What services/processes can be shut off to save GB usage? (3G, Verizon) - - City-Data Forum

mawipafl · 08-04-2012, 08:52 AM

We recently upgraded our phone (we have Verizon) and automatically our grandfathered plan of unlimited data went away. However, in just 1/2 month the smartphone has reached 90% of our 2GB limit! In fact, in one day's time it went from 75% used (i.e. 1.5GB) to 90% used (1.8GB). We're changing our plan to increase the GBs, but my question is, what the heck is the phone doing on its own while someone is sleeping??!!??

Processes/services running are ScreenshotUX, Scribble!, SyncService, HTC Location Service, Google Services, HtcDm. Shutting these services off would make a smartphone "dumb", but could they really be chewing up all those data bytes even if someone isn't checking email or facebook or what-have-you?

Malloric · 08-04-2012, 10:58 AM

If you have ICS, you can see how much data is being used by each app. NetCounter or 3G watchdog will do a similar thing. I've never used them though since I was unlimited until I switched to 4G and ICS. 300 MB isn't exactly a lot of data, streaming video would eat through that very quick. Spotify on medium quality will use 70-80 MB of data an hour, Pandora bit less than that. I like to work with music, so couple hours used driving and then if I'm out of the office doing paper work there's more. Spotify has offline mode, however, so I'm not consuming nearly that much.

kazyn · 08-04-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawipafl

but could they really be chewing up all those data bytes even if someone isn't checking email or facebook or what-have-you?

Not really, unless they were not working properly.

I have ICS on my phone and I have to really try to hit 2gb/mo (even with tethering here and there). I'm on my phone a lot, I take the bus 3 hours a day and I use it for work. I would do what Malloric suggested and get an app to monitor traffic.

Peregrine · 08-06-2012, 07:37 AM

3rd that.
With minimal use it is hard to use 2GB.
I use Slacker Radio every day for my 15 minute commute each way and I rarely hit 1 GB a month.
I know that's a short commute but as a point of reference...

KodeBlue · 08-06-2012, 09:30 PM

You can just switch to Sprint and you dont have to worry about data limits.

tpk-nyc · 08-07-2012, 08:15 AM

Do you have wifi at home? Connecting that way would eliminate data usage that your "phone [is] doing on its own while someone is sleeping." I mention this because some people forget, or don't know how, to turn on wifi.

You could also turn off any push notifications.

Willsson · 08-07-2012, 08:29 AM

I turned off 'Network' a year ago. Then I installed '3G WatchDog' (Free - not Pro) to make sure I wasn't using Network. I do use WiFi anywhere possible - home, grocery, HomeDepot, WalMart. And turn off Sync... well, without Network you won't be doing any sync. And now I keep the WiFi turned off unless I have a reason to use it. Save a couple of days on battery.

Should you want to Sync, or use the Network it'd be simple to turn back on. All depends on how you want to use the phone. You'll still get messages and phone calls. Those are phone services. Everything else is data. WiFi and Network are data. WiFi doesn't count against your data limit - Network does. Use your controls to regulate that use. It would make your 'smartphone' a dumb phone only a part of the time. But would make you the master of the device.

Singlelady10 · 08-07-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KodeBlue

You can just switch to Sprint and you dont have to worry about data limits.

Do you use the LTE? If not, I don't see how it matters because Sprint has the slowest data. I've had Verizon and AT&T. I just switched to Sprint a month ago. It's unlimited but given how slow it is, I rather have a faster, 2 GB plan. I bought the EVO LTE, so hopefully they get LTE in my area soon because if not, I'm canceling.

Danknee · 08-07-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singlelady10

Do you use the LTE? If not, I don't see how it matters because Sprint has the slowest data. I've had Verizon and AT&T. I just switched to Sprint a month ago. It's unlimited but given how slow it is, I rather have a faster, 2 GB plan. I bought the EVO LTE, so hopefully they get LTE in my area soon because if not, I'm canceling.

Sprint's 3G in my area is generally the same or faster than Verizon and AT&T. I'm sure your experience is largely based on the towers and service in your city.

K-Luv · 08-08-2012, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawipafl

Processes/services running are ScreenshotUX, Scribble!, SyncService, HTC Location Service, Google Services, HtcDm. Shutting these services off would make a smartphone "dumb", but could they really be chewing up all those data bytes even if someone isn't checking email or facebook or what-have-you?

If this is your idea of what makes a smart phone smart....then I dunno what to tell you. This is all basic stuff that "dumb" phones do.

My guess would be the HTCDM, which is the download manager. It is used to download and update/upgrade widgets and apps that came with the phone. It is bloatware essentially and absolutely not needed. So you can dumb down your phone and see if it helps save on data usage.

SyncService could be shut off, too, since all it does is sync your Google accounts. Seeing as how you do not check email and what-have-you, shut it off. It'll prolong battery life at the least.