iPhone: Mystery Data Usage & FCC Complaints
For now, the important thing about the iPhone and I think any smartphone is that there's an awful lot that we don't know.
If you've ever been to the Hawaiian Islands, then you've probably seen plantation signs that read "KAPU--violators will be prosecuted." For those of you that have ever participated on Apple discussion forums you may have read their TOS and the warning is similar. While you may end up in jail for trespassing in Hawaii, you may get booted or even banned from Apple forums for discussing anything that bruises Apple. Some former posters elected to "rant and rave" against Apple for not resolving the iPhone Phantom Data Usage. A few posters even brought up possible "Class Action lawsuits against Apple and AT&T" and these posts were promptly removed, with offending posters receiving warnings from Apple moderators, but the email notice with their comments still landed in my Inbox.
Because Apple and AT&T haven't been forthcoming about the issues of the iPhone and billing of data usage, you can reasonably expect some backlash. AT&T won't comment on individual FCC cases or complaints that they have received but the good news is that individuals that lodged them will.
For now, the important thing about the iPhone and I think any smartphone is that there's an awful lot that we don't know. So for those wondering about the issues, I've attempted to assemble an update.
* The iPhone OS 4.2 fixed 40+ security and other issues. Several users report since downloading the update that their logged data usage closely matches what AT&T reports and bills. There is a reporting/billing lag from when users see billed data usage. These same users are using DataMan (an app to geo-track data usage) and report that DataMan and AT&T reports are very close.
* The bad news is the OS 4.2.1 updates only apply to iPhone models 3G, 3GS and 4 iPhones. Older iPhone users are seemingly forced to forklift.
The other bad news is iPhone users still don't know what data usage if any is being used by the apps and charged against their accounts--this seems to be another bone of contention.
* A WSJ Investigation finds that iPhone and Android apps are breaching the privacy of smartphone users: Your Apps Are Watching You, and this is something else that users commented as "adds insult to the injury especially if we have to pay for the data costs."
* AT&T was recently named America's Worst Wireless Carrier
* Apple provides How to opt out of interest-based ads from the iAd network but does not provide specifics on App and iPhone behaviors--meaning when do the Apps or iPhone rack up data usage users pay for? Just bump your iPhone in your pocket to find out! The direct OPT Out link is here: (iPhone OS 4 users only) But note what a user discovered about this process: "Opting out of iAds opts you out of the targeted ads. Unfortunately it doesn't opt you out of the data collection or the data's transmission to Apple. You just won't see the ads --you'll see generic ones instead."
* Apple’s iPhone utility has an upgrade to 3.2, and click here for Apple iPhone Enterprise Support.
