A mobile device running on Netflix app. (Photo : Getty Images/Ken Ishii)
Netflix on May 5, Thursday announced that customers may now control their data usage while they stream on their mobile devices. The streaming giant are now allowing users to adjust their data usage with the launch of a new setting to help them avoid incurring extra charges.
In a blog post, the company said that the default setting enables users to stream about three hours of TV shows and movies per gigabyte of data, which equates to 600 kilobits per second. With the new setting called Cellular Data Usage, users with updated versions of Android and iOS may now take control of how much data they consume while they stream via mobile.
The option allows them to switch from automatic to default setting while choosing between a higher or lower data usage. Should users prefer to stick with unlimited data, that feature is also available under the App Settings menu.
The streaming giant discovered that this new setting balances good video quality with lower data consumption to keep users from exceeding data caps and incurring overage fees.
While Netflix’s goal is to give users “more control” and better options in managing their data usage, Eddy Wu, Director of Product Innovation at Netflix allowed that there are still some precautions linked to this new tool.
“We are always working on ways to improve picture quality while streaming more efficiently, so bitrates could change over time," Wu said in the company's blog post. "As with all streaming, actual data usage can vary based on your device capabilities and network conditions. Your mobile carrier also may impact the actual data usage even if you elect a higher setting in the Netflix app".
According to Tech Crunch, the latest feature caused come “temporary confusion” when the company previously announced the update at Mobile World Congress 2016. The publication wrote that users believed that they would be able to out this setting and other features ahead of the public launch.
Whether or not Netflix users will take advantage of this new setting is yet to be determined.
