Does email, telephone call and texting use cell data ?

[JustRay]

New to the smart phone world. (Your patience is greatly appreciated.)

Here's the deal.
I have a Galaxy S4.
I use US Cellular.
I understand that if I am NOT connected to WiFi, then everything I do on my S4, uses cellular.
And that makes sense to me.

What I'm trying to learn however is, when connected to WiFi, what continues to use cellular and what goes out over WiFi.

When I'm at home, I always connect to my home WiFi.

US Cellular does not offer WiFi calling.
So, I believe that if I make a phone call (or get one) it uses cellular regardless if I am connected to WiFi or not.

How about texting ?
Send one or receiving and reading one.
Does that use cellular even if I am connected to my home WiFi ?

And what about email ?
Sending one or receiving and reading one.
Does that use cellular even if I am connected to my home WiFi ?

I'm so confused.

All replies are appreciated.

JustRay in Wisconsin

 

[kate]

US Cellular does not offer WiFi calling.
So, I believe that if I make a phone call (or get one) it uses cellular regardless if I am connected to WiFi or not.

Correct.

How about texting ?
Send one or receiving and reading one.
Does that use cellular even if I am connected to my home WiFi ?

A regular text (SMS) will be cellular. If you send a picture or group text (MMS) it might be WiFi or cellular depending on your texting app and if US Cellular supports MMS over WiFi.

And what about email ?
Sending one or receiving and reading one.
Does that use cellular even if I am connected to my home WiFi ?

It should use WiFi when you're connected to WiFi.



I'm guessing you want to reduce cell data usage? Two big ones...

A) You can set your phone to only update apps over WiFi which will reduce your data usage. Here is how to change the Play Store settings for how apps are updated:
1. Open the Play Store.
2. In the top left corner tap the menu icon.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Auto Update Apps.
5. Tap the option you want. The WiFi option will only use WiFi. "Update apps anytime" can use your mobile data. "Do not auto update apps" will not update any apps.

B) Some apps use background data, which means they use data when you're not using the app. You can disable background data on an app by app basis so they wont use your mobile data when you're not using them. Some phones might not have this option though.
1. Go to your phones Settings menu.
2. Tap Data Usage
3. Scroll down to the app and tap it.
4. Scroll down and tap to check Restrict Background Data.

For some apps you wont get some updates/notifications after after doing this when you're not using that app. Also I believe that only shows apps that have already used data so with a brand new phone there might not be many apps listed yet.

 

[JustRay]

Kate, your a genius !

Perfect.
Exactly what I was look to learn.

And you are correct about my attempt to reduce data usage.
Your two "tips" are truly appreciated.
I didn't know about them (This is all new to me.) and will look into implementing on my phone.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Ray in Wisconsin