Project Fi by Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Fi by Google

#191

Post by fizzbatter » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:41 PM UTC

chintan wrote: post #109

"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"

Well the same could be said about any new service that requires a specific (new) technology, no? In theory it won't be device lockin in the coming year(s). Your objection seems a bit silly at the present time.

Now, if Google has this technology licensed and only they themselves are allowed to use it in phones.. then you'd have a valid argument.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#192

Post by fixxer » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:41 PM UTC

briffle wrote: post #186

fixxer wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They already do that (allow a 3rd party to resell over their infrastructure) with Ting. They are in a commodity biz.

and virgin mobile and boost (both of which they own) plus a dozen other MVNO cell companies.

I'm tempted to get short Tucows on this, but they've been so awesome that I don't think I'd leave for Google's price point.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#193

Post by wlesieutre » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:41 PM UTC

ikeboy wrote: post #129

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…

http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/shop/serviceplan... has a 3GB plan for a year at $41.25 per month. Google's pricing for the same amount is $50 per month. So the question is whether all the new features (wifi calling, international roaming, pay-for-usage) justify the extra $9, plus the cost of a new phone for those without a Nexus 6. (Wifi calling should probably be left out of that list, since it's most l…

T-Mobile has a 5GB (LTE) + unlimited (slowed after 5GB) plan for $30/month.

It only has 100 minutes, but you can use Google Voice or similar over data. And who talks on the phone anymore anyway?

Re: Project Fi by Google

#194

Post by Joeri » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

smacktoward wrote: post #171

wiremine wrote: post #92

For those who don't want to read the FAQ or find the video incredibly unhelpful [1]: a. It only supports the Nexus 6 out of the gate. b. It automatically switches you to the "fastest" network available. Partners out of the gate are Sprint and T-mobile. Sounds like it prefers Wifi, then 4G LTE, and then degrades down to 3G or 2G. c. Pricing is $20 for unlimited talk (domestic) and text (domestic and international) and…

What I don't get is, what's in this for Sprint and T-Mobile? Currently a user of their network is a customer they "own" -- they deal with that customer directly. Now they have Google sitting between them and the user, which effectively commoditizes their service; Google could switch them out for another network down the road without the user ever knowing or caring. That's great for Google, and probably also great for…

This just happened in Belgium. One of the networks was reselling through the biggest internet and tv provider. It seemed like a sweet deal, since they were getting most of the revenue and had almost none of the support costs. Now the internet provider has bought a competing wireless network, and will move their customers over to that one instead, ending the contract. The original network provider is going to have some tough financial times ahead because they're seeing 20% of their customers walk out the door all at once.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#195

Post by Dylan16807 » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

codezero wrote: post #118

yellowapple wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 the…

My best guess is that these carriers regret offering unlimited data.

I see a lot of new offerings that have unlimited slow data. I doubt they regret it; it gives people peace of mind while still giving them incentive to upgrade.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#196

Post by jpco » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

pluma wrote: post #126

wmf wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Amazing. How do they tell whether you're tethering, though? If you're using your own smartphone, I mean.

They don't, but on-phone software (stock iOS, as a prominent example) enforces the policy.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#197

Post by UUMMUU » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

Everything about this sounds better than my current plan with Verizon except the coverage. Looking at their coverage map in central Virginia scares me because of the large areas of no coverage.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#198

Post by iamdanfox » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:42 PM UTC

I often have to manually disconnect from a slow wifi connection and switch to 4G. Project Fi doing it automatically looks great!

Those tariffs seem pretty steep though - I'm getting 3GB of 4G data for £15 a month [1]. Is $50/mo normal in the states?

[1]: https://giffgaff.com/goodybags-4g

Re: Project Fi by Google

#199

Post by khuey » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:43 PM UTC

EwanG wrote: post #114

yellowapple wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's one thing to offer "unlimited data" for a fixed price - which is about ideal for a consumer, but that doesn't exist anymore. Yes it does; both Sprint and T-Mobile offer it (alongside their respective non-unlimited plans). The fact that Google Fi doesn't despite using those two carriers as its "partners" is incredibly disappointing.

To Be Clear, they offer it, but T-Mobile will throttle your speeds after a certain number of megs. Sprint also used to do so, but apparently has stopped doing so due to a need to try to get folks to at least check them out.

T-Mobile does offer an unlimited LTE plan.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#200

Post by will_work4tears » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:43 PM UTC

dntrkv wrote: post #81

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.or…

Well, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt are both involved in Planetary Resources[0]. They are actively doing stuff even now[1] (their product is the Arkyd in this case). Not quite officially Google, but I can see where people would assume so.

[0]-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_Resources

[1]-http://www.miningweekly.com/article/planetary-resources-laun...