Maybe, it definitely helps in areas where service is weak or absent, searching for signals runs the battery down. Sending and receiving data uses power any time.
Turning off data doesn't turn off the cell antenna you can still have basic cell phone and text..
BlackBerry says the antennas are very power efficient when not id use though.
The searching problem is for cell service and data. turn mobile off entirely if there if no service to save your battery. (or turn the phone off)
Well switching to 2G/EDGE isn't really a choice for me.
For my purpose, I just want to switch data service on and start to browse fast.
But sometimes i have other things to do, so i don't mind about facebook posts, mails, etc. and therefore
don't need to stay online all the time.
Problem is: For example at home, i just have EDGE and even if i turn off data service it seems to search for hsdpa. So does disabeling data service really save battery? And does enabeling data service really drain my battery more, than just the cell phone connection? (btw.: yes, i do know that checking mails, weather, etc is touching the battery when receiving / sending data...)
It's won't search for HSPA if you set it to 2G only
You can still post to Facebook, mail, and do all that stuff on EDGE/2G. Or you could report to the carrier that you have insufficient coverage where you are.
Even when you turn off data services, your device still searches for the better choice. Only EDGE? Set to 2G/3G? It will keep looking for 3G to let go 2G. Only 2G/3G? Set to 2G/3G/4G? It will keep looking for 4G and better 3G. That's how all phones work.