Although I’ve owned a mobile phone since 1999, I’ve never been much of one for keeping up with the latest tech. It was a phone, that’s all. Why would I need the internet in the palm of my hand?

Over the past few years I began to feel I was being left out. Many organisations assumed use of a smart phone for things like appointments or ticketing. It was just a matter of time.

I got a refurbished three-year-old iPhone, on a basic rolling monthly plan. I had no idea how much data I might use. In fact, most of the time the phone would be beside me at home, connected to the internet by my broadband wifi, using the cellular network just for calls. I chose an affordable data plan with 20GB per month, to see how things worked out.

I’ve now owned the phone nearly a year. In all that time I’ve never managed to use the plan’s data much at all! Aside from an occasional email while out and about, a quick web site look-up, and brief use of Apple’s Maps app to see what it did, I just didn’t seem to use much data at all. Even the service provider kept suggesting I’d save some money by dropping to a smaller tariff.

As I type this, I’m having a brief break with Best Beloved, staying with relatives. The rellies don’t have wifi, and I wouldn’t ask if they had. We are getting a solid 4G signal. It is a real world test to see how much data I can chew up, using the cellular network to do the online things I’d normally do. 

It’s been enlightening.

Streaming videos or music has been avoided, but I have been doing my usual social media, web forum surfing, downloading emails and podcasts — the kind of thing one does these days when having a few minutes of downtime — and used the Maps app as satnav in the car. I’ve also used the phone as a “hotspot”, letting my iPad and Best Beloved’s tablet connect to the internet. After four days of this kind of usage, I’ve used 1.6GB of my month’s allowance. The phone’s battery does take a bit of a caning, though it’s still strong enough to last all day.

Now, I’m not a typical phone user, but I’m actually surprised at how little I have used. I’ve also been impressed with the typical speeds I’ve been getting overall. Where before I might actively avoid doing things that required data bandwidth, I’m now more likely to just crack on and just do it. Equally, the rolling monthly plan is flexible, so I could switch to a smaller data allowance for most of the time, and buy a larger amount for short periods if I might need it.

Yes, I think I am now a convert.