Project Fi by Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Fi by Google

#231

Post by fuentesjr » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:55 PM UTC

yellowapple wrote: post #132

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…

The FAQ isn't particularly helpful, considering that instead of directly answering the FAQs, Google just kind of weasels its way around them. For example: "Q: Does moving between networks affect my battery life? A: We like full batteries too. Our software is optimized to not put extra strain on your battery by only moving you between networks when absolutely necessary." Just say "Yes", Google. Just say fucking "Yes".…

Have a Snickers.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#232

Post by stevenkovar » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:55 PM UTC

azinman2 wrote: post #221

jamroom wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just as a point of reference, this is about on par with AT&T family share plans - I pay $145 a month for 3 iphones, unlimited text and talk with 10 gigs shared data. With taxes and fees it comes out to right around $160 (which would be the same here if I used all 10 gigs). The down side is that I'm not refunded for any unused data, so I pay that every month. But we use a good chunk of it every month, so this wouldn't…

Wow are those smartphones? Somehow I'm paying $100/mo for just my iPhone, 3 gigs of data and unlimited text.

The first phone on a plan costs the same as what you're paying; it's adding phones that's cheap.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#233

Post by Cantremeber » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:57 PM UTC

jamroom wrote: post #185

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…

Just as a point of reference, this is about on par with AT&T family share plans - I pay $145 a month for 3 iphones, unlimited text and talk with 10 gigs shared data. With taxes and fees it comes out to right around $160 (which would be the same here if I used all 10 gigs). The down side is that I'm not refunded for any unused data, so I pay that every month. But we use a good chunk of it every month, so this wouldn't…

On the same plan we've got 5 people at the same price. There's a way to remove subsidized phones from the plan which saved close to 20 dollars per line for us. The downside is flag ships now cost 600, and so we all use either something old and used or a moto g.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#234

Post by pluma » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:57 PM UTC

jpco wrote: post #196

pluma wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I was furious when I bought a Nexus 7 (first version) and found out that tethering wasn't available on the device (although there was no obvious reason it shouldn't be and rooting the device would have allowed me to enable it). Running into this on stock devices seems absurd.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#235

Post by tacojuan » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:57 PM UTC

modeless wrote: post #187

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…

Unlimited data plans are actually bad. The incentives are all wrong. Consumers and websites have no incentive to fix any problem that causes them to use unnecessary data, clogging the network. Carriers actually have a perverse incentive to discourage use of the network, because increased use doesn't increase revenue, it just causes more congestion. This leads to stupidity like extra charges for tethering, blocking of…

You seem to have the word incentive confused with the word discourage.

Or it's an obnoxious euphemism.

I have an unlimited data plan on T-mobile for 30 bucks. Paying by the megabyte would discourage me from using data, not "incentivize me to use less data".

>There's no reason to block servers or VPNs or tethering. There's no reason to throttle BitTorrent or Netflix or terminate anyone's service for "excessive" usage. In fact, with pay-per-GB carriers should encourage BitTorrent use!

Thank god for net neutrality, and unlimited/unmetered data, right?

Re: Project Fi by Google

#236

Post by yellowapple » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:57 PM UTC

modeless wrote: post #187

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…

Unlimited data plans are actually bad. The incentives are all wrong. Consumers and websites have no incentive to fix any problem that causes them to use unnecessary data, clogging the network. Carriers actually have a perverse incentive to discourage use of the network, because increased use doesn't increase revenue, it just causes more congestion. This leads to stupidity like extra charges for tethering, blocking of…

> Consumers and websites have no incentive to fix any problem that causes them to use unnecessary data, clogging the network.

Who says that my usage of data is a "problem" needing "solved"? 10GB (the highest Google offers on its Fi page) can be burned through pretty quickly just by watching videos on a road trip or somesuch. I'd much rather pay $80 for an unlimited plan from Sprint or T-Mobile than pay $120 (or more) for Google Fi.

"Clogging the network" would be solved by carriers actually bothering to invest in their networks to handle the load. That would solve a multitude of other problems, too.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#237

Post by yellowapple » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:58 PM UTC

fuentesjr wrote: post #231

yellowapple wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FAQ isn't particularly helpful, considering that instead of directly answering the FAQs, Google just kind of weasels its way around them. For example: "Q: Does moving between networks affect my battery life? A: We like full batteries too. Our software is optimized to not put extra strain on your battery by only moving you between networks when absolutely necessary." Just say "Yes", Google. Just say fucking "Yes".…

Have a Snickers.

Why?

Re: Project Fi by Google

#238

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:58 PM UTC

iamdanfox wrote: post #198

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

[deleted]

Re: Project Fi by Google

#239

Post by tonyhb » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

eli wrote: post #113

luu wrote: post #46

Who handles support for this? Is it Google, or one of the carriers that Google's using? Who do you talk to if the handoff between carriers doesn't quite work? I've skimmed the FAQ and I didn't see that listed in there. For context, I use Google Voice, and while it's really nice in a lot of ways, it has some unfortunate bugs that have persisted for years that it seems impossible to get support for. I no longer uncondi…

The typical MVNO model would be for Google to handle all the support. I agree that end-user support does not seem to be one of Google's strengths.

Their support for the Nexus line of phones has been outstanding. Anyone can phone and speak to real humans with good tech knowledge, arrange a free replacement for (first time) cracked screens, and get next day replacements.

I have no doubt that the support for this will be as good.

Now, their automated side of advertising is crappy unless you're a large spender, but then that's just economies of scale.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#240

Post by yellowapple » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 6:59 PM UTC

mahouse wrote: post #184

yellowapple wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FAQ isn't particularly helpful, considering that instead of directly answering the FAQs, Google just kind of weasels its way around them. For example: "Q: Does moving between networks affect my battery life? A: We like full batteries too. Our software is optimized to not put extra strain on your battery by only moving you between networks when absolutely necessary." Just say "Yes", Google. Just say fucking "Yes".…

> Just say "Yes", Google. Just say fucking "Yes". It's not that fucking hard to say fucking "Yes". Do you really need a "yes" there? I think it is pretty normal to have a stupid PR response there -- of course the answer is "yes". There is no other way.

My point is that Google, of all companies, should be grown-up-enough to be able to resist the temptation to feed its users PR non-answers. Google's supposed to be bucking trends, "Do[ing] No Evil(TM)", etc.; they've set a higher standard and they're not meeting it.