The current trend towards tiered data plans from mobile operators has evoked a mixed reaction from customers. Some consider these offerings as a useful measure to curb “data hogs”, while others view it as yet another price-gouging tactic. There is a series of changes being made in the mobile system; each with their own significance
Mobile service carries have been long urging users to use Wi-Fi networks wherever possible even though the security threat is on the rise. Cautious customers who avoid using open Wi-Fi networks for the same reason need a mobile data connectivity plan for addressing their requirements. But, at the same time, data plans needs adapting very smart usage management in order to control the data expenditure for the ones who have not shopped for an unlimited plan.
In case, you are also one of those who rely on an unlimited data plan from your carrier and aren’t either in a mood to sign on with the spirit, what ways can you manage your mobile data? Well, managing your data usage should be put on foremost priority. So, a few ways to minimize your mobile data load may include:
1. Restrict your music, games, applications and podcasts downloads to Wi-Fi only
While there are some applications which have a negligible size of few MBs, others can arrive at a whopping 500 MB or even 1 GB or more. Downloading few songs when you’re getting bored can also add up significantly to your data usage. Unless it’s really an emergency, one must wait to get access to his home Wi-Fi network or any trusted one.
2. Save streaming for Wi-Fi also
Slacker, Pandora, Hulu, YouTube, Netflix and other streaming services along with image-intensive sources like Flickr may incur a lot of data bandwidth on the go. You can save such sources for the time you have access to Wi-Fi or broadband internet access.
3. Set your e-mail accounts for manual sync
Sync your e-mail account in batches whenever you have access to Wi-Fi or broadband connection. In case you are one those who get tons of e-mails then you may not wait for periodic downloads, then check if your smartphone provides you an option to download e-mails without attachments or images. Most of them do.
4. Turn-off Push notifications in your smartphone whenever your find it okay to limit your background data capabilities across your applications.
5. Search for the apps which use location data in the background.
Turn it off if it’s not really important.
6. Try any alternate browser
If you are having a later android device, pop-up windows can be blocked and image loading can be turned-off on your device by changing the settings on your browser. Such options don’t exist in Safari, thus in case you are an iOS device user, get an alternate browser like Skyfire or Opera Mini to minimize your web data usage.
7. Use mobile-friendly site when available
Many people don’t like mobile optimized sites but it is to be noticed that they exist for a significant reason. The mobile sites strip out unnecessary stuffs such as animated ads or large images, implying they take less data bandwidth to load.
8. Turn-off mobile data when you don’t require it
Turning-off mobile data is certainly different from switching your phone to Airplane mode. By turning the mobile data off you can still receive calls and text messages but with eliminating the risk of any app secretly connecting keeping you unaware of it.
All the above given tips may collectively seem like a bit much and we would not deny this- it actually is. By trying them in turn and sticking to some of them that you find the most convenient ones making the biggest difference to your individual data usage is highly recommended.
