Slashdot Mirror
Google To Open Project Fi To iPhone, Samsung, and OnePlus (theverge.com)
Google's Project Fi mobile service will reportedly be adding support for Samsung, OnePlus, and iPhones. "More handsets from existing Fi partners LG and Motorola will also gain Fi support," reports The Verge. "The iPhone experience is apparently 'in beta,' which is a sign that users might run into bugs or be left without some of Fi's features." From the report: The lineup of "Fi-ready" compatible phones -- those that Google says have been fully optimized for the network -- is fairly short: Google is currently selling the Pixel 3, 3 XL, 2 XL, LG G7, LG V35, Moto G6, and Moto X4 (Android One edition) directly through its Project Fi website.
And although Google is apparently about to widen support and officially allow more devices onto Fi, those "Fi-friendly" phones will still offer the best overall user experience for subscribers, according to the report. It's not yet entirely clear what that means, but we should know more once Google makes a proper announcement. Either way, adding that pool of popular hardware will allow for many more consumers to give the service a shot and see if the pricing model and performance are preferable over Fi's larger competitors.
And although Google is apparently about to widen support and officially allow more devices onto Fi, those "Fi-friendly" phones will still offer the best overall user experience for subscribers, according to the report. It's not yet entirely clear what that means, but we should know more once Google makes a proper announcement. Either way, adding that pool of popular hardware will allow for many more consumers to give the service a shot and see if the pricing model and performance are preferable over Fi's larger competitors.
In case anyone was wondering why phone selection is limited: Fi's SIM card has two profiles for quickly moving to/from T-Mobile and Sprint, and wi-fi also.
Why is Project Fi only available on select devices?
These devices are the first smartphones that support our network of networks. They work with the Project Fi SIM card, which supports multiple cellular networks, and have a state-of-the-art cellular radio tuned to work across network types.
A very good wireless service. Great prices, coverage everywhere.
I've been using it since 2014 (I think) and I've got no complaints, except that sometimes on calls to certain Eastern European (Balkan) countries, there is like a 5-second delay, which makes it impossible to carry on a conversation. But usually if I just hang up and call again it works fine, and to be fair, it might have nothing to do with Google's service. Other than that, it's been the perfect service to me. Data is really cheap and you only pay for what you use, so often my monthly bill is less than I expected. I've moved a lot over the past few years and the coverage has been great in the Midwest, East Coast, Houston, and now California.
You can only pay by automatic pay, and there are only certain devices that will work with Project Fi. I started with a Nexus 5, which was a very good phone and then went to a Pixel, which is also a very good phone except I hate that fucking notch.
You are welcome on my lawn.
It should be fairly obvious what that means: more direct (or mandated) integration with Google's caching services at the network, OS, and (probably) baseband layer.
To *some extent* this is actually not incredibly unwarranted, nor unprecedented. But the legacy mobile providers are still not, first and foremost, data collection companies... they're telecommunications providers. Google isn't that, and can no longer be trusted to be that without an abundance of caution.
Hire a Linux system administrator, systems engineer,
Fi uses Sprint and T-Mobile towers as well as wi-fi calling, with software covering seamless hand-offs between these (and providing a secure VPN to make use of Google's list of "trusted" public open wi-fi networks). Without the software you can use the network on T-Mobile (or probably Sprint) towers with any Android phone compatible with T-Mobile's bands, but you won't get wi-fi calling or the other benefits.
Teens know how to use data but they can be taught to conserve it as well. We use the Project Fi family plan with 2 teenagers. The kids get 3GB/month for free, and anything over that comes out of their piggy banks. Don't tell them, but we're actually putting the money in envelopes and we'll give it back to them when they graduate. They haven't had to pay too often - they quickly learned the cost of streaming YouTube over cellular data. They have also learned to use the Fi app to monitor their usage, and how to use Android settings to automatically restrict apps from using background data, and other useful life skills like that.
Love when a stupid ass article can't be bothered to mention what the fuck it is about.
It's a phone plan that uses the networks of Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and selected wifi, with transparent handoff between them. Prices are good. You pay only for how much you use that month.
If you regularly use your phone to stream HD video all day, I haven't compared pricing for that use case. I have FiOS for internet and TV while I'm at home.
I can get unlimited calls and 15GB data for €15 prepaid in Ireland. No contract, no other charges. Roaming & data works in other EU countries too. What the hell is up with the United States when it comes to fucked up expensive mobile service?
What the hell is up with the United States when it comes to fucked up expensive mobile service?
A couple of decades of phones subsidized by carriers and paid for via long-term contracts which include carrier locking of the device. A mash-up of carrier technologies also contributed to lock-in as I don't think it was until recently you could find a phone that would do CDMA and GSM, plus the CDMA standard didn't even have a SIM card you could swap.
It may also be that the geographic size of the US actually makes carrier costs higher due to the larger number of sq. miles to cover, although you could counter this with the costs/complexity of setting up cell sites in old, densely populated European urban areas. In the US carriers can often just long-term lease ground in a parking lot or some other underutilized area.