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Project Fi by Google

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Re: Project Fi by Google

#101

Post by MBlume »

tomhschmidt wrote: post #93
MBlume wrote: post #40

"We refund the data you don't use" is basically a way of saying "you pay by the megabyte for the data you do use" -- which is actually really great, I've been frustrated that everyone's settled on "all-you-can-eat" data as the standard, it doesn't align incentives well at all. And they really are refunding it: if you use 1.2GB per month, it doesn't matter whether you sign up for 2, 5, or 10GB, your bill comes out exa…

This plan actually makes no sense. Overage charges are the same rate ($10 / GB), so why am I buying a "plan" at all? Why don't they just charge $10 * x gigs / month instead of all this buying / refunding business?

People think they don't want to pay by the megabyte, so they're calling it something else. Also the plan provides a cap so that you know you're not going to pay more than $X per month without going to some app and adjusting something.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#102

Post by wmf »

pluma wrote: post #98
MBlume wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, notice that they're not charging extra for tethering, or care how many devices you tether to. As far as they're concerned, data is data because you're paying for it .

Why would they charge extra for tethering? Is that a thing in some countries?

It's a thing in the US, because "computer data" is better and more expensive than "phone data".

Re: Project Fi by Google

#103

Post by eli »

mentat wrote: post #82
MBlume wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

But I want my email and push notifications to happen the background without paying extra. Unless it's been a while, then I probably am willing to pay extra. Seems awfully tricky.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#105

Post by magic5227 »

yellowapple wrote: post #96
magic5227 wrote: post #72

Two observations: 1) Terrible name, really awful. Fi? I guess if it's "project" maybe this wasn't public-brand ready? 2) Why wouldn't someone choose the t-mobile unlimited plan vs this one? 3) For the refund policy, why wouldn't everyone sign up for the lowest plan? The presentation is confusing, just say 1gb min and $10 for each gig after that.

> Why wouldn't someone choose the t-mobile unlimited plan vs this one? The "compelling" feature is the support for multiple carriers (T-Mobile and Sprint) without having to do some zany dual-SIM setup or somesuch. To me, though, that's barely any consolation for the lack of an unlimited plan, which is a deal-breaker, and which is why - no matter how "good" Verizon and AT&T (for example) advertise themselves to be - I…

Agreed. Most of my usage is in cities where both Sprint and T-mobile have great coverage. Lack of unlimited is a deal-breaker (or at least higher data tiers)

Re: Project Fi by Google

#106

Post by Tomdarkness »

gabemart wrote: post #76
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

I think this is offering 3g rather than 2g, but I wasn't aware of that, thanks! It seems like UK carriers are lagging behind rather badly in this regard.

3 offer the ability to use your allowances in 18 countries at no extra charge:

http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Phones/Feel_At_Home

It's not as many countries, but with 3 you can get unlimited data at a fraction of the cost (I currently pay £15/month with 3 for unlimited data, 5000 3 to 3 minutes, 5000 texts and 2000 minutes to other networks).

Re: Project Fi by Google

#107

Post by yellowapple »

tomhschmidt wrote: post #93
MBlume wrote: post #40

"We refund the data you don't use" is basically a way of saying "you pay by the megabyte for the data you do use" -- which is actually really great, I've been frustrated that everyone's settled on "all-you-can-eat" data as the standard, it doesn't align incentives well at all. And they really are refunding it: if you use 1.2GB per month, it doesn't matter whether you sign up for 2, 5, or 10GB, your bill comes out exa…

This plan actually makes no sense. Overage charges are the same rate ($10 / GB), so why am I buying a "plan" at all? Why don't they just charge $10 * x gigs / month instead of all this buying / refunding business?

Or better yet: why aren't they offering an unlimited data plan like what T-Mobile and Sprint (Google Fi's "partners") already offer? Why aren't they even at least going with T-Mobile's approach of "throttle the connection once you go past your data cap, but don't charge overages"?

It's like they're taking the best things of both carriers - their unlimited data plans - and pretending those things don't exist, that they're some figment of consumers' imaginations, and instead just taking the AT&T/Verizon approach, but using a soft and squishy dildo instead of a spiked rusty iron dildo to screw us with.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#108

Post by pluma »

gabemart wrote: post #61

> Pay one rate for data around the world > > In 120+ countries, data usage costs the same $10 per GB > as it does in the US (data speed is limited to 256kbps/3G). > Check email, get directions, and keep in touch with friends > and family when on your trip. Also, call around the world > for 20c per minute and send unlimited international texts. This sounds incredible. Roaming cellular transmission costs are enormous.…

Is $10/GB and $0.2/min normal within the US? I'm not familiar with American (non-roaming) pricing.

For comparison:

In Germany I have an LTE data plan for my tablet where I pay €24.99 for 7.5GB (~$3.57/GB), the lowest plan being €6.99 for 1GB (~$7.50/GB). Unlimited calls in Germany including 1GB data would cost me €19.99/month (~$21.48) at the same provider and unlimited text in Germany would be an additional €4.99/month (~$5.36), otherwise texts are €0.09 each (~$0.10). Many German providers offer pre-paid (or post-paid) plans with €0.09/minute and €0.09/text.

My current plans work out as follows:

Tablet with 7.5GB LTE data plan: €24.99 / ~$26.83 (~$3.57/GB)

Smartphone with 1GB LTE data, 200 minutes and 200 texts: €11.90 / ~$12.87

Overages per minute: €0.09 / ~$0.10

Overages per text: €0.09 / ~$0.10

Overages for data: free (at significantly reduced speed; "high-speed" extra data can be added for €3-9/GB depending on the plan and provider)

The next closest plan for my smartphone would be 1GB LTE data, 400 minutes and 400 texts at €15.90 / ~$17.07, the difference works out to €0.01 (~$0.01) per minute or text.

I'm using my own devices, so the plans don't include the cost of the devices themselves.

My mobile phone bill over the past months mostly ranged from €14-20 and my tablet bill was mostly fixed at €24.99 (turns out 7.5GB is generally sufficient unless I use Netflix outside WiFi a lot).

Also, tethering isn't a problem either, but obviously roaming is excessively expensive even in the EU.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#109

Post by chintan »

"Once you get an invitation, you’ll also need a Nexus 6—the first smartphone to work with our network of networks. You can buy one from Project Fi when you sign up or bring one you already use."

=> seriously. its a "Device lockin" instead of "network lockin"

Re: Project Fi by Google

#110

Post by ossreality »

nrahnemoon1 wrote: post #14

In their FAQ they haven't addressed the security issues when connecting to public WiFi hotspots. The user's traffic would be flowing unencrypted, easily accessible to strangers. I wonder if they'll be providing free VPN service when connected to public WiFi.

how can one be this wrong? lol
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