Data analytics collection using vpn gateway

A system for collecting and reporting analytics data related to cellular data usage by particular applications running on a mobile device, the system comprising:

• a mobile device including a processing unit;
• an analytics agent app loaded onto the mobile device;
• a special platform server housing a data analytics policy for the mobile device;
• the analytics agent app including instructions that when executed by the processing unit operating on the mobile device are configured to:
• cooperatively provision the mobile device to be configured for collecting analytics comprising provisioning a VPN client on the mobile device;
• identify each app of a plurality of apps residing on the mobile device as being monitored or unmonitored apps;
• detect mobile data from a particular monitored app;
• initiate a VPN connection between the VPN client and a VPN gateway;
• route data activity of the particular monitored app over the VPN connection to a public website exercised by the particular monitored app;
• the VPN gateway being configured to track usage data of the particular app;
• and
• the VPN gateway being configured to report the usage data of the particular monitored app to the special platform server.