My wife's new Sony Xperia S is stunning - she loves it, especially as I bundled it together (see what I did there?) with a bluetooth receiver for the iPhone dock. Just a couple of questions:

1. How can she monitor usage - minutes, and data and WIFI, so that she avoids exceeding the contract limits. I think this needs to be specific to software, which is Android 4 (ICS)

2. What are the tariffs for calling a Ukraine landline or mobile, both from here and from inside Ukraine? Vodafone is the contract provider.

Many thanks.

Orange provide an app in the store that monitors usage. Vodafone, I imagine, are similar.

No idea on the Ukraine bit. Never needed to phone.

if she has 'free' / inclusive minutes then you could look at using a separate 'over the top' provider for the international calls.

The rates for the provider I use would be:-

From landline
Fixed 7p / min
Mobile 13p / min

From mobile
Fixed 6p / min
Mobile 15p / min



I have used 18185 ( www.18185.co.uk ) and they are excellent and reliable. You create an account and then register how ever many numbers against it, including land line.

Why would you need to monitor wifi usage?

Is this similar to the 18866 service? We are registered with that but I am in no state at the moment to look into this stuff - sorry, that's why I am begging for assistance. She flies tomorrow morning.

Because the contract doesn't include unlimited Wifi.

I've seen this before, but never understood it. Wifi is free

Your wifi is "free"; wifi at hot spots provided by BT etc are not free on all tariffs.

You might be limited on a "BT Hotspot" type wifi if they provide one in the package, but they can't really charge you for downloading stuff on anyone elses.

Pretty well everywhere there is a BT one, there is usually a Cloud one that allows you to logon for free....but it deos mena gicing evil Sky your email address....

Item
Model Xperia S White from Sony
Tariff Your Plan 21 MI - 600 Anytime Xnet Mins + Unlimited Text Messages + 500MB Data + 250MB WiFi
Network Vodafone

Can anyone please explain what this means, then?

600 Anytime Xnet mins = 600 minutes to use at any time, to any network, landline, in the UK etc (doesn't usually include numbers like 0845/0844, etc).

Unlimited texts means what it says.

500Mb Data will be email, internet and download usage when not connected to free wifi.

250Mb Wifi, must mean wifi that you connect to when out and about? As mentioned above.

For 1 Android manual
Sadly you cannot restrict the WiFi data yet.

OK - so data usage has to be via a Vodafone supply, rather than via my domestic broadband (?). Would the data monitor on the phone distinguish between the two?

Wifi - I am not clear on this either.

Thanks for the help, though.

If whoever you calling in the Ukraine has an Apple or Android mobile phone, you can call them for free (using your home wifi) by installing an app called viber. You can also text and send photos for free. I use it all the time to call my Sister who lives abroad and it's great.

www.viber.com

OK, just hit another mystery.

I see from her bill that my wife is being charged to send picture messages using mobile internet.

Isn't this supposed to be included in her data allowance?

I'm confused!

Picture messages are usually a separate thing. They use data to send but you get charged despite having a data allowance.

I see - thanks for explaining that.

So does this mean that when you see all the kids constantly sending pictures to each other they are paying per picture??

Depends how they are sending them. If via MMS then yes it will cost. However they probably use instagram or facebook or Wazapp.

MMS is so last century !

Tbh, I use email to send any pics as you then use your data or WiFi.

It all depends on the individual contract. Mine deducts 4 sms (text messages) for each mms I send from my inclusive 3000 message limit per month. But as already mentioned, lots of people tend to use apps like Whatsapp or Viber that use your phones internet connection.

Another vote for the app called Whatsapp - 3 months free then a mere £0.69 for a year's worth of sending anything you like within reason