The theories about this early morning data traffic from users, Apple and AT&T just don't add up. Maybe someone will step up to the plate and make this right.

In my last post, iPhone: Reconciling the Data Usage, I didn’t mention some other users having the same issue. The Apple support discussions have been actively tossing around ideas about the data usage issue since June and after having read 53 pages of other users' findings, trials, tests and interactions with AT&T and Apple support, I found some revealing information about iPhones with unaccounted early morning data usage.

Users report having spoken with both technical support teams--AT&T and Apple. Both teams have suggested to the users that it's the other guy's problem. Speculation is that the AT&T billing system queues up data usages and tosses it over the fence from the iPhone to AT&T at wee hours of the morning. Users have tested this theory by changing settings, turning off certain features, and still get charged for data that they insist they did not use. Another theory cites the apps being the culprit, having been the source for updating the iPhone; but as the users including myself pointed out--the data usage on the bill reports is for "outgoing."

Since Apple iPhone users have recently brandished a nickname (not for print) in the user circles, it's interesting to read about this issue, and since AT&T changed its rate plans for newer phones, my old 2G model still gets unlimited data usage for the same monthly price. Thus far, what I can extract from the complaints is that no one using any model of iPhone has an accurate picture of their data usage and many suspect that the system and/or software is defective. What adds fuel to the fire is that international iPhone users have posted to the above thread and their carriers are not AT&T, and they too are having data usage accuracy issues.

One user suggestion is to "reset warnings" by docking the iPhone and right-clicking and selecting reset warnings and then "synch" the iPhone again. Next, a message pop up will ask if you want to participate in Apple's improvement process for the iPhone, and that Apple collects data for these purposes--select "No Thanks." Now some users have reported a decrease in data usage; but the only time it matters is for users on limited data plans, because they are subject to overages--and still, the early morning outgoing only data traffic doesn't disappear.

After five months of user postings, this user community comes to the same conclusion several times and that is it's a billing problem with AT&T and/or a software issue with Apple. How would you like to be in the middle of this mess? Recently, a user updated the posts with this news:

The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday it is conducting an industry-wide investigation into cell phone billing practices amid complaints by customers of Verizon Wireless and other carriers of unwanted data charges.

The agency's 10-month-long investigation, which it previously said was focused on Verizon, could subject other carriers to penalties if the FCC finds those firms charged "mystery fees" that violate its "truth and billing" guidelines. The agency didn't disclose the names of other carriers that are being probed. An AT&T spokeswoman wrote in an e-mail that the company is unaware of an investigation into its practices. A Sprint Nextel spokesman said the company doesn't generally comment on investigative matters at the FCC.

The investigation comes amid an effort by the FCC to step up its protection of consumers who are increasingly complaining of baffling charges on their cell phone and broadband Internet bills.

To read about the phantom data usage on iPhones using AT&T's network go here. To file a complaint with the FCC about phantom data usage, go here. Whether or not there's a problem doesn't matter any longer--because when folks lose confidence in a billing system you can bet that the system will come under scrutiny. The theories about this early morning data traffic from users, Apple and AT&T just don't add up. Maybe someone will step up to the plate and make this right.