Google Project Fi - Google's Own Network Officially Launched

[ilikemacandpc]

For $20 a month you get all the basics (talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage in 120+ countries), and then it's a flat $10 per GB for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. 1GB is $10/month, 2GB is $20/month, 3GB is $30/month, and so on. Since it's hard to predict your data usage, you'll get credit for the full value of your unused data. Let's say you go with 3GB for $30 and only use 1.4GB one month. You'll get $16 back, so you only pay for what you use. 

 

As reported previously, Google will operate its wireless service with the help of both T-Mobile and Sprint; customers will have access to both networks, and Google's service will intelligently switch between them and Wi-Fi to maintain strong reception. "We developed new technology that gives you better coverage by intelligently connecting you to the fastest available network at your location whether it's Wi-Fi or one of our two partner LTE networks," the company said. Project Fi also supports voice calls and texting over Wi-Fi, lending subscribers more flexibility and how and where they can communicate with their contacts.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/22/8467433/google-launches-mobile-service

 

 

Damn boy! This is going to be GREAT for people in the U.S. The ONLY drawback is that the only possible phone available is the Nexus 6. Granted, it's not a bad phone, but this might push some people away due to the huge size of the phone and its general flaws. In any case, this is dirt cheap, and is pretty darn interesting, especially considering you can access the T-Mobile and Sprint network. Pricewise, it's amazingly competitive. I would absolutely love to switch over to theis network, and potentially bring my entire family over to this, making a huge switch over. However, it seems to be quite cost prohibitive considering the high cost of the phone initially. I would love to see a CHEAP Nexus device at around $300 like the Nexus 5 that would work with this network. Then, Google would have a winner on its hands, with a cheap phone and wireless plan to absolutely force carriers to innovate. This is going to change things, though I'm curious why Google wanted to go this direction. Considering its reluctance and lack of desire to become an ISP, I don't really know why it wants to become a cell carrier. Oh well, I'm not complaining. GO GOOGLE!

 

[isHypnophobic]

Interesting. I want to see how this evolves in the US cell carrier market. It's cheap as balls right now but for how long, we don't know.

[Aytex]

Google fiber now google fi. Google master race!!!

[givingtnt]

looks awesome to me !

is it in canada ?

[TopWargamer]

As cool as this is, it's going to be extremely hard to pry me away from my $50 unlimited data plan. Although I do love how Project Fi will switch between T-Mobile and Sprint for the best coverage and how Google will pay you back for data you didn't use.

[sof006]

Nice!

[Rabbicats101]

I hope they allow people outside the US to buy sim cards.  This would be great for trips to the states and to other countries as well.

[MrTiC]

Google fiber now google fi. Google master race!!!

Google:

[Mew]

So.......... I'm better off getting tmobile's $30 plan so that I'm not tied bound with the nexus 6, which arguably is a terrible phone.

 

Edit: Looks like this will cost $70 a month for the phone and 3 gigabytes of lte(do they count using their wifi towards the data count? If not, can't everyone log on to their nationwide wifi?) on a 24 month contract.

[Interfectorem]

Goodbye ATT, hello Fi! I'm glad I bought my Nexus 6 from the Motorola website instead of AT&T.

[Dabombinable]

Olts of potential, but its US only and locked to a Phablet, instead of a real mobile phone/smart phone.

[ObeseWalrus]

But you're still getting fucked over with those prices.

[Mew]

But you're still getting fucked over with those prices.

 

I don't like their pricing structure because everytime you're using data, you're actively thinking "if I don't use data right now, I'll be saving money" whereas if you have the traditional tiered data plan, maybe with rollover, you can just keep using your data and not have to worry. 

[Opcode]

Unlimited talk and text for $20 a month? If this gets big (they also start using AT&T lines etc) you can bet I'll be getting this. I pay $25 a month for 250 minutes and unlimited texting as it is. Phone service pricing has been high for no reason for a long time now. It's about time someone stepped in and undercut the big guys.

[Mew]

Unlimited talk and text for $20 a month? If this gets big (they also start using AT&T lines etc) you can bet I'll be getting this. I pay $25 a month for 250 minutes and unlimited texting as it is. Phone service pricing has been high for no reason for a long time now. It's about time someone stepped in and undercut the big guys.

 

Tmobile used to have cheap talk and text plans, but I don't see them anymore. Project Fi seems to be a rip of Republic Wireless but with much less freedom. 

[techguru]

looks awesome to me !

is it in canada ?

LMFAO....you really believe us canadians would get this?!..HA!

[Jade]

At those rates, I'd be paying more with Google.

[Inkz]

So for the calls does it use VoIP like freedompop? Also I would consider this if it was not only for the Nexus 6, come one Google this is easy money for you with the lack of competition for the price.

[Me1z]

Sounds cool, but I wouldn't even consider it until there is guaranteed Oneplus One support. Why would you lock you entire network to one device?

[Paul567]

Why would you lock you entire network to one device?

 

This is probably just for the short term. It's their hardware, they know how it works and can guarantee the experience.

[rambi36]

 I'm not tied bound with the nexus 6, which arguably is a terrible phone.

The Nexus 6 is a very good phone. Sure the camera isn't great compared to other flagships but other than that I can't see anything wrong with it

[Paul567]

One thing I really like about this is how simple the plan is. $20 base + $10/GB of data used. Also, no bullshit regarding carriers. Run down to The States for a weekend and you don't have to worry about being raked over the coals for data usage.

 

Just to put these rates into perspective for my fellow Canadians (who can't use it but can hope to dream) here is how Google Fi stacks up against a Rogers BYOD plan.

• 1GB:  Rogers - $65 / Google - $30
• 2GB:  Rogers - $70 / Google - $40
• 4GB:  Rogers - $90 / Google - $60

[ObeseWalrus]

I don't like their pricing structure because everytime you're using data, you're actively thinking "if I don't use data right now, I'll be saving money" whereas if you have the traditional tiered data plan, maybe with rollover, you can just keep using your data and not have to worry. 

The pricing structure is horrible but that's another story, but my point was that here in Denmark you can get unlimited text and talk and 16GB 4G data for 21.50USD. And that's with no contract

[Norman_the_Owl]

Only paying for the data you use?

 

Holy shit, thank you so much google

[Paul567]

The pricing structure is horrible but that's another story, but my point was that here in Denmark you can get unlimited text and talk and 16GB 4G data for 21.50USD. And that's with no contract

 

You can't really compare Scandinavian data plans to North American data plans; it's like comparing a ferrari to a go-kart.

 

The pricing scheme Google is offering is very competitive for a North American market.