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iOS 9 'Wi-Fi Assist' Could Lead To Huge Wireless Bills

Posted by Soulskill on from the it-just-works-for-the-carriers dept.

Dave Knott writes: One of the new features introduced in iOS9 is "Wi-Fi Assist." This enables your phone to automatically switch from Wi-Fi to a cellular connection when the Wi-Fi signal is poor. That's helpful if you're in the middle of watching a video or some other task on the internet that you don't want interrupted by spotty Wi-Fi service. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi Assist is enabled by default, which means that users may exceed their data cap without knowing it because their phone is silently switching their data connection from Wi-Fi to cellular.

2 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, it's never a surprise by bughunter · · Score: 5, Informative

    users may exceed their data cap without knowing it

    That never happens without knowing it on Verizon. I get texts and emails when I reach 75%, 90%, 100% and then at each GB over the limit.

    I have a teenage son. I get a lot of these notices.

    --
    I can see the fnords!
  2. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I find it useful to disable apps like Netflix from using the cellular network. Settings > Cellular, toggle it off.