Google Fi

[Lloydbm41]

Even with unlimited data, unless your mobile data speed is ~3 Gbps, you don't have 1 PiB of data per month. At most, you have 31 TiB (assuming constant 100 Mbps throughput for 30 days, 24/7).

Touché.

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So clarify my dumb question, you dont need to have Sprint or TMobile to utilize this? I would basically cancel my ATT and join this Google Fi stuff.

Seems Texas is all LTE or at least on their coverage map where I am in the DFW area which is awesome.

Correct. You do not need TMo or Sprint. Google is using their networks (much like Metro PCS or Cricket does.) Difference with Google Fi is dynamic switching between CDMA and GSM, plus WiFi (effectively giving users a much larger swath of LTE coverage ). As far as I know, no other company has done this?

 

[rui no onna]

So unless she stays on ATT and I use this, we will always have 2 bills and not sure if the cost savings is there.

Family plans tend to save you quite a bit. For us (family of 4), this doesn't really save us anything. Our normal combined usage is at 8-15GB per month so with Google Fi, that's $80 for base access and $80-150 for data. That's pretty much the same as what you'll pay for AT&T Mobile Share or Verizon More Everything 10GB. I got in on AT&T's double data promo 10GB->20GB which makes Google Fi less enticing.

Besides, I don't think my mom and dad would be willing to switch their iPhone for Android.

As far as I know, no other company has done this?

Don't think anyone has. Google is in a unique position to be able to implement this since they create both hardware and software, as well as serving as carrier at the same time.

 

[akuma13]

This isn't economical for me. Maybe I'm one of the few but I don't have home internet. Most of my entertainment and data needs is consumed by mobile.

MVNO's are catering to light and heavy data users with more appealing plans that don't cost an arm and a leg.
I pay $60 a month for unlimited talk/text and 20gb through Cricket Wireless. My only extra expense is $10-20 a month for international talk through Google Hangounts.

If Google Fi included international talk on their base plan I'd be more interested in the service.

 

[ucfgrad93]

This is a good idea, but severely limited since you need a Nexus 6. Hopefully it will come to a wider range of devices in time.

 

[ravenvii]

I have T-Mobile pre-paid, $30 per month for unlimited (albeit throttled after 5 GB) data. That's really hard to beat.

 

[gotluck]

I wonder how many phones will be compatible with this in the future. I didn't think many phones are compatible with both CDMA and gsm.

Sprint has had very aggressive anti sim unlocking stance in the past, which is why their second hand phones tend to be the cheapest

I believe iPhone should be compatible

 

[Technarchy]

I'm not seeing much incentive to leave AT&T and no way in hell would I ever get a Nexus 6.

 

[Cnasty]

The purchase of the nexus has been getting better and better I tell ya. This is such a cool idea and will bring great savings from ATT.

Invite pending. Let's do this.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

IMO Google needs to hire a marketing team. They come up with some crazy things but can't market or promote them to save their life. I watched the video and still had no idea what it was promoting. Not until I read some comments here. Spit it out already.

Also, am I to understand that you have to buy a new phone to make this work? Is the pricing per device or a family plan?

Dear Google.....you suck at marketing and promoting even cool ideas. Hire Apple, split some profits and perhaps you will succeed.

I agree with you completely about Google marketing being a weak link. I think though they are a company of true nerds to the core. Sure they don't market well, but as a fellow nerd they are a much more interesting company than what Apple is. I find Apple very focused, but pretentious; while Google is unrefined, but creative. Apple takes something basic and puts a marketing wrapper around it to promote it as something more than what it really is (and does it successfully), while Google just gives you the raw manifestation of their creative juices without any sugar coating.

 

[AppleRobert]

I have T-Mobile pre-paid, $30 per month for unlimited (albeit throttled after 5 GB) data. That's really hard to beat.

With which smartphone and do you get LTE?

 

[ravenvii]

With which smartphone and do you get LTE?

iPhone 4s. So I'm not sure if I actually get LTE. Don't really care (yet).

 

[spinedoc77]

I don't really see the value in this, I guess it's a small savings if you don't use much data. A GoPhone plan is $45 with 1.5GB of data. That would be $35 with Google Fi, but with IMO much worse reception, I don't think I would trade $10 a month for sprint/tmobile reception. I do like the fact that if you don't use your data you get a refund, I wish the carriers did something like that. Also to add Google Fi has the disclaimer they charge taxes/fees, I'm not sure what that is but seeing the high amount of taxes/fees on my postpaid account it can't be good. GoPhone is $45 out the door, even cheaper if you use Callmart to fill up the plan, so I'll bet when all is said and done it's more realistically $45 gophone versus probably $42 Google Fi.

I think something like Google Fi needs to be much cheaper to be truly appealing. It would have been a huge success 3 years ago before Tmobile started to force everyone to lower prices. But in today's market they seem overpriced for what they offer.

