BB Torch - WiFi use incurring data charge

[prlarkin]

Yeah call your provider. I'm on Orange UK and had use OS 7.1 on my 9900 and had used thr wifi hotspot twice so was expecting charges for some the use but got a bill for over £9(about us$14). So called them and some charges had show when I was asleep and also when I was on my home wifi. Orange put it to tech team who spotted I had and data addon for 3G data(mobile broadband) took it off and no more charges. They even refunded the rest. So best to ask.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Klotar]

While most BB applications are written/coded to use wifi when available; that is, switch over to wifi for data communications if both are available, not all apps are. In addition, some apps are written so that the user can choose (Auto, BES, BIS, TCP/IP, Wifi, etc.), which means if you set it for TCP/IP, it does not switch over to wifi just because you later connect to wifi.

A good number of weather apps and of course generic java apps are [were] also coded to just use Direct TCP and you have no choice; so even if your device switches over to wifi when you get home from work, all weather updates still use the cell network. A few IM applications I know of also use Direct TCP instead of BIS and/or Wifi. You can confirm this during the next BIS outage (knock on wood), where your apps that use TCP continue to work even though you have no BBM, email, etc. on mobile network or wifi.

As others have already suggested, the only way to truly ensure you are not charged for data when you are connected to wifi is to shut off the mobile network. Or, get an app that turns off mobile network when you are connected to wifi and turns on mobile network when you disconnect from wifi. I think there is a free app on Appworld that does exactly that. Yes, here it is:

Free Cell Network or WiFi - Download Cell Network or WiFi - Free Apps from BlackBerry App World

That app, combined with the many apps already out there that turn off wifi based on your cell tower location, also helps save battery power too.

[telserv_ca]

Originally Posted by luqman24

Talk to an ATT Blackberry Tech Support rep or an CSR and see how that's happening. I had that problem with Fido one (my previous carrier) which they knew nothing about, so I told them what they were doing is illegal (stealing money from a subscriber while on contact)

I use WiFi a lot, and when I tried to sign up for a pay per use data plan, the Telus rep. told me point blank that it was a waste of money. He knew from experience that I'd be billed for 3G data while I was sitting in front of my working WiFi router. Apparently, it's a bug in the BB WiFi software, and as long as they sell their services thru the phone companies, there isn't much incentive to fix it.