Data costs for Push-email on Nokia E51

[grs]

Hey, just needing some help! I am a Vodacom contract holder and have just brought a Nokia E51. I would like to fully use all of the 3G features, specifically the email function. I am still to set it up but before I do so I would like to know two things,

a) how much data is transferred when simply receiving and sending an email from a host such as Gmail? I would like to know this to determine what data package I should purchase

b) Once setting the email up, is data used when gmail sits idly in the background (due to the phones active display) or is data only used once an email received is actually opened? New messages including emails are constantly displayed, so if Gmail remains open showing inbox messages, is data used? If this is the case and gmail, or my email feature is closed, how will I be notified that I have a new email without leaving it open?

Thanks alot!

GRS

 

[Terencek]

Hi there!

1) Sending or receiving a plain-vanilla e-mail takes a negligible amount of data. In theory you could receive or send hundreds within just one megabyte. But mail which is actually formatted (i.e. with bold, underlining, italics etc.) is bigger (about double a plain-text mail or more), and of course once you factor in Attachments things quickly escalate!

2) In theory, your connection could be open all day without using any data (other than the minuscule amount the networks deduct for actually logging onto the system); you only pay for what actually comes in and out. So there's no reason (other than battery-life if you're using a mobile) not to stay connected all day. But yes, data is being used when your mail account keeps updating, even when you only see the headers, and of course when you download the actual e-mail the meter is ticking. Data is being used every time your Gmail account shows new mail. And no, if you close your e-mail client, you won't be notified of new mail.

Bottom line: if you really plan to do nothing more than collect an average amount of e-mail, you would barely get through, say, a 100 MB monthly bundle, or perhaps even less. But beware of Parkinson's Law as it relates to data: data use increases to fill the amount of the bundle you buy! Once you start using Internet on your phone things increase rapidly! Good luck!