| With the advancement of the technology in the | | | | from the 3072MB depending on the size of the |
| computing world a heavy demand is increasing for | | | | page. Now if the page is a plain text oriented |
| the mobile broadband and hence more and more | | | | page then allowance take would be minimal |
| people are getting themselves connected to the | | | | compared to the page having lots of images and |
| net making the communication channel more | | | | videos embedded in it. On the other hand if you |
| expensive and more congested. Almost 80% of | | | | download an image which is of 1MB size then you |
| the mobile broadband users in UK get themselves | | | | would loose the 1MB from the 3072MB of |
| confused over the data allowance and often do | | | | allowance. The above example clearly shows that |
| not know the difference between browsing and | | | | allowance is burnt from the given data allowance |
| downloading. They think that browsing and | | | | limit either its browsing or downloading, and as a |
| downloading is different, but this is not the fact. | | | | result, Browsing is classed as Downloading. |
| This article aims to bring the differences and help | | | | How would I keep track of my allowance? |
| users to understand the way the data allowance | | | | Your mobile broadband software should come |
| limits works. | | | | with a dashboard when you install it which keeps |
| Why downloading and browsing are the same | | | | track of all your usage and displays the allowance |
| When you request for a page from a website by | | | | used daily or monthly and also indicates the |
| entering your website link called the URL in your | | | | allowance left to be used. Some displays by |
| browser you are requesting for a foreign page to | | | | KiloByte and some displays by MB. If it is |
| be downloaded from a remote server/computer | | | | displayed by KB then divide the number shown in |
| to your computer/laptop. This is classed as | | | | KB by 1024 to get in MB. You can also track it |
| downloading, also when you request for a | | | | online if you mobile broadband provider provides |
| document or image, you request it to be | | | | an option to do so. |
| downloaded from a known destination to your | | | | So, if you were ever told that browsing is not |
| computer. Hence, if you see the difference one is | | | | same as downloading then you have just seen |
| normal browsing for a page and the other is | | | | the comparison and the clear difference between |
| downloading a file where both would take up the | | | | them. Read the terms and conditions of any |
| data allowance from a given limit. | | | | network provider before you sign up to a pay as |
| For example, if you have 3GB data allowance limit | | | | you go or a contract package. Understand the |
| per month which is equivalent to 3072MegaByte | | | | allowance limit properly or else you might end up |
| of data, then accessing the page of the URL that | | | | paying high bills if you are on a contract. |
| you requested for would take up some allowance | | | | |