Connecting to the web by wi-fi or 3G?

[#1]

I think I have worked-out the answer to my own question, but I'd just like someone to double-check my thinking just to be sure, please ...

My monthly charges appeared to be including extra for internet charges, which I was having a time understanding because I believed I was often accessing the internet by wi-fi and therefore avoiding charges at those times.

However, thinking back I now realise I was not only turning-on wi-fi but also enabling data traffic ... my logic was that wi-fi created the link, data-transmission enabled its use.

Having thought things through, am I right in thinking that this is mistaken, that these two are independent means of connecting?

... that enabling data traffic will lead to connections via system and will therfore incur costs if going over allowance, whereas enabling wi-fi will connect to the net at hotspots, home/office wi-fi, etc where present? I don't need both together?

... that I can leave data traffic turned off and connect fine by wi-fi where there's a service available, and turn-on data traffic if I need to connect where there's not a wi-fi service present?

A pretty basic misunderstanding it seems, am I correct?

in order to prevent racking up add-charges

[#2]

Bump ..

[suze · Accepted solution]

I must have missed your original post but yes your thinking is pretty spot on!

I have an X8 on loan from SE and I use it with a PAYG sim card with only a small amount of credit on it.  I therefore have the data traffic switched off but I can use the full functionality of the phone over my home wifi (and presumably anywhere else that there is wifi available) so I get my emails / twitter/ facebook / download apps / web browse all over wifi.

[#4]

Thanks again expert! 

[#5]

How do I turn off data traffic?

[#6]

Hi

There's two ways:

1)  From the home screen tap Settings>Wireless and Networks>Mobile Networks and then uncheck Data Traffic, done!

2) There's already a widget available on your phone that you can add if you want, which allows you then to toggle between data-on and data-off right fropm your home screen ... in the home screen press left-hand (4-squares) rocker switch to bring up "change wallpaper / arrange widgets / arrange icons" menu ...  tap "arrange widgets" ...  tap "add widget" ... choose "Data Traffic" widget and let it install. You will then have the widget alongside your clock and whatever else you have on that screen when you swipe it ... just tap it for data-on, again for data-off.

[#7]

PS - The data-transmission icon (top-left corner, end of notification bar) will show a red "X" when data traffic is disabled, useful for peace of mind that you won't have a bill ten times what you are expecting at the end of the month! ...  use that icon as a reassuring check.