mobile data when I use wifi. This is ridiculous, I should do this 50 times per day.

Apple_mock_customers wrote:

 

Read all the replies on this forum an you will understand that all the customers have this problem. On any phone on the globe wifi is used instead mobile because is FREE. What is so hard to understand? I contacted also Customer Support and they told me that I can close mobile data when I use wifi. This is ridiculous, I should do this 50 times per day.

All the customers DO NOT have this problem. I am a customer. I do not have this problem. So I have just proved that it is NOT all customers. It's so easy to disprove a blanket statement! What is so hard to understand?

An iPhone will ALWAYS use WiFi if it is available and the phone is not asleep. It uses cellular data only when the phone is asleep and not plugged in.

You can control which apps use cellular data when the phone is asleep. Go to Settings/General/Background App Refresh and turn off apps that you don't want to run when the phone is asleep.

But I don't know why I'm wasting my time. Your mind is made up. I should not confuse you with facts.

This problem is only at some operators that have an agreement with Apple. I bought my phone from T mobile Germany and also the Apple confirmed this situation when I contacted Customer Support, otherwise they would told me that I don't know what I was talking. You seems to be a employee/shareholder. Nobody is stupid to report things that are not real.

Whether or not you are using T-Mobile Germany or USA makes not difference. If your iPhone is using cell data when it should be connecting to WiFi there is an issue with YOUR iPhone. This does not indicate a conspiracy.

I am neither a shareholder nor an employee. I don't believe that Apple confirmed that they take bribes from carriers.

The part with agreement is my logic conclusion. The part with using mobile instead wifi was confirmed. They suggested me to disable mobile when I am on wifi Which is of course not acceptable.

Your logic is flawed.

What part with mobile instead of wifi was confirmed and who confirmed it? How do you know you are using cell data when on WiFi? Is your displaying dropping the WiFi antenna icon and reverting to LTE/4G/3G, etc?

I Should save the chat with Apple to show you that they are aware of this problem. How I realised? I use different providers for mobile/ wifi. When I am connected to both whatismyip.com. I was aware of the problem because of traffic made on my subscription.

Lawrence,

I have attempted to locate and read most of what you have written on the general subject of tracking down the cause/reason for what would seem to be excessive and unintentional cellular data usage when  WiFi is available. It has all been very helpful. Thanks!

One of the folks on my plan has for several months or longer, been having this problem at night with an iPhone 5 running iOS 8.  Here are recent offenders that occurred on 6 consecutive days:

2:33 AM    89Mb

3:12 AM    47Mb

4:22 AM    41Mb

4:23 AM    117Mb

4:24 AM    149Mb

4:25 AM    30Mb

I suffer from several disadvantages in this since I do not use an iPhone (only 'droids in my house) and the subject iPhone is hundred's of miles away. Still, I'd like to try what I can. I thought I had found the answer when you so clearly stated (I believe in this thread):

"An iPhone will ALWAYS use WiFi if it is available and the phone is not asleep. It uses cellular data only when the phone is asleep and not plugged in" -LF

However, I am told that it is plugged in at night. What's the best way to get the WiFi connectivity confirmed (or not) when the phone should be asleep?  How can I verify that it is not a carrier accounting problem?

I would recommended writing to Apple about the issue. I have seen the same thing on my 5. After upgrading to my 6 Plus, I no longer see this issue. I know that doesn't help with a fix in the interim.

cafebeef wrote:

 

Lawrence,

 

I have attempted to locate and read most of what you have written on the general subject of tracking down the cause/reason for what would seem to be excessive and unintentional cellular data usage when  WiFi is available. It has all been very helpful. Thanks!

 

One of the folks on my plan has for several months or longer, been having this problem at night with an iPhone 5 running iOS 8.  Here are recent offenders that occurred on 6 consecutive days:

2:33 AM    89Mb

3:12 AM    47Mb

4:22 AM    41Mb

4:23 AM    117Mb

4:24 AM    149Mb

4:25 AM    30Mb

 

Are all of those occurring on the same day, or is it one per day? If it is one per day then it is the carrier updating the billing system with accumulated usage, which could have occurred any time in the previous 24 hours. A long time ago (years) I posted an explanation of how cellular billing systems work. In the Beginning (meaning 2007) every cellular data transfer was sent to the billing system. The first bill for iPhones had anything from 50 to 300 pages (mine was only 50) to list all of those transactions. So networks were updated to to sum data usage within the network switch, and report it to the billing system in one lump sum. There are 2 approaches: Verizon reports it every 6 hours. AT&T and some other carriers report useage from a switch when the phone moves out of the coverage area for that switch. So if you move around with your phone you will see periodic updates on the bill. If you stay in one place for a long time, that last switch will report your usage after the end of the recording period, even if you haven't moved out of the coverage area. That's what the usage reported in the wee hours means. It is all usage from the switch nearest your home from the time you arrived home until the time you see on the bill.

There's an easy way to check. Before connecting the phone to the charger in the evening go to Settings/Cellular and note the accumulated Cellular Data Usage. Then next morning when you are ready to remove the phone from the charger check again. The difference will be the actual cellular data used overnight. There are some things that always use cellular data (visual voicemail, MMS messages, Notifications, Push email), so there will likely be a small increase, but it should not be significant. 

Laerence,

Don't try to wash people brain. I have the my IPhone with the problem, I talked to Apple at Customer Support and they told me that they understand the situation and you come and tell us that we don't know and the phone use wifi. How can you talk and state all kind of stupid things if you don't know what happen in my country and on my phone? We have a problem and we want a solution, if you don't have a solution please don't disturb us any more. I am disgusted of your comments.