Project Fi by Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Fi by Google

#281

Post by wlesieutre » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:19 PM UTC

ikeboy wrote: post #210

wlesieutre wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

The reason I mentioned Straight Talk was that it works with all 4 main US carriers. T-Mobile doesn't have service everywhere. >And who talks on the phone anymore anyway? I know a number of people who wouldn't buy a plan unless it had unlimited minutes. Some people use their phones for talking heavily.

Ah, that's fair. I have good reception in my area, but I've definitely hit bad areas while traveling.

I do talk on the phone all the time at work, but for personal use it's pretty minimal. But even if I did, the Hangouts Dialer app will make GV calls over data, so I don't use any minutes, and I don't even use data when I'm on wifi.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#282

Post by wtallis » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:22 PM UTC

kqr2 wrote: post #34

Republic Wireless has been doing hybrid wifi / cell calling for some time: https://republicwireless.com/ Their unlimited 3G plan is $25. Republic Wireless is owned by Bandwidth.com which also manages Google Voice numbers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwidth.com

And Republic announced earlier this week that they're going to be beta-testing basically everything that Google Fi will offer that isn't currently part of Republic's service: more flexible billing for data plans, adding a second cellular provider (almost certainly T-Mobile), a new handset (the Nexus 6 is the most likely candidate), cell-to-WiFi handover. The only thing Google's promising that Republic isn't is the international service.

I've been wondering for a long time why Google hasn't just bought Republic Wireless. It's especially puzzling now that Google has made it public that their interests are exactly the same as RW's.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#283

Post by panopticon » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:22 PM UTC

GigabyteCoin wrote: post #242

Two things I notice looking at the coverage map.[0] 1. Wow, it's available in Canada right off the bat. This must be a first for Google. 2. Does nobody in Montana own a cell phone? Alberta is probably equally empty as Montana, and yet almost their entire provice has coverage. [0] https://fi.google.com/coverage

Montana is pretty well covered by AT&T. I travel out there all the time, so I was forced to ditch my old T-Mobile plan :(

Re: Project Fi by Google

#284

Post by yellowapple » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:23 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #271

yellowapple wrote: post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't Republic Wireless offer unlimited data plans, too? Being an MVNO has nothing to do with Google Fi's apparent inability to do the same.

They ride on Sprint, who is desperate for revenue. Also, Republic retains the right to boot you if you use too much "unlimited" data on Sprint's network.

> They ride on Sprint, who is desperate for revenue.

Google Fi also rides on Sprint (and T-Mobile, though it doesn't seem like T-Mobile is nearly as desperate for revenue at this point). So there's not really a difference there.

> Also, Republic retains the right to boot you if you use too much "unlimited" data on Sprint's network.

Pretty much all carriers have that bit of legalese in their respective agreements (even T-Mobile does, IIRC, and I know for sure Sprint does). Usually that's reserved for extreme cases where one's use of the network significantly dwarfs that of the rest of the user base and is actually causing congestion issues; a few extra gigs is a drop in the pond in comparison.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#285

Post by andybak » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:24 PM UTC

Xylemon wrote: post #58

I would be interested in a beta invite, but it might just close it three to five years anyway.

Scrolled to the bottom to check if someone had a made this comment. Was not disappointed.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#286

Post by yellowapple » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:25 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 also offers an unthrottled unlimited plan. Theirs is priced a little lower than Sprint's.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#287

Post by h078 » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:27 PM UTC

laurencerowe wrote: post #220

smacktoward wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Google is charging a significant markup over T-Mobile's existing rates ($30/month for 5Gb vs $70/month through Gooogle.) So Fi is really only interesting for people doing significant international roaming.

T-mobile does not have unlimited calls for that plan. It is $30 per month — Unlimited web and text with 100 minutes talk 100 minutes talk | Unlimited text | First 5GB at up to 4G speeds

Re: Project Fi by Google

#288

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:27 PM UTC

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…

[deleted]

Re: Project Fi by Google

#289

Post by warfangle » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:28 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #217

smacktoward wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> What I don't get is, what's in this for Sprint and T-Mobile? Both Sprint and T-Mobile have to build physical infrasture, both to offer basic services (e.g. 3G, talk/text) but to also compete (4G, LTE, etc). Building infrastructure is really expensive. They need land, licences, power, and a network to connect that tower to (assuming it isn't just a relay). So both networks have this HUGE sunk cost. In an ideal world…

Not only that, but because it switches to the faster provider, and assuming that Project Fi pays out to providers based on percentage of service used, it's much more in Tmo/Sprint's best interests to upgrade their service - considering the switch to their competitor is automatic and based on quality.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#290

Post by hobarrera » Wed, Apr 22, 2015, 7:29 PM UTC

> Coverage in 120+ countries

20USD is ridiculously expensive in some countries. I understand that this may be cheap in the US (is it?), but it's more than twice what I pay in latin america.

And the price goes up if you want data - which you will in 2015.