Data Usage

[Ardua]

Very pleased with my new Blackberry 9700. As Simon indicated, setting up IdNet e-mail (and home wifi) was a breeze. My only concern is best how do I monitor 3G data usage as 'My Account' with Orange shows only minutes and texts. How do other smartphone owners do it, and should I be overly concerned about Orange's 500 Mb monthly limit?

[Simon]

I have a BlackBerry bolt on with O2, which offers unlimited data for £7.99 per month.  Do Orange do something similar?  I think you'd be better off with something like that, than having to continually monitor your usage.  The BlackBerry will be connected all the time to the 3G data service, so as to receive push emails.

[Simon]

According to the Orange website, BlackBerry can be added to any pay monthly plan, with unlimited push email and a 500MB monthly data bundle for an extra £5 a month.

[Ardua]

I have BIS included in my package for free: it includes a 500Mb allowance and quote free emails unquote. My question is 'is the 500Mb allowance enough'. I am not into video streaming on a phone. I am keen to load a few business apps but I do not want to be hit for excess usage charges. Other forums suggest that BIS uses compressed data. I confess that this all new to me.

[Steve]

I would think 500MB is a significant amount of data allowance per month for a Blackberry providing you don't stream video.

[Ardua]

Thanks.

[Lance]

I agree.

If you do want to keep track, is there a data counter on the device at all?

[Simon]

I would agree too.  I download apps all the time, and most of them are only a few hundred Kb.  As has been said, as long as you're not streaming video, you shouldn't touch your limit.

[Ardua]

I just wish that Orange would show data usage in 'My Account'.  I am still getting to grips with my new toy but I don't think it has a data log. Happy to be proved wrong.

[Simon]

I've not found one either, but I don't need to check it.