Need smart phone help

[Cami]

I'll be the first to admit that I am a total NEWBIE when it comes to smart phones.
Please help me to understand something since I am trying to learn!

I have a Droid Charge (if that matters) with a 4gb data plan. I was told I would never use that much and so far just having received my first bill I haven't gotten near that amount (1gb used last month). To be honest though I don't know enough about the phone to utilize all that it offers (again still learning).

My question pertains to using the data allowance.

Is it true that I won't use the data allowance if I switch to using a wifi connection (like at home or various other places that offer free wifi)?

Or am I missing something?

Suppose I want to download an app or two. Typically doing this would be using a portion of the 4gb data plan while the apps were downloading. Suppose I was at home and switched the phone to connect using my wifi not the "4G network" and did my downloading that way. Am I making sense?

[tbagley]

For most cell phone providers it doesn't "cost" any to download apps when using a wifi connection. I have ATT, I always switch over to wifi whenever possible to minimize the usage on my own data package.
Hope that helps!

[prittiegirl]

It should be totally true that if you are at home and connected to WIFI that they won't charge you...

I'll be the second to admit that I don't know much, and so spent the first month not using any internet capabilities because I was afraid of being charged.

I ended up calling my service provider and they confirmed that I would not be charged to connect to wireless!

[entelekia]

They won't charge you if you're connected to Wi-fi.

However, be careful of the apps you download and make sure your phone is set NOT to "auto-update" your apps. What this means is, applications get updated all the time (with new features, fixes, what have you) and some phones will pick up and download the updates "automatically"... which means if you're out and about and an app decides to update right then and there, it will do so over your 4g connection, causing usage on your data plan.

Hope that makes sense?

[Austin's Mom]

I recently got an iPhone and since I didn't have unlimited data with my last phone I don't have it with this phone. I only get 2g per month. But....if you have internet at home and you have a router, hook up to your own wifi and it won't go against your monthy gigs. Also places that offer free wifi I also connect to that so I don't use my gigs. Although the guy at the verizon store said I will never use my alotted gigs in a month.

[Cami]

I've been connecting to my wireless router at home every day!