Google announces Project Fi: Partners with Sprint and T-Mobile for Network Access (previous title: Google to start it's own Wireless Service; using T-Mobile/Sprint for it's Network Footprint.)

[grimloch]

This ensures I won't be be trying this out. Google Voice is something I'm not willing to give up, it's too bad they couldn't make them compatible.

I'm really surprised by the Google Voice incompatibility and feel the same way in that it's a deal killer.

 

I average 4GB/month on SERO Premium anyway so it's unlikely I'd be able to save money without making a significant effort to reduce data consumption.

 

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[lbui]

Hopefully Fi will encourage Sprint to push out VoLTE faster for seamless handoffs. Any updates on VoLTE by any chance?

[lou99/maximus1987]

Hopefully Fi will encourage Sprint to push out VoLTE faster for seamless handoffs. Any updates on VoLTE by any chance?

Sprint is not gonna push out volte till they get 800mhz lte everywhere because there's no seemless fallback to 3G voice like for TMO, att.

 

 

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[gifters]

So if FI is replacing voice, what features of voice aren't included in FI? I just use voice for my voicemail.

 

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[mc_gusto]

http://www.droid-life.com/2015/05/05/switching-from-google-voice-to-project-fi-how-it-works/

 

More on switching from. Google voice to Fi. You have to leave that voice life behind!

[mc_gusto]

Maybe not as harsh as was originally reported.

http://www.androidcentral.com/no-project-fi-will-not-destroy-your-google-voice-account

 

You can access old gv stuff

And you can get back your voice Number if you leave Fi.

[Sprke]

I really don't understand the FI's coverage map. Looks like AT&T is being used in some states for roaming but most of the state of MT is no coverage? AT&T covers MT well..

[S4GRU]

I really don't understand the FI's coverage map. Looks like AT&T is being used in some states for roaming but most of the state of MT is no coverage? AT&T covers MT well..

If AT&T is more expensive, Google may be holding off on any MT coverage knowing that both Tmo and Sprint coverage is imminent. Sprint is going statewide in Montana with Project Cedar, installing NV on Chinook Wireless sites. And Tmo is making a move in Western Montana using newly acquired 700-A assets it purchased.

 

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[dnwk]

Sprint is not gonna push out volte till they get 800mhz lte everywhere because there's no seemless fallback to 3G voice like for TMO, att.

 

 

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Why no fallback to 3G voice?

[lou99/maximus1987]

Why no fallback to 3G voice?

CDMA and lte are not inherently compatible.

The upgrade path for CDMA operators was supposed to be Ultra Mobile Broadband not lte.

 

 

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[dnwk]

CDMA and lte are not inherently compatible.

The upgrade path for CDMA operators was supposed to be Ultra Mobile Broadband not lte.

 

 

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But Verizon is falling back to 3G from VoLTE, aren't they?

[lou99/maximus1987]

But Verizon is falling back to 3G from VoLTE, aren't they?

No. Your call will drop. And you'll have to redial.

 

 

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[dnwk]

No. Your call will drop. And you'll have to redial.

 

 

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They could use some over-the-top solutions. a.k.a Republic Wireless fallback

[lou99/maximus1987]

They could use some over-the-top solutions. a.k.a Republic Wireless fallback

It wouldn't be possible on iPhone.

And not enough people care about it.

 

 

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[sbolen]

I was playing around with the pricing sliders and something caught my attention -- if you only want to pay for what you use, then sign up for a 1GB plan. Any overage will be billed the same way the refunds are handled, at the ~$0.01/MB rate. Your monthly plan cost will stay fixed at $30 for the Fi basics ($20) and 1GB of data ($10; which, as far as I know, is required to have a Fi plan). Use less than 1GB, and you get money back.

[lou99/maximus1987]

I was playing around with the pricing sliders and something caught my attention -- if you only want to pay for what you use, then sign up for a 1GB plan. Any overage will be billed the same way the refunds are handled, at the ~$0.01/MB rate. Your monthly plan cost will stay fixed at $30 for the Fi basics ($20) and 1GB of data ($10; which, as far as I know, is required to have a Fi plan). Use less than 1GB, and you get money back.

Is there a family plan option?

[cletus]

Is there a family plan option?

