BGR Breaks it Down: Keep your data connection alive on S60 handsets
With the ever-increasing popularity of handsets like the iPhone, Pre, Curve, Storm and so on, US mobile users are clearly warming up to devices tied to unlimited data plans. In fact, many would argue that owning a smartphone without unlimited data is mind boggling. In July of 2008, Nielsen estimated that 14 percent of US wireless subscribers had unlimited data plans. Following the tremendous success of devices like the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Storm, we’re certain this number has ballooned since Nielsen’s report. Considering there are over 275 million wireless subscribers here in the US, we’re probably looking at somewhere around 50 million unlimited data plan-toting people currently gobbling up the nation’s wireless bandwidth.
Devices by RIM, Apple and Palm take advantage of unlimited data plans and keep a data connection alive at all times. Why wouldn’t they? This active data connection allows apps to go from dormant to useful with minimal delay — when it comes to UX of course, every millisecond counts. Enter S60 devices. Because the US is pretty low on the totem pole when it comes to Nokia’s target markets, S60 handles data differently. Abroad of course, unlimited data plans are not in abundance as they are here. Data is more expensive so every kilobit counts. As such, S60 handsets leave it up to applications to initiate a new data session each time they need to communicate. Since data sessions are then closed when an app is done communicating, users save money by minimizing throughput. Abroad, this is a great cost-saving feature. In the US, it’s merely a burden.
Since BGR HQ just took on a few new Nokia handsets, we were promptly reminded of S60’s connectivity data connectivity issues. As it happens however, a Nokia rep alerted us to a solution. Buried deep within the device settings where even most S60 power users we discussed the matter with couldn’t find it, there is a simple setting that can be adjusted to keep your data connection alive. On your S60 handset go to Settings -> Connection -> Packet Data, change “When Needed” to “When Available” and then key in your Access Point. You’ll now find that your handset keeps a data connection alive and when you launch data-dependant apps, they will spring to life much faster than before. Of course battery life will be affected to some extent, but you’ll have to decide which you value more: longevity where battery life is concerned or efficiency where usage is concerned. Unfortunately, it’s a choice S60 users are currently forced to make.
Touched a nerve with this one. This story will have to be archived for future Googlers who are searching How-to’s for their phones. The daily readers of a device blog are geek enough to have tried every setting backwards-to-forwards on their phone. I found this setting on my 6682 without issue back in the day.
Hi Zach,
Unfortunately, you’ve made a wrong assumption as to what happens when you toggle the “Packet Data Connection” option which leads you to a wrong conclusion. I therefore respectfully beg to differ.
The name of the option “Packet Data Connection” is quite misleading. It is not used to configure what happens to an Internet connection but only controls the registration state of the mobile with the packet switched part of the network. I’ve summarized the details here: http://tinyurl.com/amcpzd
Hope this helps to clear things up.
Kind regards,
Martin
How’s that even an inconvenience?
Having the choice is always better. And if I understand correctly comptetitors to S60 platforms that do not have the option to turn data packets connection off (though I doubt RIM products don’t have the same type of setting).
Remember the story of that guy who was one of the earlier G1 user and went abroad for a couple weeks with his phone, not even using it, only to find out once he receives is phone bills tha data roaming had been activated all the time, couldn’t be turned off and cost him thousands of $ because of that.
So in my book : setting your data roaming form when needed to when available = win!
Anyhow this emphasises the fact that BGR seems pretty biased when it comes to S60 devices and Nokia ones in particular.
I’m ok with the fact that most S60 GUI (especially Nokia’s) are not as nice as they iPhone’s or Android’s. But seriously as far as functionnality and, most important for me who previously owned a WinMo device, stability go, it’s unmatched!
I’m no S60 fanboy (if such a thing exists) but seriously you have to give props to a very efficient yet unsexy mobile phone OS.
Haha I love the comments on this site.
