1 / 7
120501-gl-screens-011edit
Data is power, as the saying goes. But when it comes to mobile data plans, that power lies squarely in the hands of wireless network providers. Consumers pay too much for too little: AT&T’s cheapest data plan option is $20 a month for 300MB, and Verizon’s is $30 for 2GB.
There’s also the risk of overage charges: Watch too many YouTube videos on your smartphone, and you’ll pay extra for exceeding your monthly data allotment. And data management is even an issue for people lucky enough to be grandfathered into now-defunct unlimited data plans. These folks suffer reduced bandwidth speeds as they explore the limits of what “unlimited” really means.
Nonetheless, with the help of a few crafty apps, you can wrestle a bit of data power back into your hands. The following seven downloads will help manage your data usage, track and compare data speeds, and help you get more out of the limited data you have.
CarrierCompare
If you’re an iPhone user, and have ever considered changing your wireless carrier because of shoddy network speeds, SwayMarket’s CarrierCompare app might be just what you need to make a final decision. The app compares your network’s data speeds, at any given location, to those of other carriers. Upon launching CarrierCompare, just tap its screen to test network quality in your precise location. The app measures speed by downloading a small image file from a cloud host location, and measuring the time it takes for that file to transfer. It also measures response time by firing a signal at the network, and seeing how fast it takes to fire back. You’ll see your test results compared to two other networks’ results within the same vicinity. For example, when I used the app in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood, I found that my AT&T network had "Fair Service" compared to Verizon’s "Poor Service" 143 yards away from my location, and Sprint’s "Poor Service" 619 yards away. But keep in mind that CarrierCompare’s data is only as good as its users: The app uses crowdsourced data from other people who use the app. So, if you’re in an area where nobody on a certain network has used the app, you won’t be able to make an accurate comparison. And because the app is only available on the iPhone, it’s only measuring HSPA+ speeds and isn’t as useful for people considering switching to an LTE phone. Available on the App Store; Free Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired
