A Guide To Cutting Down On Data Costs
Harley Dixon For many people around the world, having access to a high speed internet connection comes with an extreme asking price. Most developed countries offer their citizens fast broadband for relatively low prices, for in regions like India and Africa, much of the infrastructure required for cheap internet has not been implemented yet.
This means that for many people, it can be fairly expensive to enjoy what the online world has to offer, while also keeping an eye on every single byte that goes through their device.
Fortunately, many modern companies like Google have taken this into account, and offer a number of different ways of using their services without having to always have access to an expensive internet connection.
This a breakdown of how to use those services while simultaneously saving as much money as possible.
Offline Services
Using certain online services can be fairly data intensive, and end up costing a lot of extra money. One such service is Google Maps, where using its information to get around can easily use up to 100 megabytes in a single setting, which can be costly to those in a developing nation.
Google Maps has an offline feature, however, that allows the user to simply download a large area directly on to their device. While this initial download might seem big at first, it ultimately means it’s not necessary to always be connected to the internet while trying to get around, and can mean serious long term savings.
Turn Off Extras
Modern smartphones come with a number of features that are designed to make our lives as convenient as possible, but this usually comes with a price. Having location data turned on all the time, for example, can use up more data than is necessary, while also draining the device’s battery faster.
Consider only turning on location data when it’s absolutely necessary to save both data and money. Other features, such as geotagging, can also be forfeited easily without the user losing any important functions, and users are still easily able to play their favourite games or enjoy betting on eSports.
Stop Automatic Updates And Backups
Modern Android devices that use Google services are set to automatically update apps as well as any data on the phone in the form of automatic backups. This can be great for the user that has access to unlimited data, but for those who don’t, it can be a costly affair that’s often overlooked.
Automatic app updates are simply not necessary, especially as some apps are updated every night, and depending on the size of the app, can lead to serious data usage. Automatic Google backups are very similar in that they occur quite frequently and use up background data without the user being aware at all.
It’s a fine line between saving money and sheer convenience, and for the most part, many of the automated cloud-related processes that use up battery and data in the background can easily be turned off and ignored without the user losing any of the functionality of their modern device.