There are no family plan options. That is why everyone hates the pricing.

[Arysyn]

There are no family plan options. That is why everyone hates the pricing.

 

I don't hate GoogleFi's pricing because of not having a family plan. I'm disappointed because the pricing per gb is so expensive, at $10 for every 1gb.

 

Google has decided to use both Sprint's network and T-Mobile's network, yet they price the data so high, purposely aiming their service to people who mainly use wifi. So, it doesn't end up making much sense. Why bother using two wireless networks together to create one really awesome network system for Google's service, when they are trying to limit the usage of that system, in favor of using wifi? The per gb data pricing is more expensive than Verizon's promotional per gb data pricing together with the 1st line included overall. 

 

Google ought to have charged $5 per gb. Then they'd have something to really enjoy. Right now, only wealthy people can find value in what they are charging which might make it worth for them to drop AT&T and Verizon for, though only if they like the Nexus 6. I figure they likely have either an Apple Iphone 6plus 128gb, or some custom phone company that wouldn't work with Google's wireless service anyways.

[dedub]

 

 

Google has decided to use both Sprint's network and T-Mobile's network, yet they price the data so high, purposely aiming their service to people who mainly use wifi. So, it doesn't end up making much sense. Why bother using two wireless networks together to create one really awesome network system for Google's service, when they are trying to limit the usage of that system, in favor of using wifi?

 

this.

 

I expect it is mostly to not scare away the carriers, however.

 

Even at $5/gb, that's 10 gig for $50 (not including the additional "the basics" charge @ $20), that's still more expensive than an iphone $50 unlimited plan or regular $60 android unlimited plan.

 

$50 (20+30) for 3 gig is simply laughable.

[lou99/maximus1987]

this.

 

I expect it is mostly to not scare away the carriers, however.

 

Even at $5/gb, that's 10 gig for $50 (not including the additional "the basics" charge @ $20), that's still more expensive than an iphone $50 unlimited plan or regular $60 android unlimited plan.

 

$50 (20+30) for 3 gig is simply laughable.

 

It's not totally lauhgable.

Cricket - ATT - gives you 2.5GB for $35 (with autopay) but you don't get international 256kbps, speeds limited to 8mbps.

 

For most people, it's laughable but for someone who travels - a lot - internationally it'd make sense.

[S4GRU]

And if they added AT&T LTE service to this, or Verizon, and it would not be laughable anymore.  I still don't think $10/gig is outrageous.  It's just not competitive with discount plans or special unlimited offers.

[Sprke]

And if they added AT&T LTE service to this, or Verizon, and it would not be laughable anymore. I still don't think $10/gig is outrageous. It's just not competitive with discount plans or special unlimited offers.

I would pay big money to a company that would offer a sim that could hop between Verizon, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. I realize that will probably never happen...

 

 

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[KD8JBF]

I would pay big money to a company that would offer a sim that could hop between Verizon, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. I realize that will probably never happen...

 

 

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The problem with this is the people in the industry that say NEVER.....To be innovative and to move forward, they should never say never! Use it as a co-opetition! This should happen!!

[Thomas L.]

I would pay big money to a company that would offer a sim that could hop between Verizon, ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. I realize that will probably never happen...

 

 

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I'm sure it could happen, but it would be damn expensive. You would be paying for network expenses of all four carriers if you wanted seamless roaming of some sort. Something more realistic might be a SIM that gives access to those networks, with an account you add money to and a different per gigabyte price depending on the network you're on and an app to track what you've used on each network, along with being able to prioritize service quality or service cost.

[mozamcrew]

Google has decided to use both Sprint's network and T-Mobile's network, yet they price the data so high, purposely aiming their service to people who mainly use wifi. So, it doesn't end up making much sense. Why bother using two wireless networks together to create one really awesome network system for Google's service, when they are trying to limit the usage of that system, in favor of using wifi? The per gb data pricing is more expensive than Verizon's promotional per gb data pricing together with the 1st line included overall. 

 

It makes perfect sense to me. The selling point of being a Sprint customer, or any carrier that isn't an MVNO, is basically two things, the availability of off network roaming and the price/GB of additional data. The logical niche for MVNOs is to have lower upfront costs, but make up the balance by making their money on marking up the data that their customers DO use.