International Travelers Beware: iPhone 4S is a Real Gas Guzzler When it Comes to Data

If you plan to travel abroad this year with your iPhone 4S, make sure you have a clear idea of how much it will cost you in terms of data.

A new study released this past week by mobile network monitoring firm Arieso reveals that the iPhone 4S commands twice as much data as the iPhone 4 and three times the data of the iPhone 3G. The increase is nourished by things like Siri, higher resolution photos and video, and more advanced apps which pull more data.

What this means for travelers is that, now, more than ever, it is best to connect using Wi-Fi whenever possible. Secondly, it is really important to be aware of data usage and data plan limitations during your trip. International data packages vary, so check with your mobile provider prior to departure to select a plan that best fits your needs.

To monitor your data usage, be sure to do the following before boarding your international flight (or any other mode of transport):

Reset the iPhone Usage Tracker to zero by going to Settings>General>Usage>Reset. This makes it very easy to periodically check your data usage.
Turn off Data Roaming on your iPhone by going to Settings>General>Network>Data Roaming, then turn OFF Data Roaming. Only turn this on when you want to connect for data and be sure to turn it back off the moment you are finished.

Have you ever run up a big phone bill on your travels? Do you have any money saving tips?

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