FYI I live “abroad” and yes, data is unbelievably expensive where I’m from. Karri, chrisexport, etc – maybe you guys aren’t aware of this but Nokia sells to alot of markets, not just Europe and Asia. I leave my packet data on when needed because if it was always on I would be broke.
@ Will I’m Not,
I know some places still have high data prices, or even weak data signals. In the Ukraine, its exorbitant! But its not that way most places. But I do see your point, and the feature is there to allow user control, something Symbian does well.
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to comment here on the site — we appreciate all of you!
A quick note of clarification: this post was brought about by a conversation with a Nokia rep.
When asked why S60 does not maintain a live data connection as other platforms do, the rep suggested that S60 is built this way to accommodate users abroad (and even users in the US) who do not have unlimited data plans. As the commenter above points out, data can be VERY expensive in many regions and an always-on data connection could have major consequences. The areas cited by Karri are great, but they do not represent the entirety of Nokia’s markets. Data is VERY expensive in MANY regions and Nokia sells millions of phones around the world.
The rep then went on to explain that “you can set any s60 device to have a constant data [connection],” and he detailed the solution noted above. We thought Nokia’s suggested solution would be nice to share with users who might not know it is available. As suggested by one or two commenters and several emails, it was indeed helpful.
Thanks again.
@ bladerun,
You’re very lucky to have such a powerful device so early. Congratulations! Now be advised, Symbian is mature, not like the iPhone and Android OSes. It DOES sync to both Outlook and Google. Instead of seeking features in settings or searching the Ovi Store, most Symbian users just search Google. If you type “sync outlook google s60″, you’ll get a plethora of solutions, like Goosync and other apps, many of the freeware, a common deal with Symbian.
If you have problems with your device, feel free to register at my site’s forums, http://www.symbian-freak.com, and get free 24 hr. support for any issue you have as well as learn how to hack, modify, and get the most out of the N97 and all other Symbian models. Our technical expertise with the platform is unsurpassed, and I pride myself in finding solutions. In fact, email me at christexaport@sbcglobal.net with any questions as well as a follow up to how the sync situation works for you.
275 million wireless subscribers in the US?? Where did you get that from? Given that the entire population of the US is around 310 million people, it means that 89% of the people in the US have cellphone service. Sounds cooked to me…
CTIA numbers
CTIA puts the figure at 270.3 million as of December 2008. Most firms agree that the number stands somewhere around 275 million as of May 2009.
Thanks.
@ flaky math,
It sounds amazingly far fetched to me too. But lets do the math…
SUBSCRIBERS
Verizon- 83 million
at&t- 74 million
Sprint- 55 million
TMobileUSA- 38 million
MetroPCS- 6 million
That’s 256 million subscribers right there, all without even counting Cellular South, Boost Mobile, Amp’d Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and other smaller but popular networks.
This is why all the manufacturers consider the US a golden egg of a market. American’s love the cellphones, almost depending on them as lifelines. There’s money to be made in the US, and right now, Apple and RIM run the show. Nokia could kick itself, and is wisely pressuring carriers to partner with them, because America is one of the only places where almost everyone has a mobile phone, even kids like my 5 year old niece! Its viral here…
Yes Nokia ftw!
Get some stake in the US Market already. First make a better looking GUI, then you’ll be golden.
Ovi store looks neat.
The 5800 settings are as follows to activate or deactivate the packet date stream follow menu>settings>connectivity>admin.settings>packet data.. however the default setting on my 5800 with custom firmware from vodafone, is when available so I didn’t need to change it.Hope this helps others as it was the first thing i went looking for once i unpacked my device.;)
@bladerun,
by the sound of your comment, it sounds like you definitely DID NOT GET the N97. If you did, or even if you didn’t but knew the tiniest bit about Nokia devices, you’d know of Nokia’s Mail for Exchange, RoadSync app, Google Sync with Symbian, etc – all of which can easily help you to sync your Outlook and Google with your S60 device.
sorry missed a step lol dont forget to change while in admin settings drop down 1 menu from packet data after switching to data call and set to unlimited.
