How in the world does Verizon determine the amount of data a customer uses?

[anon(8215685)]

After almost three years of using a flip phone, my first cell phone, I upgraded to a smartphone last month. I have 2 GB/month for data. I 've mainly used Wi-Fi in an effort to conserve data usage as I'm not yet familiar with the amount of data used for common smartphone tasks/apps. I did use my mobile data, and monitored how much I used via my smartphone, the My Verizon Mobile app, and by logging into My Verizon on Verizon's site. Tonight I logged into My Verizon and noticed my new bill is available, and decided to check it out. The Usage and Purchase Charges, specifically the data portion, do not makes sense and are incorrect.*It says that I used 1 GB of my 2 GB allowance. I know, from monitoring my usage, that I used roughly half a GB. Obviously I didn't incur overage charges, but I need to know how total data usage is determined so I can use my smartphone accordingly so as not to incur overages.

Since I was logged into My Verizon*I decided to see if I could get a breakdown of my data*usage:

• Click on View Bill or View Current Bill
• Click on the Calls, Messages, & Data tab
• Then, under Details for: My (cell) Number, click Data*
• Then click Download to SpreadSheet

The totals listed for billed data usage are 596818.5 Kilobytes (KB), 582.82 Megabytes (MB), and 0.569170562 Gigabytes (GB). As you can see, my total data usage is almost 600 MB or just over half a GB. How does slightly over half a GB turn into 1 GB? Do they round up (500 MB) or something? Can someone explain this to me?How in the world does Verizon determine the amount of data a customer uses? Is there a special type of "math"? Thank you in advance for any help/assistance.*

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you the only person using your line, or are there additional devices on the same line? Obviously, additional devices would incur more data, and your part of the bill would only show the data that you've used.

Have you called Verizon and asked them about this?

 

[srkmagnus]

There are apps available in the Play Store to monitor which apps are using data and how much. You might want to consider one for a billing cycle or two to find out which apps are using data. Note that syncing with Google also consumes data, such as email, updating contacts, calendar, etc. It might be minimal, but over course of a month it can add up.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[BBSeattle]

Are you the only person using your line, or are there additional devices on the same line? Obviously, additional devices would incur more data, and your part of the bill would only show the data that you've used.

Have you called Verizon and asked them about this?

Call VZW customer service, they are usually very helpful.

 

[anon(8215685)]

I initially didn't contact Verizon as I hoped/assumed there would be a simple explanation; and there is. Before I posted the above OP, I posted it in the Verizon Wireless Community and received a response that said Verizon rounds up to the nearest GB. I was in a Verizon store a few hours ago for an unrelated issue and confirmed that they round data usage up to the nearest GB.

There are apps available in the Play Store to monitor which apps are using data and how much. You might want to consider one for a billing cycle or two to find out which apps are using data. Note that syncing with Google also consumes data, such as email, updating contacts, calendar, etc. It might be minimal, but over course of a month it can add up.

I appreciate the info regarding apps that monitor data usage. I searched the Play Store and installed My Data Manager. I'm not overly concerned about data usage, but want to know how Verizon calculates/bills it so I can adjust my usage accordingly. (Obviously….don't go over your data allowance and all will be well.) After seeing my bill, the first after upgrading & adding data, I got a little wound up and started thinking something was wrong/fishy.

You hit on a topic, syncing with Google, that I have a question about. Where does the data that's synced with Google go? I currently have syncing (Settings > Accounts & sync ( as well as Settings > Backup & reset) disabled. I don't feel I need things synced on a daily basis and prefer to do it manually. So where's my synced data located? How would I access it if I needed to restore it?

Thanks for replying guys, much appreciated.

 

[B. Diddy]

That's weird, because Verizon reports my data usage in GB to 3 decimal points (essentially as MB)--I've never seen it rounded to the nearest GB.

If you sync your Google apps to your Google account, it's just going to your account in the Google servers.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[anon(8215685)]

That is weird. You'd think it would be universal for all customers. Maybe it's a difference in plans. I have an old, is no longer offered/doesn't exist, Nationwide Talk 450 plan and a 2 GB data plan. Sounds to me like it's a way for Verizon to make more money off (some) of it's customers. If I go over 2 GB per month, let's say 10 MB, then they'll round it up to 3 GB used and charge me $10. (It says $10 per GB after allowance on my bill.) I guess it's better than the data portion of my Nationwide plan, before I added the 2 GB plan. It was $1.99 per MB. Maybe it's a big pain it the rear for them, but I think they should not round up, and just charge a flat rate for every _____ MB over your allowance. Oh well….just stay within your allowance and all will be well.

:-[:-[:-[ Thanks for the info regarding syncing with Google. I'm almost embarrassed to admit….but I'd assumed my data was being backed up in case I needed it to restore data lost on my phone. The thought hadn't occurred to me that the data was being synced with my Google account (Gmail, Google+, etc…..One account. All of Google.) Thanks!