[Electronics-talk] Trying to Understand Data Plans

[Drew Hunthausen]

It is also important to note for things like downloading music, books, or
anything that you know is something you will want to access on the go can be
done when you are at home or on a wi fi connection and then stored on your
phone. This way you don't have to use data at all to access theses things
when you need to.


Drew Hunthause 714-296-7111
www.noexcusesblindguy.com-296-7111
www.noexcusesblind

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Jacobson via Electronics-talk
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 3:37 PM
To: Christine Szostak via Electronics-talk
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Trying to Understand Data Plans

There are a couple more things that may not be obvious as you move into the
smart phone world.  Generally, your phone plan will also include so many
minutes of talk time as well as so many text messages.  As a rule, text
messages are not considered part of your data plan.

If you make use of iTunes to get music to your phone, listening to music is
part of your data plan.  However, iTunes will download a certain number of
selections that you listen to, so repeating a song may not mean using up
more data.  If you take pictures and you have them automatically uploaded to
dropbox or iCloud, that will also use data.  Some of the services that tell
you what is around you access websites to get data.  Retrieving email uses
data, but usually very little and there are shortcuts you can take.
However, if someone attaches pictures to the email they send to you, they
can count up.  If you get the BARD app and download books to play on your
phone, that also takes data.  The size of NLS books varies with the length
of the book, but 100 to 200 megabytes is pretty common.  Downloading braille
books from BARD uses much less data.  

Some services allow you to buy data ahead of time if you know you will be
running out before your month is up.  Buying ahead is usually much cheaper
than going over your limit and having data billed automatically.  Your use
of data will be predictable after a while, but it is really hard to know how
much data will be used at first.  It might be worth getting more data at
first and then adjusting down as you get a better feel for what you use.

Good luck.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson


On Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:44:38 -0400, Christine Szostak via Electronics-talk
wrote:

>Hi All,
>  Since we are on the topic of data plans and how they can be used, as 
>a current non-smart phone user, who is finally confident enough with 
>the iPod that I am considering an iPhone for my next phone, I have
been trying to understand exactly what "data" is. Thus, I was wondering if
anyone can help explain the following. Sorry for what will likely sound like
very silly and obvious questions:

>1)  What exactly is data?

>2(  If your data plan has say 2 gigs of data, what exactly does that mean.
In other words, how much of your data is used up each minute or if easier to
explain, each hour...?

>3)  Does your data continue to be used if you come in contact with a 
>wifi connection that you are permitted to use (e.g., your own home's 
>wifi or say an internet cafe where you can connect)? If not, does it
automatically stop using up data when it comes in contact with a wifi
hotspot or do you have to turn the data off?

>4)  Are there limitations to what you can access with data (e.g.,
streaming, downloading, YouTube, basic internet searching...)?

>5)  Somewhat related to 4 are there certain things that take up more or
less data (e.g., GPS, YouTube, streaming, basic internet searches...)?

>  Any other information that you can give me would also be really
appreciated:)!
>Hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
>Chris
>Christine M. Szostak, PhD
>Assistant Professor
>Department of Psychology
>Shorter University
>Rome, Georgia
>szostak.1 at osu.edu

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related issue see:
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