Signal Fall 2021 Newsletter

www.alliancecom.net 13 Keep in mind that everything you do on the internet through cellular data on your phone—from getting driving directions to looking up restaurant menus to watch- ing YouTube videos—uses some of your allotted Gigabytes (unless you’re lucky enough to have an unlimited cellular data plan). How much is used depends on the app and the length of activity. When to UseWi-Fi Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to use Wi-Fi on your phone instead of cellular data whenever possible, unless you’re conducting financial transactions and Wi-Fi security is an issue. You’ll know your phone is connected to Wi-Fi if you see the Wi-Fi icon. If you don’t see this icon and you see bars with 3G, 4G, or 5G instead, you’re using cellular data. As mentioned, the main reason for choos- ing Wi-Fi is to avoid paying additional fees for going over your cellular data limit. It’s also typically a faster internet connection than what you get when using cellular data. For these reasons, Wi-Fi is definitely best for data-intensive activities such as Skype calls, watching movies, or downloading music. By connecting viaWi-Fi wherever it’s avail- able, you can save your bundled data for situations where you might not be close to any Wi-Fi hotspots. Another benefit of using Wi-Fi to connect to the internet is that it drains less battery life than using cellular data, especially in situations where the cellular coverage fluctuates. The instructions for connecting to Wi-Fi vary by phone, but usually you just look on one of your main screens for a “Settings” icon and press that. Then in Settings, look for Wi-Fi or Connections. Once you get intoWi-Fi, you should see a list of available connections. If the connection you want is not apparent, you may need to check with someone at the business so you choose the correct one. Also ask whether a password is required to connect. Tips for Managing Cellular Data Usage In your phone settings, typically under “Cellular” or “Data”, you can view data usage by app and turn data on or off for specific apps. You just go down the list and touch the app or the slider to toggle the access on or off. You can always change your settings as needed, but at least you’ll be less likely to have surprise overages. You can even turn your cellular internet off so you can’t use your data unless you specifically turn it back on. It’s also a good idea to check your cellular data usage regularly by going into the cellular settings on your phone or by using your mobile carrier’s system. A more proactive approach is to set limits and/or reminders via email and text when you are running out of data. This gives you a heads-up when you are close to your limit so you can either tailor your usage or add more data for the month. You can do this by going to your mobile carrier’s website, creating an online account, and setting up limits and/or reminders for your data usage.