UPDATE: It’s 2022 and I now have a Pixel 6 Pro with Android version 13. Technology moves at the speed of light, and TechyMike will keep up as much a possible.
Enjoy this golden oldie blog entry. 🙂
I cannot afford unlimited data. Remember: Starving blogger.
My two year smartphone contract with AT&T recently passed on my old Android HTC phone, so Lori and I went to Best Buy to get a new smartphone (hopefully one with front and back cameras that I can test video conferencing apps).
What I got was an amazingly great phone from Motorola. An Atrix 2 running Android 2.3.6 (after it upgraded on me). I LOVE IT!!!! BUT…..the data usage was through the roof! In only a few days, I had racked up 30 Meg of data usage….shit. And I could not figure out how to turn mobile data off…..arrrrghhh (the old version of the Android OS was easy…..but, this new version sucks (I think this is on purpose so the carriers can make more money).
Well here is what I found out after days of searching, trying, and almost getting to the point of getting an iPhone. 😉
My Old Android Phone
First, the old version of Android was easy to turn OFF mobile data.
Long hold the power button and you see this screen:
Just hit the “Mobile Network” screen option to turn it OFF. Now the only time you use data is when you are at a WiFi site.
The NEW Android Versions (2.3 and above?)
I had a hard time finding this.
My Google searches were useless (dealing mostly with battery life which I don’t give a damn about), and not really getting to the point, which is: I need to turn OFF mobile data on a new Android OS phone.
I can’t believe I am still the only one who pushes the envelope on all kinds of stuff…..I am 60 years old for crying out loud…where is the curiosity in you young folk???
Anyway…..here is how you turn off “mobile data” with these new fangled Android phones. Mine happens to be Android 2.3.6 running on my really cool Motorola Atrix 2 smartphone. Yes..I looooove my Atrix 2….it is AWESOME!!! (Did I say that already?) 🙂
Go into your “Settings” menu and you see something like this:
Why battery and data management are in the same menu option is beyond me….but, hey software people have minds of their own….
Click on the “Battery & data manager” option and you will see:
Data Delivery Options….click on that and you will see….
Data enabled with it CHECKED as a default……carrier greed.
Note to Software Developers: This SHOULD be UNCHECKED as a default.
Un-check that, and let the corporations know you care about saving money.
NOW you will not be using data unless you are near a WiFi…..which is free.
More Geek stuff…..
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