SOmeone needs to explain iPhone to meeee!?

[Mepie]

I mostly want to know what I will be paying for, when it comes to downloading and apps and app usage. I'm using WiFi right now, so am I getting charged my cell carrier for data as well as the internet company. When i click on an app am i accessing the internet, what is the difference from using an app from a website?If I am unable to access WIFI will i still be able to connect to the internet from my carrier? Any simple explanation of what money I am spending and general tips for newbie users would be appreciated.

[Chad]

1. If you are using WiFi to download app you will not be charged for data. That means your data consumption on your carrier is zero.

2. If you are using WiFi and you are using the apps downloaded data consumption will not be charged by the carrier.

3. If you are clicking a downloaded app say a game or iBooks ( to read books which is already downloaded ) you are not using Internet. If you are accessing say FaceBook or Twitter or share price apps which needs to update regularly then they will access internet. Say football live score etc. Again if you are using WiFi this should not be charged at all.

4. If WiFi is not available the iPhone will download apps and allow you to view website using 3G. This will be charged and if you cross your data limit then it will be charged at more rate per MB.

5. Always enable WiFi. So that whenever you are in a free WiFi area or home there will be no charge for internet usage. If you are using WiFi the carrier internet will be automatically disconnected. In case your WiFi goes down or there are internet connectivity issues the carrier may switch to 3G and chances are that you will get charged unknowingly.

6. If you are using Google Voice for making cheap calls in domestic and international, please check your bill regularly. For me 3 times they charged at & t long distance call rate. you may need to call customer service , explain then and they will reset it.

7. All apps do not have web version. Apps for iPhone is the future architecture where we will have applications installed in desktop and on a need basis it will update data from internet using a technology called web services. If you are using latest version of windows ( vista or 7 ) there is a widget tool called weather. You can see that this tool updates weather from internet without your intervention. That is the similar technology that is being used in iPhone even though technology stack is different. Now more and more companies are developing products which have a desktop version and then updates using web services. Examples are Amazon and eBay... Advantage is increased performance and reliability.