Wireless or WiFi connections use the Network card in the phone to connect to an access point or wireless router in your home at work, down the pub, etc... These connections are usually Broadband subscription services that you pay for seperately, not directly associated to your mobile bill in the vast majority of cases
(unless you have a bundle from one supplier, of course, who might sell you Cable, Phone and Mobile all in one). Your Network operator doesn't bill you for this throughput of data.
Packet data connections, GPRS or 3G, use the regular phone antenna and connect to the same masts used to make phone calls. These connections are billed by your Mobile network operator.
The easiest example is this: I get no Vodafone signal at the house at all, I can't make calls or send texts at all. But I can connect to my WiFi. Therefor, you see that they are seperate.
It's a lot like saying your Network operator will charge you for each picture you take, or each MP3 you play - They don't.. Appreciate that the WiFi and packet data are similar in terms of functions they provide, but they are seperate connection methods.
Left hand side is data connections your network charge you for. It may say "3G".
Icon on the right is Wifi and will not be charged by your network.
Also, be aware that if you have no signal, the 3G icon will be displayed, but with no signal, it will not be active.
Finally, when you send picture messages, you will see the packet data icon, but this data is charged as part of the media message and doesn't come off your data allowance.
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