ATT Charging for Data Over WiFi

[fbihawk]

I've switched to the 200 mb data plan ever since they started it and have never gone over. Recently, the last few months I have been pushing that limit and even going over. When I finally checked online to see where all my data was going I noticed that a lot of usage was from times when I knew i was connected over WiFi at home. I called ATT and after a bit of digging they suggested I turn off my data services. They were surprised to learn that I couldn't connect to the internet at all, even when connected to WiFi. So they then told me I would need to turn off my mobile network connection if I didn't want to be charged twice for the data....Let me just write that again in all caps for emphasis: I NEED TO TURN OFF MY MOBILE NETWORK CONNECTION TO NOT BE CHARGED TWICE.

I don't know if this has always been going on but there is all kinds of people from ATT realizing they're being charged for data while on WiFi and ATT's response is that is how it is supposed to be. Their solution, turn off all cellphone capabilities whenever you're connected to WiFi to not be charged for the data.

Is anyone else seeing this?

[kbz1960]

If true that is total crap!

[wazzugrad]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But I believe that the Internet bbm and email all have to go through RIM servers and can not function on WIFI alone. That is why there is some data usage

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Culex316]

Originally Posted by wazzugrad

Correct me if I'm wrong. But I believe that the Internet bbm and email all have to go through RIM servers and can not function on WIFI alone. That is why there is some data usage

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

That is baloney, they CAN function solely over Wi-Fi! I do it all the time!

[blueyestm]

I'd suggest maybe a nice OS reinstall because that's total BS and it should work over WiFi like Culex stated cuz I do it all the time too.

[fbihawk]

I'm not sure what features do or do not function with with wireless network disabled but the fact that you would even need to do that is ridiculous.

[DaveInVan]

Originally Posted by Culex316

That is baloney, they CAN function solely over Wi-Fi! I do it all the time!

Agreed. I take my BB all over Europe and Asia and only use wifi. BBM and my push email work perfectly and I've never been charged a penny for data.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Mister Xiado]

AT&T cannot track WiFi usage. Quit spouting FUD.

The easiest way to see if you're really on WiFi is to disable 3G (on a 3G BB, natch), and use the phone while connected to WiFi near an amplified speaker. Headphones, computer speakers, car stereo speakers. As long as the speakers have power, EDGE interference will be easily noticeable. WiFi does not produce this audio interference, nor does an active 3G data session. If you hear the 2G chirping, you're using EDGE, not WiFi.

Also trying turning off cellular data.

[tgeekb]

Originally Posted by Mister Xiado

AT&T cannot track WiFi usage. Quit spouting FUD.

The easiest way to see if you're really on WiFi is to disable 3G (on a 3G BB, natch), and use the phone while connected to WiFi near an amplified speaker. Headphones, computer speakers, car stereo speakers. As long as the speakers have power, EDGE interference will be easily noticeable. WiFi does not produce this audio interference, nor does an active 3G data session. If you hear the 2G chirping, you're using EDGE, not WiFi.

Also trying turning off cellular data.

I think the point trying to be made is you should not have to turn off cellular data.

[watson524]

There's several of us on the Torch forum that have reported this type of thing. Times I know I'm home, I'm seeing bits of data usage. Also, at odd hours of the very early morning when my phone is idle on my nitestand, data usage..... I don't believe all BIS can go over wifi if I remember the explanation on the Torch forum correctly. I have an unlimited data plan but my data usage is WAY up since going from iPhone to BB.

[Mister Xiado]

Originally Posted by tgeekb

I think the point trying to be made is you should not have to turn off cellular data.

You turn it off to test it, ah durr. BlackBerry phones drop active WiFi connectivity constantly, thanks to the ridiculous power saving default settings that can't really be disabled unless you debrand your phone.

[ImGeorgeous]

Originally Posted by watson524

There's several of us on the Torch forum that have reported this type of thing. Times I know I'm home, I'm seeing bits of data usage. Also, at odd hours of the very early morning when my phone is idle on my nitestand, data usage..... I don't believe all BIS can go over wifi if I remember the explanation on the Torch forum correctly. I have an unlimited data plan but my data usage is WAY up since going from iPhone to BB.

No way?! I had the Torch when it came out, used like 40MB of data that month because I hesitated to use it. When I was on T-Mobile w/ unlimited, I'd top out at 250mb with a lot of usage. I'm easily over 500-600mb on the iPhone with half the usage.

[CasieW15]

Im having this same exact problem with my curve 9300. This past month my data has gone thru the roof, and its never happened before. I always make sure Im connected to wifi, but the data still seems to be going up. In past months, Im lucky if i use about 60 mb a month. But this month its already gone over the 200 mb twice!! After two phone calls to customer care and a visit to the att store, they cant really tell me why this is happening. :/

[Mister Xiado]

Check your data session details, and see which days and at what times a large data use session ended.

AT&T doesn't track precisely what you do with data so it can retain plausible deniability if you do something illegal on its network.

[Mxdmamiof3]

Yes! I am having the SAME issue. I have iphone 4 tho. I have wifi at work and wifi at home and i got a text from ATT 5 days into my cycle saying i was about to go over my 200mb plan. Couldnt be possible i thought. When reviewing my billed and unbilled usage they were charging me for data used while connected to wifi. When i called them about it the woman told me i had no clue what i was talking about and that it was IMPOSSIBLE(i work tier 2 tech for another carrier and actually worked 4 years at ATT so i KNOW when something is happening that shouldnt be) but she set a "committment" up for someone to follow up with me i told her todat july 4th i will be connected to wifi at work from 930-530 so note my account with that and when you check my unbilled usage and it shows data being billed during those times WILL YOU BELIEVE me than??? Sure enough all day yesterday my data was being billed while clearly connected to wifi. They called me this morning and i missed the call about 20 minutes later i went on lunch and noticed i have NO 3g data connection, no mms,no visual voicemail but can still connect to my wifi. The smartasses turned OFF my 3g data connection completly! I will be calling them tomorrow to see whats going on but YES ATT is robbing ita customers that arent smart enough to manage their data usage and they have no CLUE as to how its double billing or how to stop it other than pick a side and use only wifi OR their data plan!!