Reader Dan just dropped us a tip that Vodafone seem to be hitting customers who use their unlocked iPhone’s Wi-Fi with GPRS data charges:
Just spent ages on the phone to Vodafone because I thought by bill was too high ($88 data over my $500 credit limit on $79 cap). After much too-and-fro and them being adamant that the bill was correct i asked for the supervisor because i wanted them to reduce my data charges. I was also convinced that I had never used gprs for between 45-90 mins, let alone 15 times in a month.The operator then came back and said “what phone are you using?”. I told her iPhone and she followed up with “do you use wifi at home?”. I said yes and straight up she said “ok i’m going to credit you back $88″. I was stunned and asked why and she said she had spoken to data services and apparently the iPhone using Wi-Fi is recognised as using gprs by their network. I asked if this was a recognised issue that other users have experienced, and she dodged the question. I asked if other iphone owners had reported the same problem, and she replied that “she had no information on the iphone”.
Their answer to the problem was to disable gprs on my account. I said I’ll work it out myself and if i want it disabled i’ll call back.Back to switching ‘edge’ on and off with BossPrefs.
I’ve put the question through to Vodafone as to whether this is an isolated occurrence or an ongoing problem for unlocked iPhones on Vodafone, but has anybody else out there experienced this? And is there anybody out there who can explain how this could even happen? I would imagine that Vodafone wouldn’t have a clue when the iPhone connected to Wi-Fi, but I’m not one of engineering types…
Johnr
June 6, 2008 at 1:37 PM
I work for Vodafone NZ and we have had Vodafone NZ customers complain of this the issue is the way the handset is unlocked. The handset is accessing the packet data network (GPRS). This is not fault of Vodafone AU. The handset starts a data session every so often like the handset is contacting a server. The charges are nothing to do with using WIFI.
Report PermalinkMindscript
June 6, 2008 at 1:42 PM
I had same issue…got refunded 50 bucks
Report PermalinkSPETER
June 6, 2008 at 5:14 PM
same thing happens with my htc touch, whenever i go on wifi it starts trying to connect to GPRS, which doesnt matter as i am with virgin prepay and they dont allow data usage for browsing so all the gprs is essentially free anyway.
also they used to let me get online years ago with my p800 as their system has a loophole and i was surfing free, i even called them up to query and they told me it wasn’t possible, but i was certainly on the web albeit slowish..
Report PermalinkDan
June 6, 2008 at 5:26 PM
JOHNR – This would make sense if there was only short GPRS connections, but there were many long sessions, including 15 in a month from 45-90 mins. Is the iPhone constantly accessing Wi-Fi and GPRS simultaneously, even once the Wi-Fi connection has been established?
Report PermalinkKevin Nugent
June 6, 2008 at 5:35 PM
hmmm….must check my recent bills. :)
Report PermalinkJJ
June 6, 2008 at 8:31 PM
calm down TITLE
that’s the pretty damn common issue of iphone
Report Permalinknot VODAFONE!
Blitz
June 6, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Same issue a few months ago. I got refunded $250 lol. (they had me using GPRS for 36hrs once…)
now i just use the APN as vfinternet.a and just add the u when i need to
Report PermalinkDan
June 7, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I guess they would want this sorted before they officially support the iPhone … in a few days possibly!
Report PermalinkTristan
June 8, 2008 at 7:04 PM
AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!! This is SOOO frustrating, when I first got my iPhone I was charged about $500 for my first two bills! I argued till I was blue in the face, but it didn’t help, they just kept asking me who else had access to the phone!
Report PermalinkRusty
June 9, 2008 at 2:14 AM
I had that problem with a Telstra PDA i got a bil from vodafone that was $5509AUD i was shocked i rang them and told them what happened and they still would not do anything. I paid them the $5509 and got rid of vodafone. So when the iPhone comes i will not be going with them
Report PermalinkHughy Cash
June 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM
I run wifi all the time and i have definately noticed my $79.00 Cap runs out about every two weeks???? is it possible that they are charging data to my prepaid cap. Ive never gone through credit this fast, until i bought my iphone
Report Permalinknudel
June 17, 2008 at 9:48 PM
I noticed the same thing when I first got my iPhone last October. I just disable the GPRS (BossTools is great) unless I specifically want to use it – which is rarely (although I imagine that will change with the 3G…) Great to hear some commenters above got a refund – I might try to knock them up too now! ;)
Report PermalinkMobile
June 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM
I never noticed anything in my bills
Report Permalinkbirco
July 6, 2009 at 5:36 PM
I have just recently come on holiday to Australia and have noticed the same thing, I am being charged for data even though I’m connected to wi-fi. I didn’t experience this issue on New Zealand Vodafone but it is happening on Vodafone over here. Does anyone have a resolution to this problem? I’m using edge on the original iphone. I also cant find the option to specify my APN but I know I had this option while I was in New Zealand. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Report PermalinkPhil
October 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Hi this is an iPhone issue not the operators. My payasyougo data plan on o2 expired and I experienced the same issue. My iPhone is not jailbroken, software version 3.1. You would expect it to check wifi before operator network usage but it doesn’t. Design or fault ? Only apple can say
Report PermalinkJoanna D.
October 28, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Hi all
I’m facing the same issue and the funniest thing of all is that the GPRS settings were never specified on my phone! So how could it establish a connection? I never use GPRS only wi-fi. Is there any possibility that the phone establishes a connection somewhere in the background without being notified? This issue got me so confused… :S
I’m still fighting over this with my operator. They are giving me stupid answers every time of the type: “The iphone comes from the factory with all the necessary settings so that it can connect to the internet and run its updates”!!!
Pls, any help would be greatly appreciated!
Report PermalinkThanks!
Joanna