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It’s expensive to have unlimited mobile data. As much as Filipinos are an internet-loving bunch that would browse anytime, anywhere and even more so during rush hour traffic, it’s just impractical and costly. So it’s best to know how to maximize your data plan, and that includes knowing where your speeds are the highest and knowing how you use most of your data. This will make sure that you don’t get those annoying data fees or worse, get your data throttled.
A TechAsia survey in 2015 showed that mobile data in the Philippines was among the most expensive in the ASEAN region, and Smart released a statement in 2017 that mobile data is now its biggest source of revenue in the mobile services industry. This shows that mobile devices are Filipinos’ most used link to the internet, so the challenge now is how to use mobile data efficiently.
Here are some tips on how to get the most of your mobile data:
Know your online behavior and get the right data plan
Do you like to stream videos or checking out photos and artwork? Are you on social media a lot? Knowing what you like to do when online is important because it can give you an idea on how much data you use on a daily basis, and how much data do apps and websites use. This can help you get the data plan that best suits your browsing preferences so you never run out of data.
Monitor and control your mobile data use
It’s not enough that you know what apps and websites you use frequently. It’s also important to know how much of your data is being spent on these apps and websites, especially if you’re on limited data and a tight budget. Make use of your device’s function that monitors where your data is being used. Learn how to view content without using every bit of data you have. If that means no high-res photos or HD video, so be it. It’s even better if you can view content offline by downloading pages or videos for future viewing. If it doesn’t hamper your browsing experience, why waste data on it?
Know where your mobile data functions fastest
The best way to maximize your data plan is to use it when it’s at its fastest, as well as knowing the ideal places where your mobile data is stable and reliable. With the help of the MySpeedCheck application powered by 4GMark, you’ll have an easy way of checking whether your mobile data is working as intended. A unique function of the app is that it asks users whether they are indoors, outdoors or in transit; the information is used to better test the quality of your mobile data connection in different situations. This gives users a way to compare and check where their mobile data is fastest. The app also does an extensive test on data connection to give users an idea of how well their connection does for different browsing needs while comparing it to the average mobile data speeds in the Philippines, giving users an idea of the quality of their mobile data plan.
With unlimited mobile data still being a relatively pricey service, it’s important to know how to maximize and be efficient in using the limited data you get. By arming yourself with a little knowledge and some restraint, you’ll never have to pay those silly extra data fees and still be able to enjoy the internet at your leisure. JB
You can download the MySpeedCheck (powered by 4GMark) application here and get started on saving and using your mobile data more efficiently.
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