Apple fixes Verizon iPhone 5 cellular data on Wi-Fi bug

Verizon iPhone 5 owners can breathe a sigh of relief today.

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":542508,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"mobile,","session":"D"}']

Since the release of the iPhone 5, some Verizon subscribers have complained about a potentially expensive bug that afflicts their new phones when connected to Wi-Fi. Rather than transfer data solely via a Wi-Fi connection, the phones sometimes used cellular data, potentially exposing owners to some hefty overage fees.

Thankfully, Apple today is rolling out a fix for the issue, which will prevent the iPhone from using cellular data when it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network.

While Verizon hasn’t specified what caused the problem, some iPhone 5 users speculate that it’s the result of the iPhone 5’s tendency to shut down Wi-Fi access while in sleep mode in an effort to conserve battery.

And what if the big resulted a lot of data usage? Verizon says customers have nothing to worry about.

“Verizon Wireless customers will not be charged for any unwarranted cellular data usage”, the company said in a statement to VentureBeat.

Here’s the full statement:

“Under certain circumstances, iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Apple has a fix that is being delivered to Verizon customers right on their iPhone 5. Verizon Wireless customers will not be charged for any unwarranted cellular data usage.”

Photo: VentureBeat/ Devindra Hardawar