Netflix allows users to control mobile data usage; available for iOS and Android

Netflix on smartphones/tablets will now allow users to control their data usage, in an effort to keep an eye on how much bandwidth the app uses. The update is now available for iOS and Android. Director of Product Innovation at Netflix Eddy Wu stated in a blogpost, “As we have launched Netflix around the world, we have seen big difference in how much people are streaming on smartphones and what kind of mobile data plans they have. Today, we are offering a new tool to help you better control how much data you use when streaming on cellular networks.”  The new default setting will now allow users to stream about three hours of TV shows and movies per gigabyte of data. Our testing, the company found out that on cellular networks, this setting balances video quality with lower data usage to help avoid exceeding data caps and incurring overage fees. Once the app is updated, you can select “App Settings” from the menu, and choose “Cellular Data Usage.” Switch off the automatic default and select a higher or lower data usage, according to your choice. Lastly, this setting only affects data usage while viewing content on a mobile device on cellular networks, and streaming on Wi-Fi is not affected nor is streaming when tethered. Wu also said, “We hope this will help you enjoy Netflix for those times that you are out and about, and we’ll continue to work to deliver a great streaming experience whether you are on a TV, computer, or a phone, and whether you are at home or on the go.”