{"id":1489,"date":"2017-07-17T11:45:30","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T11:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/clockworkapp.co.za\/?p=1489"},"modified":"2017-07-17T11:45:30","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T11:45:30","slug":"save-data-costs-datamustfall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clockworkapp.co.za\/save-data-costs-datamustfall\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Save on Data Costs #DataMustFall"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Africans are upgrading mobile devices from feature phones (think Nokia 3310\u2019s) to data-hungry smartphones at an unprecedented rate. In fact, 84% of South Africans access the internet from their phone according to a\u00a0Fin24 article<\/a>. This has caused absolute outrage from consumers as the data providers (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C etc.) have failed to deal with the demand for data. As a result, their pricing model is cockeyed to put it politely\u2026<\/p>\n A study done by Tariffic showed that South Africa was consistently the second most expensive country for data packages (behind Brazil), no matter if bought in bulk or not.<\/p>\n This is what caused Social Media phenomenon #DataMustFall & #SocialMediaBlackOut<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Until the data providers manage to reduce their data pricing to something normal here are some tips:<\/p>\n Apps chow data guys, and sneakily too! Those snapchats are just auto-refreshing without you even knowing. Make sure all the apps you have in your collection are actually used regularly. If not\u2026Delete!<\/p>\n As we said, apps eat & deplete data in the background. For those essential apps you need to keep you should reduce the frequency they search for new content. Follow these guides if you want to learn how:<\/p>\n Android \u2013\u00a0Restricting Data Consumption for Android Smartphones<\/a><\/p>\n iOS \u2013\u00a0Restricting Data Consumption for iPhones<\/a><\/p>\n Wifi assist is when your smartphone automatically uses cellular data in a wifi zone to help the wifi if the connection cuts. This happens so often, and without you even noticing. In addition, imagine the bill you\u2019ll receive if you were streaming a movie at home on your tablet and then your wifi cuts.<\/p>\n On Android it is called auto network switch, or smart network switch. To turn it off, go to Settings, wi-fi, Options, Advanced, then Smart network switch or Auto network switch.<\/p>\n On Apple iOS 9 devices, the feature is called wi-fi Assist and it\u2019s switched on by default. To disable it go to Settings, Cellular, then wi-fi Assist.<\/p>\n No, this is not a scam. It actually exists in South Africa.<\/p>\n There are some sites you can browse from your phone for free, even while you are not in a wifi zone! Here\u2019s how, depending on your provider:<\/p>\n For Cell C customers there are a host of sites they offer for you to browse using Free Basics. This includes\u00a0Facebook.com<\/a>,\u00a0Supersport.co.za<\/a>, News24, Health24 and of course some job hunting sites like\u00a0Careers24<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Gumtree<\/a>. All you have to do is turn on cellular data and visit freebasics.com.<\/p>\n For Vodacom customers, especially if you are a jobseeker you can browse up to 8 career websites. All you have to do is visit\u00a0Vodacom\u2019s website<\/a>\u00a0and click on the portals picture to visit their site for free.<\/p>\n\n
REDUCE YOUR APP COLLECTION<\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 2. CHANGE YOUR APP SETTINGS<\/h2>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a03. TURN OFF WIFI ASSIST<\/h2>\n
4. USE SITES WHICH ARE FREE FROM DATA CHARGES<\/h2>\n
CELL C<\/h4>\n
VODACOM<\/h4>\n
MTN<\/h4>\n