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Project Fi by Google

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Re: Project Fi by Google

#301

Post by danielvinson »

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…

If the past is any indication, Google will have really good support at first for this, similar to how it worked for Glass. Then once the product has been received well by early adopters (and received good publicity), they will layoff/downsize until everyone is unhappy.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#302

Post by xanderstrike »

Someone1234 wrote: post #170
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…

Everything you said is correct, I just want to make two tiny clarifications: - It is unlimited talk (domestic) and unlimited text (domestic and international). International talk costs extra. What was said in your post was accurate, but the way it was worded could confuse people into believing that it is unlimited international talk. The pricing is a little more nuanced than you said. - It is $20 (talk/text) and then…

The "refund" language is confusing for the purposes of advertising, and I wouldn't bother repeating it. It's by-the-gig pricing, full stop. They just charge you for data you use, at a quite competitive price.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#303

Post by ausjke »

the only question is that, it's unavailable and you need an invite and then wait, this becomes the norm these days, you can announce something for sale at the first sight, then let the potential customer to wait, don't feel too good about this kind of sales/marketing method myself.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#304

Post by Dirlewanger »

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…

Their strategy is simple: they are doing whatever it takes in order to squeeze the most dollars out of you. If that means engaging in backroom deals with wireless competitors and creating with technologically innovative/awesome solutions for you to always be connected at the most optimal speed possible, they are going to do it.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#305

Post by xeromal »

Someone1234 wrote: post #270
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 am on T-Mobile and travelled outside the US late last year. First off, I just want to say, the "free tier" of international data is extremely appreciated for two important reasons: - Overage is literally impossible (i.e. no "bill shock"). - If you don't wish to pay, you get "something" for nothing. So, now, the "bad." The reality is that T-Mobile's free tier is incredibly slow like "my 56K modem was faster than thi…

Basically, it's enough to whatsapp someone to meet up. I thought it was incredibly valuable during the world cup last year.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#306

Post by peferron »

vigneshv_psg wrote: post #71
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.…

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

The T-Mobile plan only offers you international data if you pass a credit check. I applied twice, once by phone and once in-person at a store. I got rejected twice. I have excellent credit and suspect the issue is something stupid like my first name being misspelled (something I experience a lot). However T-Mobile employees immediately enter stone wall mode and it's completely impossible to debug the issue. Probably it's a company policy that they should never ever start discussing failed credit checks with would-be customers.

Anyway, I'll be damn glad if an alternative appears as it'll give me an additional chance to qualify.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#307

Post by daigoba66 »

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?

It's incredibly useful for household budgeting purposes. Knowing that, at most, I can expect to pay $xxx per month for a service makes estimating expenses easier.

The service apparently alerts you when you get close the "limit". Which means that if you're disciplined you can cut yourself off or just realize that you need to increase your monthly budget.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#308

Post by green7ea »

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…

If I'm not mistaken, when google bid on the wireless spectrum in 2008, they did so in such a way that extra conditions had to be met by the winner of the auction [1]. One of these conditions is 'Open networks: Third parties (like internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee's wireless network.' They could be taking advantage of this clause to offer the Google Fi service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spe...

Re: Project Fi by Google

#309

Post by MaysonL »

Something that isn't clear: is it possible to attach to non-public wi-fi access points? Also: do they charge the same rate per gig for wi-fi data as for LTE data? If so, this seems like a real ripoff.

Re: Project Fi by Google

#310

Post by yellowapple »

repsilat wrote: post #141
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.

If bandwidth is scarce there's always an incentive to go towards "pay for what you use" schemes, though. It's like an insurance "death spiral"[1] -- if one provider provides fixed-cost internet (or wide "bands"), the customers who use the least data will subsidise those who use the most. If another provider offers them internet at the true marginal rate, they'll move there. After they've moved on, the fixed-cost inte…

> If bandwidth is scarce

That's a big "if". And even if bandwidth is indeed scarce, then that's the problem that needs to be solved by building out one's network; punishing users for using the network is not viable in the long term (especially when folks like T-Mobile, as I've mentioned elsewhere in this discussion, are able to offer both throttled and unthrottled unlimited data plans without issue on a network that's probably nowhere near as built-out as those of AT&T and Verizon).

> Of course, customers may prefer to be insulated in the months they use more data than usual

This is exactly why the low-data users in networks like T-Mobile's and Sprint's typically don't mind subsidizing the high-data users (not that they're really subsidizing a whole lot, seeing as their respective unthrottled unlimited data plans cost more than their respective throttled unlimited and capped data plans). Having an unlimited data plan (throttled or otherwise) provides the peace-of-mind that you won't ever be charged extra based on your data usage, and that's a pretty big win for a lot of customers (especially when coupled with T-Mobile's data rollover).

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