The following is a copy of an email I exchanged with Onavo help. Like many, I am puzzled by why default Dialer needs to use any bandwidth data at all. I hope it helps. I'm still a bit stumped, considering the following (and assuming it's correct), as to how MUCH data the Dialer seems to be exchanging... See my enquiry (at the bottom) for more about my issues. Onavo's reply follows first below...
--------------------
MAR 01, 2013 *|* 01:19AM IST
Hi Steven,
Thanks for reaching out.
Many don't know this, but the phonebook app on the Android operation system keeps a connection with the Google account for syncing the contacts, pictures, Facebook and google+ accounts.
Hope it helps.
Best regards,
Hank
--------------------
Steven
MAR 01, 2013 *|* 01:28PM IST
Original message
Hi,
I have tried, without success, to find the answer to this question on the web. From what I could find, it seems that a large number of people with the same issue mentioned using the Onavo app.
I use Android OS 2.3.5 on a HUAWEI U8850 phone. I use the default, pre installed Dialer app for phone calls.
There is no reason that I can think of that this Dialer app should require any form of data use to fulfill its function (to make and receive phone calls and maintain my rather small contact list).
However, in the past 8 days it has used 37 Mb of data, almost the same amount as my web browsing and significantly more data than other apps requiring exclusive use of the data allowance.
Are you able to shed some light as to why this is the case? Is it some error with Onavo; is there something about the Dialer app that does require such a large amount of data to function, etc?
Regards,
Steven
Ok... Since my last post, I have done further investigating, and I'm sorry to say that the mystery only deepens... BTW - I have not rooted my phone at this time, as I'm not sure I'm competent enough to deal with potential issues - but thanks for those root suggestions anyways...
1. I got rid of Onavo data monitoring app. It didn't matter if you refused an app 3G data access, it was just ignored. I have installed a far superior (IMO) app called My Data Manager. I can say that there was NO fault with Onavo Re- Dialer data use, as this new app also shows Dialer constantly using data.
2. It's not all at once, or just a few times a day. All throughout the day, the odd bits and bytes here and there add up to Kb and then Mb, until a few days go by and you see it's sent upwards of 40 Mb, for a very modest contact list and call activity.
3. If, as Onavo's reply states, it is just the syncing of contacts etc, why then, when viewing the system apps list are there multiple other apps that look better suited to the job (i.e., in addition to Dialer, we have Dialer Storage, Contacts and Contact Storage, and the plethora of Google/Android system apps that seem more appropriate for the job than the app which just dials my numbers (oh, and on further checking of properties, looks after a benign and useless thing called Sim Toolkit).
4. I could go on and on about how it just doesn't add up, but I literally can't find the answer anywhere. I'd even write to the software developers if I knew who to contact...
5. If there are any brainiacs out there that can rip the code apart, PLEASE - WHY DOES THE DEFAULT DIALER APP, WHICH JUST LOOKS AFTER PHONE CALLS, NEED TO USE ANY 3G DATA AT ALL, AND WHAT IS IT THAT THEY ARE SENDING?
Thanks in advance...
PS-I've even set my google account up to sync NOTHING except gmail, and I'll do that twice a week...