Ensuring the iPhone isn't connected to the internet

Question

Hello,
I have recently bought an iPhone.
I have managed to connect it to my home Wi-Fi network and it accesses the internet without any problems.
This is fine for home use, but I don't want to access the internet while out-and-about. I notice the user guide mentions that the iPhone will try Wi-Fi first, search for other Wi-Fi's second, and then try my Phone carrier last.
My questions are as follows:
1) Will the iPhone confirm that I want a connection with the internet via my phone carrier Before it actually connects?
2) When I do connect via the phone carrier, how can I ensure that the connection has been properly disconnected when I have finished? The phone always displays 3G whether it is actually using the internet or not or just connected to the phone carrier.
3) Is there a way to disable the iPhone connecting to the internet via the phone carrier without disabling normal phone functions or the Wi-Fi home network option?
I have a simple data package, and don't plan to connect that often unless I'm using a wireless network. As my data package is only small I want to limit accidental use, hence why I want to ba e=able to ensure I know when I am and am not connected ot the internet.
For thos of you in Australia, I'm using Telstra and the 3G network.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Leon.

Answer 1

Allan Sampson wrote:
If you don't select the iPhone's Mail application or any other application that requires internet access while connected via the cellular network, you won't have internet access or data transfer but you will have an internet connection if wanted or needed, which cannot be turned off.
Hi Allan,
Thanks. Your answer above seems to already put my fears at ease.
No problem with having internet connection always available so that I can have it when I need it. I don't want to turn that off. Just wanted to make sure that as long as I don't use any applications that require internet connection, I don't get connected to the cellular network internet/data transfer and thus unknowingly eat up my free data hours. And, when I do use apps that do require internet connection, the connection/data transfer will automatically cease once I simply exit the apps.
Sometimes with such high tech products, I still have the need for something basic and outright such as -- 'disconnect from internet?' to ensure that I am really disconnected and not loosing my free hours... and worse of all, getting charged for use over the free hours!