Josh Lowensohn for CNet:
According to market research firm ComScore, iPhone owners in both the U.S. and the U.K. consumed more of their data over Wi-Fi and their carrier’s wireless signal than smartphone users on Google’s Android platform during the month of February.
Apparently iPhone users, overall, are a more frugal lot when it comes to data usage. Either that, or we prefer the higher speeds afforded by Wi-Fi.
Or Android users can’t figure out how to turn on WiFi on their phones.
One other possible factor that might have affected the results: the study doesn’t appear to examine whether it’s simply easier for the average user to connect to Wi-Fi with iOS than with Android.
If Android users really are “cheap”, it could be that they want to “get the most” out of their cell data subscription. Another option is that they tend to tether without their cell providers being aware.
Exactly what I was thinking!
For me, cell data is simply faster then WiFi. I pay for a 35/15 connection from Time Warner, but rarely get better then 10 Mbps down. Whereas I live about half a block from a Verizon LTE tower and almost never get less then 20 Mbps down. And since I’m still clutching to an unlimited data plan, there’s really no reason for me to ever switch to WiFi at home.