@christexaport,
you too really need to check your facts about cell phone usage in the US vs. everywhere else. Cell phone penetration in the US is currently around 82%, whereas in Finland, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Norway, etc it has been between 102% – 118% (i.e. people have several active phones) for a decade now. The US is simply still catching on to that – which is great, and yes there is a lot of opportunity in the US, but so there is in China and India as well, where the population is 3 times as large as in the US.
Again, here are the numbers – mobile phone penetration across the world in a few countries:
Finland – 108%
UK – 112%
Italy – 118%
The Philippines – 92%
Sweden – 109%
USA – 82%
Zach Epstein,
I’ve got a couple more questions – of which the first ones I’ve already asked before – for you, and then I don’t care if I ever come back to this “genius” site again.
Why didn’t you write the original article in the same, slightly better, tone that you now wrote your comment in? If this was really supposed to be just a “helpful” tip that came out of a conversation with a Nokia rep, then why the childish image of a Nokia N97 with the speech bubble next to it, and all the false assumptions about wireless data plans outside the US? Clearly, you had something else in mind in addition to just being “helpful”.
Second, what would really make you think that I wouldn’t “know” where Nokia sells its phones and how data plans vary in different countries – when that was my very own point! G-sus.
Zach, with all due respect, if you want to make yourself sound like a journalist, next time check your facts first, or then just leave your own personal assumptions out of the article. It will make a much more readable, helpful, better article that way.
And still – if you yourself agree that your article is not entirely clear and that it includes false info, then post an update to it.
Thanks, BGR – now I know where not to come again.
“we were promptly reminded of S60’s connectivity data connectivity issues”
are you serious? this isnt an issue, its an excelent feature with the setting located in the obvious and logical place. Thank you nokia for allowing me to control my phone and prioritize whats important to me.
@ karri,
You’re obviously well versed in this industry from a global aspect. My kind of woman…
First of all, I love you, and will strangle David Thande with enthusiasm if I could to get you.
I’m well aware of the penetration rates in the various global markets. I just wasn’t concise enough in explaining my stance. I wasn’t trying to imply American mobile penetration was well saturated, just trying to reason with the comment made that the US had so many mobile users. America is a good market now because it has one of the few markets experiencing growth that has a relatively vibrant economy. While its stagnant now in comparison to previous years, its that way most places in the world, and yet still economically better than most. So there’s evidently still room for growth, especially in the smartphone sector, where they’ve just begun to gain traction in the last couple years, as you also mentioned. India is emerging, as is China, but the economics of the demographics in those markets aren’t as attractive as in the US.
Sticking up for Zach, he always has a certain attitude in his writing, but he’s not as simple as he seems. I think he puts on a show for his readers, predominately iPhone and Blackberry users. I agree it makes it less attractive to those looking at the site for proper perspective, but he’s written some pretty good stuff nonetheless. I suggest you write some stuff here or on SF yourself, because you’re eloquent, informed, and a good debate opponent. I bet anyone would invite you as a guest columnist with open arms. These guys need more Symbian knowledgeable writers like you and me, and you already have David’s support…
I look forward to more of your comments here and other forums online. Welcome. And stick around, become a catalyst for change, and don’t abandon this well intended site. You belong.
Ha ha ha at you thick fucking losers. Attitude? Simple? Have you ever read anything on this site or are you too busy trolling and trying to boost traffic on that peon fanboy site you mention in every single fucking lame ass fanboy comment?
BGR talks shit. BGR voices opinions. BGR fucks around. That’s what the site is all about. If you want exclusive shit and a fun take on tech news from people who don’t give a fuck, welcome. If you want boring recycled garbage, read the NY Times tech section. If you want unintelligible fanboy drivel written by 14-year-old ESL students… Well… Go to Symbian Freak.
