How does it work? Is this VOIP via LTE and Wi-Fi? How it wakes up to receive a call? Does phone constantly have Wi-Fi on? Would it drain battery quickly? Any good write up about tech detail? I have read some reports from people switched their phones to data only and having VOIP over that LTE. Somewhat doubtful how reliably can VOIP work on Wi-Fi while phone is locked.
US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
61–70 of 106 posts
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google voice languished for years with no updates, no bug fixes (despite a lot of serious problems!)
And it is specifically excluded from Google Fi (you may import your number, but no going back). My biggest gripe with Fi is that there is no way to check voicemail or handle SMS through the web interface. That was the most useful aspect of Voice for me.
You can send/receive SMS and get transcribed voicemails through Hangouts. I think you have to enable it in the options somewhere. Possibly my favorite thing about Fi
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#63Does anyone have any experience of using Google Fi with Google Voice?
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#64This is fantastic. The statements they're making about multiple networks providing superior coverage have rung true for me, personally. I've been a Project Fi user in Michigan since shortly after they announced its availability (I was in a well covered area for T-Mobile and Sprint and got in early on the invite list, I guess).
My parents have a home "up north" (the thumb area of Michigan) and I've had service with both T-Mo and Verizon since I've been spending a lot of time up there. Coverage from VZW/T-Mo, despite being vastly different networks, suffered from a large dead spot in Fort Gratiot and coverage on the property was also terrible (low lying, beach front property results in a very obstructed situation). I switched to T-Mo because I'd pick up Canadian towers on the property with Verizon which would cause me billing problems[1].
The statements they're making about choosing the best provider from multiple providers is not marketing. I get 4G coverage all the way up to through the most rural areas and can pull a signal on the property (2G, sometimes Canada, but it's there if I need it). T-Mobile and Sprint's network is different enough that no other MVNOs that I know of support both. Because Project Fi does, I get excellent coverage -- where T-Mo lacked, at least in the areas I travel, Sprint has a great signal and my 4G performance is so consistent that I haven't had occasion to even look to see if I'm in LTE or not (that would only happen when the music would stop or a browsing session would die -- "oh, I'm 2G/3G, no wonder!").
Nobody in my family has reliable service except for my wife and I (she's on Fi, now, too). The Wi-Fi features work seamlessly and are much more intelligent than I experienced on T-Mo. Due to one of my APs being wonky at home, Project Fi automatically uses 4G for calls when I'm attached to it. When I'm connected to my properly functioning AP, it uses WiFi (internet works on both, but no VoIP service from mobile phones has ever worked on the one). With T-Mo, I had to turn WiFi calling off because I'd just stop being able to make/take calls when connected to the broken router. It hands off calls without issue, as well (there's a brief period where audio is dead when this happens but I usually don't notice it).
It's a well thought out service and the pricing was perfect for me. I'm on WiFi 99% of the time and my mobile data is often below 1G/mo, however, with the work I do I can have a month or two a year where my data goes well beyond 6GB, so I always kept my plan at that level and just donated that money to T-Mo/Verizon. The prices aren't the lowest in the area when pre-paid offerings are included, but with the service being what it is, I'd pay more for this kind of reliability.
[1] T-Mo doesn't charge for Canadian data or texts and allowed WiFi calling (I'm not sure if Verizon does, yet, or not) so this resolved the problem for me. Coverage wasn't as good, especially a few years ago with 4G, but it was good enough.
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am also using and loving Google Fi so far. No manipulative billing practices designed to obscure the true cost. Reasonable metered data prices. The only downside is having to use a Motorola phone. They seem to always break within 1.5 years of purchase.
You can stick an activated Fi SIM in an iPhone if you want. It's undocumented, but it works fine. The only thing I lost was smooth switching between cellular and wifi, but otherwise I've been quite happy with it.
Do you mean if you do this you will have to do the manual switch every time?
And may I ask which iPhone you have? I have an iPhone 5.
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#66Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#67How does it work? Is this VOIP via LTE and Wi-Fi? How it wakes up to receive a call? Does phone constantly have Wi-Fi on? Would it drain battery quickly? Any good write up about tech detail? I have read some reports from people switched their phones to data only and having VOIP over that LTE. Somewhat doubtful how reliably can VOIP work on Wi-Fi while phone is locked.
I don't know that it works any differently than the others in the handling of calls. I'm not aware that they're doing VoLTE (I suspect not because my phone behaves like my Verizon phone did -- dropping LTE data when I'm on a call -- on the occasion that I've had to look).
It differs in handling of WiFi calling in that "it actually works really well"[1]. Calls started on WiFi switch (mostly) seamlessly to cellular when you go out of range or the call quality dives. It attaches to some public access points automatically (with a little "key" icon at the top when it does so).
On the cellular front, it uses T-Mo and Sprint (and, now US Cellular). Their networks are quite different[2] and it is able to bounce between them and does so in a manner that maximizes 4G and overall coverage. There were dead zones for me on T-Mo that have perfect coverage on Project Fi.
[1] I had T-Mo with WiFi calling previously and even at the time that I left it barely worked. I'd not receive calls when attached to one of my access points (or drop them if my phone jumped over to it) and call hand-off to cellular never worked for me. It always works on Fi and my phone won't even try to use the other AP for calling (which it figured out on its own).
[2] I believe their 4G technology is similar enough, but below that its CDMA for Sprint and GSM for T-Mobile, I believe. My information may be out of date, though. When I signed up there weren't any MVNOs that used those two networks.
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
It'll be good for truly last mile users, I imagine SF bay area has plenty of options (although I know they want Google too), this seems to provide a possible broadband ISP option for those that would otherwise have none.
>It'll be good for truly last mile users Who isn't a last mile user?
I think what is meant by a non-last mile user is someone who tends to stay in cities and suburbs, and rarely, if ever, ventures into rural areas, where cell phone service is still often non-existent or limited to one carrier that may or may not have a roaming agreement with your own carrier.
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
And it is specifically excluded from Google Fi (you may import your number, but no going back). My biggest gripe with Fi is that there is no way to check voicemail or handle SMS through the web interface. That was the most useful aspect of Voice for me.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6188337?hl=en "Once you do this, your text messages and voicemail will sync across Hangouts everywhere, including: Gmail chat, Google+ Page or profile, Chrome desktop app, Android or iOS device, Inbox by Gmail, or the Chrome extension."
That's a good idea, but it comes with caveats:
- You need a cellular data or Wi-Fi connection to send and receive text messages, even on your Project Fi phone
- You will no longer receive SMS messages in your default SMS app, instead you will receive SMS and voicemail in Hangouts on the web and all of your devices
Re: US Cellular Now a Part of Project Fi's Network
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
I am also using and loving Google Fi so far. No manipulative billing practices designed to obscure the true cost. Reasonable metered data prices. The only downside is having to use a Motorola phone. They seem to always break within 1.5 years of purchase.
I'm quite excited to try it. Unfortunately (or fortunately) i'm on T-Mobile, with a no contract $30/m Unlimited text/data plan (very few minutes) , and that's just really hard to beat. Note that this plan might not be available anymore.. not sure really, but i know i often get flack for being on this plan from tmo. It clearly isn't making them enough money, but my god, i love it.
The plan still exists, you just have to jump through hoops to find it: http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/other-prepaid-plans
Had to go to prepaid plans > Individual plan > Talk and text only Link underneath (even though the plan is the opposite, good labeling).
(Screengrab of how I got to it in case they're doing cookie/referer checks and the direct url doesn't work: http://paste.click/VSgPVD )