Android Apps - Free Apps Using Data / NetCounter / 3G Watchdog

Data is all your internet and email access. Everything you download in the market, every page you go on, and every email you receive will be using up that data. Depending on how much data you have, an average user only uses 200-300mb a month. Plus, service provider will send you a text when you're just about to go over your data limit. If you want, there is an app called NetCounter. It is a free app that you can download in the market and it shows how much data you consumed that day and month, and you can set up how much data you have each month so it'll warn you when your have almost used up your limit.

If you have wifi at home or work, you can connect to the wifi to download apps/ surf webpages and it won't use up your data.

If you look at your notification bar(the bar the top of the phone) You will notice a symbol, either a G,E,3G or H. If you are using data you'll see the two errors below it light up indicating data is being used.

Which app you are using will determine if you're using data or not. Not all apps require data use but some do, doesn't matter if they are free or not. If you have 500mb I wouldn't worry. Unless you're streaming music or watching youtube all day you wont go over the 500mb.

Another app to monitor data usage is 3G Watchdog. It puts a little icon in your notifications bar that changes depending on how much of your quota you've used. It asks for how much your quota is and when you billing period starts and it'll monitor how much data you use in your period.