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.)

[sbolen]

Does anyone know if you can set up a Fi phone with hotspot capabilities?

[david279]

Does anyone know if you can set up a Fi phone with hotspot capabilities?

Fi includes Hotspot

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[maxsilver]

Does anyone know if you can set up a Fi phone with hotspot capabilities?

Google claims it includes tethering, at https://fi.google.com/about/plan/

[Arysyn]

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.

 

I've thought quite a bit of this issue, and I can see your point. My problem with it though is how it is marketed towards Wifi use, ala Republic Wireless, while also having such a great aspect to it network use. I feel that the network usage they have between Sprint and T-Mobile ought to be more accessible, which at the $10 per 1gb rate isn't, especially considering it works out to be more expensive than Verizon in certain situations. Verizon obviously is well known for being too highly priced for many people, and while I'm not against Google's right to do this, I just think they ought to have made the price a little bit lower, more akin to the value they are offering for Google Fiber, especially in contrast to what AT&T is charging for their non-personal privacy invasive pricing.

[S4GRU]

It better include tethering, seeing how you pay for each and every MB you use.

 

Using Tapatalk on Nexus 6

[Arysyn]

It better include tethering, seeing how you pay for each and every MB you use.

 

Using Tapatalk on Nexus 6

 

I completely agree!

 

Although, I wonder how people would feel knowing they have to watch their data usage even more carefully during tethering especially, those who are on Google Fi but still have an average Wireless budget. Kinda takes away from the enjoyment of the experience when it is needed to keep checking on data usage figures in the settings.

[sbolen]

I completely agree!

 

Although, I wonder how people would feel knowing they have to watch their data usage even more carefully during tethering especially, those who are on Google Fi but still have an average Wireless budget. Kinda takes away from the enjoyment of the experience when it is needed to keep checking on data usage figures in the settings.

I'd be using Fi different than most, I'd imagine. I'll never give up Unlimited data/my iPhone with Sprint, and I don't want to add a tethering package because there are probably months where I'd never really use data - having that refund kicked back for unused data sounds great.

 

That said, when traveling, there would likely be some months where I'd need to heavily use data. Having a fixed price/MB makes sense - I'd get a refund for $5 if I only used half of a GB over the $10/GB data price.

[Terrell352]

It better include tethering, seeing how you pay for each and every MB you use.

 

Using Tapatalk on Nexus 6

You does on Sprint tablets too but you still have to pay a minimum on $20 to access 2gb of the hotspot which is BS to the MAX! Sprint needs to get those hotspot rates off of their tablets. I wonder if the Nexus 9 will be a tablet option for the service sense the have the same bands?

[Arysyn]

I think it would have been better if Google were to have charged $30 for the base price, then $5 per gb. It would have worked out to be 10gb for $80 Monthly, 15gb for $105 Monthly, 20gb for $130 Monthly, 25gb for $155 Monthly, 30gb for $180 Monthly, etc. At those rates, Google Fi would have been a bit more expensive than T-Mobile and Sprint, so to keep it from being directly competitive with them too much, while still being less expensive than Verizon.

 

Sprint on the other side, has really bad tablet/hotspot plans, and really ought to consider updating them to match up with the higher gb offerings for less money that even Verizon is offering. Sprint could use a Google Fi idea for giving refunds on unused data, and would do well on a simplified plan for tablet pricing, such as a base $5 Monthly fee, with each gb being priced at $5 per gb. A 5gb plan would be $30 Monthly, with others, such as 10gb/$55 Monthly, 15gb/$80 Monthly, 20gb/$105 Monthly, 25gb/$130 Monthly, 30gb/$155 Monthly, etc.

 

More tablet choices would be great too! 

[travismheim]

I think it would have been better if Google were to have charged $30 for the base price, then $5 per gb. It would have worked out to be 10gb for $80 Monthly, 15gb for $105 Monthly, 20gb for $130 Monthly, 25gb for $155 Monthly, 30gb for $180 Monthly, etc. At those rates, Google Fi would have been a bit more expensive than T-Mobile and Sprint, so to keep it from being directly competitive with them too much, while still being less expensive than Verizon.

 

Sprint on the other side, has really bad tablet/hotspot plans, and really ought to consider updating them to match up with the higher gb offerings for less money that even Verizon is offering. Sprint could use a Google Fi idea for giving refunds on unused data, and would do well on a simplified plan for tablet pricing, such as a base $5 Monthly fee, with each gb being priced at $5 per gb. A 5gb plan would be $30 Monthly, with others, such as 10gb/$55 Monthly, 15gb/$80 Monthly, 20gb/$105 Monthly, 25gb/$130 Monthly, 30gb/$155 Monthly, etc.

 

More tablet choices would be great too! 

Sprint has a 30GB tablet/hotspot plan for $110 and has had it for a while now, well under your magical $5 per GB mark.

[Arysyn]

hmm... I knew Sprint has the 30gb/$110 for the router plan, though I didn't know that was available for the tablet plan too. Sounds good!

[nexgencpu]

Looks like they're already going out to some...

 

 

https://plus.google.com/113245222758526981586/posts/aJGNY3fExSb

[sbolen]

Just got an update on Fi from Google:

Hello!

 

Thanks for requesting an invite to Project Fi. We’re really excited that you’re interested in trying our service! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been happy to bring the first customers onto Project Fi and the initial feedback has been very positive.

 

We're sending invites as quickly as we can, while ensuring a high-quality experience. Given the number of requests we’ve received, we currently estimate that it will take until mid-summer to get to everyone.

 

In the coming weeks we’ll have a way for you to check the status of your invite - stay tuned for more information.

 

Thanks again for your interest in Project Fi. We'll get you an invite as soon as we can!

 

--The Project Fi team

[WiWavelength]

Just got an update on Fi from Google:

 

Yeah, Google sent that update to a select few.

 

 

AJ

[nmartine3]

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...

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would love for that to happen.

[sbolen]

Yeah, Google sent that update to a select few.

 

 

AJ

 

Must be all the VIPs, right? 

 

Right?

 

Oh.

[WiWavelength]

Must be all the VIPs, right? 

 

Right?

 

Oh.

 

Think of it as you have just been put on the wait list for your third choice college.  Quite an honor.

 

AJ

[sbolen]

Think of it as you have just been put on the wait list for your third choice college.  Quite an honor.

 

AJ

 

To be honest, Fi is my safety carrier.

[WiWavelength]

To be honest, Fi is my safety carrier.

 

My top choices are Oxford and the Sorbonne.  But Harvard is my safety.

 

AJ

[nexgencpu]

Some already received their sims and are testing Project Fi

 

https://plus.google.com/collection/83B9P

[gifters]

I wonder how handoffs between Wi-Fi and cellular are. I'm also interested in how coverage is.

 

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[Deval]

Just received my invite, of course I don't have a phone to use it with...

[gifters]

Just received my invite, of course I don't have a phone to use it with...

Order now, you can get the phone for the current sale price with monthly payments, but it seems it only works if you order through fi

 

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[Deval]

Order now, you can get the phone for the current sale price with monthly payments, but it seems it only works if you order through fi

 

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

Eh, too much money for something I want as a test drive. Need to find a Nexus 6 somewhere.

[gifters]

At $150 off till June 23rd you should be able to unload it without too much of a hit afterwords better than paying 600

 

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