During Sprint’s Q3 earnings report yesterday, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse revealed an interesting bit of information: The iPhone 4S uses significantly less network data than Android handsets, making the device a better payoff than expected for the network.
According to Hesse, reports CultofMac, the iPhone will likely use only half the amount of 4G data used by typical Android devices running on Sprint’s 3G and 4G networks, suggesting that Android phones are the real data hogs, not the iPhone, despite the fact that iPhone users tend to spend more time on the internet and download more apps per device than Android users.
Hesse speculates that one possible reason for the reduced data usage is due to it having a better WiFi antenna that picks up WiFi signals more quickly and in more places than most Android devices, reducing strain on Sprint’s network.
Whatever the reason for the decreased data usage, Hesse claims that, due to the iPhone 4S’s decreased data usage, the device will actually allow them to continue offering unlimited data plans for longer than they would otherwise be able to.