 

[pdqgp]

Sure they don't market well, but as a fellow nerd they are a much more interesting company than what Apple is. I find Apple very focused, but pretentious; while Google is unrefined, but creative. Apple takes something basic and puts a marketing wrapper around it to promote it as something more than what it really is (and does it successfully), while Google just gives you the raw manifestation of their creative juices without any sugar coating.

Fair comparison and description. The downside is when Google fails to market these creative programs said programs usually fail. Even their launching of them through invites only is a fail IMO. Love the creative side of the geeks they employ but their go-to-market fail cause it to go to waste.

 

[burgman]

With which smartphone and do you get LTE?

Any unlocked GSM phone with Tmo bands, yes i get LTE. Signing up is only at Walmart or online at Tmo. No roaming and only 100 minutes talk time/unlimited text then 10 cents per minute.

 

[0000757]

While I really don't like the Nexus 6, I requested an invite, and if I get it I'll probably sign up.

If I could use it on a Nexus 5 or my current iPhone however, I'd be 100% all over it.

 

[Esoom]

I have T-Mobile pre-paid, $30 per month for unlimited (albeit throttled after 5 GB) data. That's really hard to beat.

That's the deal to beat IMHO.

 

[gotluck]

I must be an old man, I can't do under 100 minutes a month and I've found VoIP over cellular data to be too unreliable to give that T-Mobile plan a chance.

 

[spinedoc77]

That's the deal to beat IMHO.

Depends on what you do. $30 for 100 minutes is a humungous rip off IMO, but that's only because I use my phone mainly for talking. In terms of data I never understood why some people need so much data, I mean what the heck are you doing with that much? I suppose some may stream a lot of video, do you have it set up to stream to a larger screen and do you really watch that much video away from home or somewhere with wifi?

 

[Esoom]

Depends on what you do. $30 for 100 minutes is a humungous rip off IMO, but that's only because I use my phone mainly for talking. In terms of data I never understood why some people need so much data, I mean what the heck are you doing with that much? I suppose some may stream a lot of video, do you have it set up to stream to a larger screen and do you really watch that much video away from home or somewhere with wifi?

Using Google Hangouts gives you essentially unlimited voice with this plan.

 

[spinedoc77]

Using Google Hangouts gives you essentially unlimited voice with this plan.

I've never had good luck with using hangouts over a cellular data connection, maybe just unlucky but I had a lot of dropped calls and weird calls like static and sounding like they were underwater, or incomplete connections. Have they improved it? I haven't used it in a year or so.

A great value IMO is the GoPhone $45 for 1.5gb and unlimited everything else, this way I don't have to worry about trying to shoehorn my calls into google hangouts. Out of curiosity does the Tmobile plan have taxes and fees? Is the $30 out the door?

 

[Esoom]

I've never had good luck with using hangouts over a cellular data connection, maybe just unlucky but I had a lot of dropped calls and weird calls like static and sounding like they were underwater, or incomplete connections. Have they improved it? I haven't used it in a year or so.

A great value IMO is the GoPhone $45 for 1.5gb and unlimited everything else, this way I don't have to worry about trying to shoehorn my calls into google hangouts. Out of curiosity does the Tmobile plan have taxes and fees? Is the $30 out the door?

$30/month, no taxes or fees.

I don't do that much voice calling, so it's a good fit for me.

 

[burgman]

I have T-Mobile pre-paid, $30 per month for unlimited (albeit throttled after 5 GB) data. That's really hard to beat.

The qualifiers being you have good coverage, don't need roaming, and are a low (100) minute user. Then yeah it's a good deal. Lowest price doesn't mean much if one doesn't fit into the plan and Tmobile's limitations.

 

[AppleRobert]

Any unlocked GSM phone with Tmo bands, yes i get LTE. Signing up is only at Walmart or online at Tmo. No roaming and only 100 minutes talk time/unlimited text then 10 cents per minute.

I thought it had to be purchased at Walmart and as far as I know they don't offer many unlocked LTE phones.

 

[kevinof]

Interesting to see where google go with this but for now I'm sticking to my Three UK pay as you go.

£15/month = Unlimited data, 3000 texts, 300 minutes and free roaming in 18 countries at no extra charge!

Beat that Google!

 

[burgman]

I thought it had to be purchased at Walmart and as far as I know they don't offer many unlocked LTE phones.

No Any phone that has Tmo bands and you can buy the plan at Walmart or online at Tmo. I'm using my unlocked AT&T iPhone 6+ on the plan now. Works great with WiFi caling etc. Walmart will say anything to get you to buy there. I'm doing a month test drive to see if I want to switch from AT&T. Pretty sure it won't work because of coverage problems, too bad so sad.