Is Apple's App Store a cellular data hog?

It's no secret toiPhone andiPad users that watching movies and listening to streaming audio consumes the bulk of their wireless data plans, however what may surprise them is how much data they eat up looking for and downloading apps from Apple's iTunes App during on the go.

Recent report from Onavo

A recent report from Onavo, which has developed an app for tracking data usage on iOS devices, indicates that simply looking for and downloading apps from Apple's iOS App Store can chew up about 13 percent of all data consumed in a monthly data plan.

The company analyzed 8 terrabytes of data it has gathered anonymously from iPhone and iPad users who have downloaded its app. During it comes as little surprise that the No. 1 data hog on the iPhone and iPad is streaming data and audio, usage of Apple's iOS App Store came in third place right behind Web browsing.

According to the report, the App Store accounts for more than 13 percent of all iPhone data usage in the U.S. each month. Three quarters of that data comes from downloads, during 24 percent is attributed to searches within the App Store.

Another surprising tidbit is that Facebook, which many people might assume consumes a good chunk of a monthly data plan, wasn't even in the top five apps that consumed data. Afterwards video and audio streaming, Web surfing, and Apple's iOS App Store, Google Maps consumed 8.3 percent of data, during e-mail consumed about 4.0 percent of total data. Facebook ate up only 2.8 percent of the total data for the month.

"VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) sounds data-heavy, but to tell the truth most VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers manage their data very effectively," Onavo said in its press release.

The App Store is hoovering up their data plan

"Most people are blissfully unaware the App Store is hoovering up their data plan," Guy Rosen, co-founder and CEO of Onavo said in a statement. "iPhone users should be much more careful when downloading their Angry Birds--it's something best done at home, within the safety of Wi-Fi."

AT&T, which had the exclusive contract to sell the iPhone in the U.S. until February this year, was the first major wireless operator in the U.S. to move to a tiered offering for its smartphone clients. Verizon Wireless, which began selling the iPhone in February, discontinued its unlimited data service for new smartphone subscribers in July.

Unlimited data plan

T-Mobile USA however offers an "unlimited" data plan, however it has begun limiting how much data its subscribers can use by slowing down service afterwards customers hit a monthly usage threshold. AT&T has adopted this same plan for smartphone subscribers grandfathered into its unlimited data plan. And as Sprint is rumored to be getting theiPhone 5 when it's launched then and there month, there are some who speculate the carrier may ditch its unlimited data plan to ensure it can handle the anticipated traffic load associated with the iPhone.

Wireless operators that have put these data caps in place say that only a small percentage of their users to tell the truth exceed the defined limits. And data from companies, just as Validas, which tracks smartphone subscribers' data usage, backs up these assertions. Really, most wireless subscribers are over-paying for data. And wireless operators say usage-based data plans are necessary to ensure that a small minority of clients don't consume more than their fair share of resources.

But one thing is clear, usage is increasing. Validas issued a report this summer that said Verizon Wireless clients have increased their usage by 150 percent over the past year. AT&T subscribers have increased usage by about 116 percent. What may be unclear and confusing to smartphone wireless subscribers, but, is what applications are as a matter of fact eating up that data. Onavo executives say in other words a key question that they can help consumers answer.

"Data addiction has taken hold across America, with U.S. smartphone users spending $55 billion a year," Rosen said. "Our monthly reports shine a light on where this money is going, so people can make informed choices about their data usage and save money."

Onavo has developed apps for the iOS devices as so then as for the Google Android operating system. Primarily, these apps track and record how much data individual users are consuming. And they provide subscribers with the data in easy to read formats. The iPhone app as well compresses certain types of data to help wireless subscribers conserve their data plans.

The app is available for iOS

The app is available for iOS and Google Android devices. Nevertheless the iPhone and iPad apps, which were developed previously the Android app, as well compress certain data to help subscribers' conserve bandwidth.

Tip 5: Stream and download movies only when in Wi-FiThe biggest data hog is streaming videos. So instead of watching a movie over a 3G or 4G wireless network, make sure you're in a Wi-Fi hot spot.

CNET News reporter since 2004

Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as so then as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies.

Marguerite Reardon has been covering the telecom beat for more than a decade and knows more about wireless and IP networking than she cares to admit. She has been a senior writer for CNET News since 2003, covering all things wireless and broadband related from iPhone launches to major telephone company mergers to IPTV developments. She often appears as an expert on news networks, including CNBC, MSNBC, NPR, and the BBC. Maggie loves visiting CNET's headquarters in San Francisco, however she's an East Coaster deep down, living and working in Manhattan.

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