Just when you thought the flap over the new mapping app from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) would be laid to rest, the company has taken another hit to its shining armor over a software bug that apparently continues to download data from a cellular network even when the phone is connected to a WiFi network. The result, for users, is an unexpected and whopping overage in wireless data charges.

Apple released a fix to the bug on Verizon’s network, saying on the company’s blog that “iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.” Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone plc (NASDAQ: VOD) said that customers would not be charged for “any unwarranted cellular data usage.”

There is no indication that the bug affects other wireless networks, although some iPhone 5 users have indicated similar problems with AT&T Inc.’s (NYSE: T). Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) had no reports of the issue.

While it appears that Apple has fixed the issue on Verizon’s network, the move by carriers to metered data is likely to provide a few shocks to first-time 4G LTE users using Apple’s bigger Retina display. All that size and sharpness comes from more pixels, and more pixels means more data traffic. The faster speeds and larger, sharper displays can be hypnotic.

Paul Ausick

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