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Sleeping iPhones Send Phantom Data

Posted by kdawson on from the chatting-amongst-themselves dept.

Stoobalou writes with a story that got started earlier this month when iPhone users in the US and the UK noticed that their phones seemed to be sending large data bursts via 3G overnight. (Providers are ending unlimited contracts, so iPhone users are paying more attention to how much data they are using.) The discussions began on MacOSRumors and an Apple discussion forum. Thinq.co.uk makes this guess as to what is going on, but doesn't offer much in the way of substantiation: "The simple fact of the matter is — as far as we can tell — that the iPhone's push notifications and other small transfers of data are totted up throughout the day and the total for all of those notifications is added up after dark and sent to your airtime provider while your phone is sleeping. If these tiny amounts of data were individually listed your bill would probably be the size of a telephone directory. The reason it is using the 3G network rather than Wi-Fi is that all iPhones up to and including the 3Gs turn off Wi-Fi push functionality while the phone is in sleep mode, in order to preserve battery life. The iPhone 4, incidentally, has better power management so will not need to do this."

9 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    iPhones are dreaming!

    1. Re:OMG by crakbone · · Score: 5, Funny

      But are they dreaming of Androids or Android Sheep?

    2. Re:OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Regular Sheep. aka. iPhone users.

      Go on mod me a troll apple-fanboys, I just posted as AC.

  2. With apologies to Philip K. Dick by Pojut · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do iPhones dream of non-walled Androids?

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:With apologies to Philip K. Dick by RivenAleem · · Score: 4, Funny

      After spending the entire day being stroked , sometimes two fingers at a time, I bet they have some VERY raunchy dreams. Well at least they would if porn wasn't disabled on them.

    2. Re:With apologies to Philip K. Dick by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I will never look at the zoom in gesture the same way again.

  3. Re:Who cares about 3G usage? by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    What the hell is it sending?

    Asking such questions is silly. It will only make things harder. Just accept the word of Father Steve and relax. You'll find things are much nicer when you accept this. I did, and I'm happy all the time now.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  4. Not a problem by microcars · · Score: 2, Funny

    for me as I don't get a good 3G signal at my house!
    Go AT&T!

    --
    I like microcars
  5. Re:Terrible headline by ArsonSmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    HEY!!! you almost tricked me into taking it off!!! You're one of "THEM" aren't you?

    --
    Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.