As for Karri… Once cristexaport is done flirting with you despite the fact you’re a dude, good riddance. You clearly have no idea what this site is all about and me and the rest of the readers will be better off without you.
@christexaport
Thanks for your extremely sober, well-written reply. Great points and I agree with all of them. Your reply also acted as a very good reminder that I need to take some time to chill too before I write.
I’m completely fine with writing that goes with a pinch of salt – but the thing that really bothered me about Zach’s original article was that it seemed to include pretty strong assumptions about things that aren’t exactly so.
Anyways, time for me to take a break now.
@ El Bastardo. I could’ve eaten Alphabits and crapped out a better rebuttal!!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s just that yours is stupid.
Thanks Karri and Chris!
@ el bastardo,
alright, listen, bastard! I’m nice, educated, and usually professional, but don’t think I won’t get thuggish with you. I’m out of DFW, and I know how to deal with faceless, anonymous cowards like you. Watch yourself, playboy. I do this to stay out of trouble and become a mentor and role model to youth, but I’ll handle your ass, kid. I’m a G, and don’t play games. Better go try that somewhere else.
I’m always critical of anything I read, and I read this site daily. No matter what I say, I’m here, so the info must be valueable to me. And that bastard is right. BGR’s writers have a certain character and style, which I think is a plus. I don’t have to like them, and they allow comments and an open forum to discuss anything they say, so the accountability is there. Its obviously working, because readership has been rising lately, according to Alexa.
And I find it highly disrespectful that you call SF’s young readership “drivel”. Most of the young men and women on SF are content creators and developers of award winning applications. I won’t prejudge you, but I’ve yet to hear about you doing anything significant to further the mobile industry. I’ll keep my ear out for el bastardo, but won’t be holding my breath. We’re a multinational, young, talented, ubergeek social site focused on Symbian, so yeah, we’re fanboys to an extent. Not all our readers speak English as a primary language, and some not at all, but your command for the language leaves much to be desired as well. Nothing wrong with loving the top selling, most capable, superbly hackable mobile platform on earth. If not for us, the mobilescape wouldn’t be what it is today. We’re nearly as popular as BGR, even though we only focus on one mobile OS versus multiple carriers, manufacturers, and OSes.
If you’re a guy, Karri, I hope I didn’t offend you. I’m a straight male, but have nothing against homosexuals either. If you love smartphones and the mobile industry, you’re cool with me. If you can make a point without sounding like your brain fits on one, even better.
Please don’t handle my ass. G.
Please stop attacking me with your mouth, bro. Have some decorum about yourself. We’re all adults. This is the worst part of BGS, having to exist amongst mental midgets.
The thing that is most annoying about Nokia’s S60 phones, even with always-on enabled, most of the newer ones have wifi.
Good luck getting your e-mail to check automatically on the most available fastest connection of the moment. e-mail either prompts you to choose, or you have to stick to one connection type, which probably means the cell data network for maximum coverage unless you want to constantly be changing settings.
Same with the VoIP portion (which is annoying as it works best tied to one WiFi SSID, which means you have to be changing every time you go to a new WiFi network (the home screen wifi picker does help a bit, but why should I have to futz with it constantly?)
Web browser is the same, since it is more of an on-demand application I just leave it ask me which net to use every time I launch it – but again, why should I have to choose?
I’ve tried (and unfortunately purchased) one of those “magic” data choosing apps – psiloc connect I think it was, it works ok, but doesn’t work right with the VoIP client, and sucks the battery like there is no tomorrow. (And when I set the VoIP client to use it, it will try to set up a VoIP connection over the 3G network which will further drain the battery.)
Short of running everything over the cell network always, there’s no seamless way for the Nokia to JUST WORK like BlackBerry, Palm, iPhone, and even Windows Mobile does.
That is a deal killer for users of Symbian that want to use it for data when every other major platform does the switch for the user automagically.