Internet on your mobile phone

Mobile phones that allow you to access the internet are everywhere. These devices, sometimes called ‘smart phones’, put features such as email, social networking, shopping and downloading programs in the palm of your hand.

Before you jump into owning one of these great devices, there a few things to think about that could prevent you being hit with a very high bill you didn’t expect.

Know your limit

Smart phone contracts usually include a monthly data allowance measured in megabytes (Mb) or gigabytes (Gb). Some companies also give you the option of paying an extra fee each month to increase your allowance.

Before you sign up for a mobile internet service, it’s important to check with the internet provider what happens if you use up your allowance.

Many providers charge you for any extra data you download or upload, which can quickly add up. For instance, if any data you use over your limit costs $2.00 per megabyte, downloading a single 4 Mb song could cost you $8.00.

Make sure the provider offers you a way to easily check how much of your allowance you have used. Also check that they will alert you if you get close to your limit.

How much data do I need?

The amount of data you need depends on how you want to use your phone.

Some types of files or features use more data than others. These include:

• browsing web pages with a lot of video content or animations, even if you don’t download anything
• downloading music, photos and applications
• streaming video (such as Youtube)
• uploading—some internet plans count uploading files towards your total data use. This includes putting photos and videos on social networking sites.

If you want to regularly use your phone for these activities, a larger data allowance may suit you better.

If you mainly browse the web and send text emails, a smaller allowance may be enough.

Mobile internet—how fast is it?

Internet companies sometimes claim their services have a ‘peak speed’ or ‘maximum speed’, or that you’ll receive ‘up to’ a certain speed—for example, ‘speeds of up to 5 Mbps' (megabits per second).

The actual speed you experience will change at different times. This is because a number of things affect the speed you get, including your distance from the nearest phone tower and how many other people are using the network.

Where can you use mobile internet? 

Mobile internet uses the mobile phone network.

If you need coverage in a particular place, especially a rural or regional area, you should check with the phone company that their network covers it.

Roaming

Some companies allow you to connect to the internet networks outside their own coverage areas by using other carriers’ networks. This is called ‘roaming’. Data you use while roaming is usually charged on top of any data plan you have and may be expensive. Your phone’s display should show when you are roaming.