new Samsung Galaxy mini S4 - some queries!

[CocktailQueen]

Help! We've just bought dd the above phone. Her package has unlimited texts, 500MB of data per month, and 600 minutes of call time.

I have downloaded an app to keep track of her data limits, and have some queries.

She's been charged to receive (or possibly send) some MMSs. How can she avoid this? Is it emojis or photos that make messages into MMSs?

How much data/how much time does it take to use up 500MB? She uses texting, youtube, internet a bit but mainly texting.

Also, when she's at home I've been making sure she's connecting to our Sky wifi instead - that means that she doesn't use any of her allowance, doesn't it?

Thanks!!

If she avoids streaming video or music, and maybe doesn't spend hours on instagram etc, when not on wifi the 500MB of data should be OK. If you stream music or video that disappears very rapidly.

DD used her entire 500MB data allowance in less than a week when we were at a festival with no wifi; I have the same allowance and have only once or twice exceeded it, despite using FB/MN/twitter/email while out and about - but I don't use YouTube. Texting doesn't use the data allowance.

Thanks. She doesn't use video or music - or uses her laptop on wifi for those.

When I say video I include youtube - DD is a devotee of lots of youtubers, and I think that plus image-heavy instagram feeds are what eat up her data allowance.

Ah, sorry, of course YouTube is video.

The charges for MMS will be because she's using smilies or emoticons. The only ones she can use for free are the Samsung standard ones. Preds the button at the bottom on the lefthand side and use Insert Smiley for free ones - it's a huge con.

*Press
Photos will also charge - teach her to email them or use an app over wifi

Gah, that must be what it is. Thanks for the tip re the free emojis. She does love them - and so do her friends!!!

A long text will convert to mms as well, it will flash up as you are typing.

500mb is nothing for the average data hungry teen...... For your sake I hope it's a capped contract!

Lottie - when she's at home she uses wifi so it's only on the bus mon to friday plus 10 mins at lunch. Have put limits on her phone to get alerts when she's used a certain amount. Thanks.

I hope it's capped as well. Ive gone through 2gb of data in 5 days on my phone before and that wasn't watching videos or downloading stuff.

I'm with ee and when I reach my data limit it just stops working and gives me the option to buy more data or just not be able to use the Internet u til the next month.

Ooh. Wil double check.

Called Vodafone today and they said she's on an unlimited data drive for the first two months of her contract - which we didn't know! So that's good. But yes, will make sure we have switched the phone to stop working after her allowance is done!!

It's a minefield, this phone thing.

Definitely cap it. I use WiFi at every opportunity but used 2gb of data just on a tiny bit of fb and messenger this month. It goes very fast. Make sure mobile data is turned off at all times. She needs the habit of turning it on to use then off again every time. Make sure emails only update when she goes into them rather than having them arrive automatically.

Download WhatsApp as can message with photos /emojis etc for free

today how are you using all that for what you say? I use 2gb a month and my mobile use is quite heavy.

Have you turned all the permissions off in all apps to wifi only? Some apps leech your data when they feel like it.