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Project Fi by Google

fi.google.com

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Re: Project Fi by Google

#81

Post by dntrkv »

kirinan wrote: post #8

This is insane. I can't think of an industry that google is not trying to compete in. Auto industry, space industry, internet of things industry (Nest), internet/media industry, cable/internet provider industry, automobile industry, robotics industry, software industry, smartphone industry, pc industry now the telecom industry. I'm starting to expect Google to launch an airline here pretty soon. How can they possibly…

They are not really competing in all of those industries, they might have a crazy project they are attempting, but they aren't really competition.

Auto industry? I'm assuming you mean self driving cars, which, at this point, are still in the concept phase. Space industry? Did I miss something, is Google launching rockets?

There are many other companies that are way more diversified than Google.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Electric

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Corporation

Plus, expanding into a wireless carrier makes way more sense for Google than any of their other ventures. One of the limiting factors of internet use in the first-world is terrible carriers with data caps.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#82

Post by mentat »

MBlume wrote: post #67
rhino369 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just wish it had peak/non-peak pricing. Even something as basic as free nights.

Or better yet, some sort of dynamic pricing when, say, you're on a crowded subway platform. You'd really want solid software integration for that, though, so the user isn't unpleasantly surprised by it.

Type "2.5" to accept surge pricing.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#85

Post by davidcgl »

pbiggar wrote: post #50
kirinan wrote: post #8

This is insane. I can't think of an industry that google is not trying to compete in. Auto industry, space industry, internet of things industry (Nest), internet/media industry, cable/internet provider industry, automobile industry, robotics industry, software industry, smartphone industry, pc industry now the telecom industry. I'm starting to expect Google to launch an airline here pretty soon. How can they possibly…

This looks to me like a pure "commoditize your complements" play. All of Google's products require great mobile internet everywhere. By getting involved in that market, they can help make it much more competitive (at the moment, cell reception is expensive and shit). It's like Google Code. Google didn't particularly want to be in that business, but Sourceforge was complete shit, and the open source ecosystem was key…

Spot on. Google Fi/Fiber both seeks to improve network connectivity for as many people as possible by accelerating competition from the incumbents (AT&T, Comcast, etc). When that happens, everyone benefits, including Google.

Other projects in this space include Android One and Loon.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#86

Post by trishume »

kirinan wrote: post #8

This is insane. I can't think of an industry that google is not trying to compete in. Auto industry, space industry, internet of things industry (Nest), internet/media industry, cable/internet provider industry, automobile industry, robotics industry, software industry, smartphone industry, pc industry now the telecom industry. I'm starting to expect Google to launch an airline here pretty soon. How can they possibly…

*technology industry.

Despite its impact on our lives it's important to remember that tech makes up just one segment of our massive economy. I have yet to see Google get into Aluminum smelting, residential construction or toothbrush manufacturing.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#87

Post by sfiles »

amalag wrote: post #23

This is doing the same things as Republic Wireless. Calls and texts over wifi to keep their carrier costs down. RW is cheaper at $10 a month without data and $25 for unlimited 3G. With RW you need their customized android phone but they are cheap. $650 for the phone is steep (or a credit pull).

Agreed, currently with Republic Wireless, same model (kind of wondering if they had talks with RW at all). I have the unlimited 3G for $25 total and it has served me well thus far. Happy with the service and saved quite a bit after moving away from Verizon.

$650 is a steep buy in for the phone, but I expect they will on board cheaper phones as this takes off. RW is still more cost effective over all at this point, although the data service will probably be better with Fi's two networks (RW runs on the sprint network when not around wifi)

Re: Project Fi by Google

#89

Post by rhino369 »

MBlume wrote: post #67
rhino369 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just wish it had peak/non-peak pricing. Even something as basic as free nights.

Or better yet, some sort of dynamic pricing when, say, you're on a crowded subway platform. You'd really want solid software integration for that, though, so the user isn't unpleasantly surprised by it.

I think customers would be pissed about never knowing when data will suddenly surge in price, even if you warn them. It would also kill the user experience. And stuff like background updates and push messages would be a pain.

I'm sure the usage pattern is steady enough to make a pretty good model.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#90

Post by vigneshv_psg »

amaks wrote: post #80
vigneshv_psg wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, T-Mobile in the US already has the exact same offering [1]. Their plan has free texts and 2g data in 120+ countries. Calls cost 20 cents per minute. [1] http://www.t-mobile.com/optional-services/roaming.html

Yes, but 2g data is barely if at all usable.

in most countries i've been to (UK, Canada, India) 2G data came in handy for things like navigation. note that 2g is part of your plan and it does not cost anything extra.

nevertheless, they also have an option to upgrade to 3G data for a fee ($10 or so).

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