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iOS 9 feature drains data by default

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 28 Sept 2015
A new iOS 9 app, turned on by default with the new update, chews into iPhone owners' data.
A new iOS 9 app, turned on by default with the new update, chews into iPhone owners' data.

WiFi Assist, a new iOS 9 feature aimed at providing users with a seamless Internet connection, could result in large data bills.

Apple claims the new operating system, launched two weeks ago, has already been adopted by 50% of all devices - its fastest adoption rate.

However, one of the new features, WiFi Assist, has caused a stir on social media because it is turned on by default with the new update.

WiFi Assist detects when the device is experiencing weak or slow WiFi signal, and automatically switches to the user's data.

This new feature makes sense in America and Europe, as many iPhone owners will have an unlimited data contract. However, in South Africa and other countries where unlimited data plans are expensive and not as common, this new feature will be a problem.

Twitter user Jim Ray reported his usage went up by more than double in a month: "I usually use 1-2GB of mobile data a month, this month I'm up to 7. I suspect iOS 9 WiFi Assist, anybody else?" [sic]

Apple users are able to turn off this feature by going to settings, then the cellular option. Once there, scroll down to the bottom of the menu, where WiFi Assist can be turned off.

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