InFluential_Magazine_May_June_2017

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individual usage of specific apps,
right from the Settings menu on your
phone. You can choose to receive
usage alert notifications from your
carrier, either by text or email. These are
helpful reminders that are triggered
when you’ve used certain percentages
of your monthly allotment of data. It
helps to eliminate surprises and avoid
running over your plan.
Unlimited Has Its Limits
Regardless of how closely you track
it, your data needs can fluctuate
wildly from month to month. This is
often due more to life events than
technology; you might be in more
places with Wi-Fi access one month
versus the next. As a result, some cellular
companies will push you to sign
up for plans with a higher data cap,
including expensive “unlimited” plans.
Like an all-you-can-eat buffet,
most “unlimited” plans are more
enticing than practical. In fact, some
carriers promising “unlimited data”
will actually limit your high-speed
data to just a couple of gigabytes
per month. Once you use up that
allotment, you’ll have unlimited
access, but it’s at much slower
speeds. This makes it more difficult
to load pages quickly, or to stream
video, even though you’re paying a
premium for “unlimited” access.
The Choice
is Always Yours
Cellular competition is fierce, so
make sure you get what you pay for.
Before you buy an unlimited plan,
shop around. You may very well find
a less costly plan that offers far more
data than you’re likely to use.
Ultimately, your choice will be
driven by the type of data user
you are, or at least the one you
plan to be. Invest time in a little
analysis of your current habits.
You’ll come away with the
information you need to find the
plan that fits both your needs
and your budget. (BPT) l
MAY / JUNE 2017
FLUENTIAL
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