IPhone 4S Doubles Data Usage, Thanks to Siri

IPhone 4S users likely with the help of Siri, consume almost twice as much as data as compared to previous model, rising pressure on already strained networks. A voice assistant is reportedly responsible for the surge in data consumption by the users of this handset, as per study from Arieso, a network company. The iPhone 4S has downlink data volumes of any smartphone measured in the study of Arieso that covers over a million subscribers ranking little behind HTC Desire S, an Android power device. The survey also suggests in addition to Siri, higher image resolution and video sharing, superior mobile network infrastructure and more data demanding applications.

Apple launched Siri with IPhone 4S in the month of October. Billed as flagship feature for latest Apple device, the assistant needs either 3G or Wi-Fi connection, since translated voice text is sent to servers of Apple to process. The growing facility of users with interactive voice tools and increase in data-intensive devices places additional pressure on mobile carriers for meeting the demands effectively, without slowing speeds or dropping calls. Verizon announced that it set a record for most iPhone handsets marketed in United States carrier in single quarter.

Beginners continue to get on bandwidth bandwagon as handsets become more common, and as brawnier handsets gain in popularity. Both trends are creating unparalleled demand for carriers, who may depend on greater use of Wi-Fi, technology to compress data or rationalized data plans as some alternatives.