Some Windows Phone 7 users have been reporting strange and excessive amounts of 3G data usage on their phones when the device is not even being used and furthermore is actually near a WiFi access point. One would hope that if WiFi was on and the phone needed network access, it would use the WiFi, but sometimes that’s not always the case.
Microsoft recently issued the following statement to seattlepi.com:
“We have determined that a third-party solution commonly accessed from Windows Phones is configured in a manner that potentially cause larger than expected data downloads. We are in contact with the third party to assist them in making the necessary fixes, and are also pursuing potential workarounds to address the configuration issue in case those are needed. At this point in our investigation, we believe this is responsible for most of the reported incidents.
We are investigating additional potential root causes for the remainder of the reports. A small (low single-digit) percentage of Windows Phone customers have reported being affected. We are continuing to investigate this issue and will update with additional information and guidance as it becomes available.”
Now you would think that if the problem was related to a third-party application, all you would have to do is uninstall that app. Of course, on Windows Phone 7, it is very easy to uninstall any third party application even if it is included by the carrier or manufacturer, but nobody mentioned which app might be the culprit. Heck, most apps aren’t allowed to do anything when they’re in the background anyway (with the exception of Live Tiles and push notifications.)
So let’s play a little game! Post in the comments your guess as to which Windows Phone 7 “third-party solution” may be responsible for increased 3G data usage on your account.
Source: WinRumors
Image: img.ly
Originally published on Pocketnow on January 19, 2011.