Project Fi Is Now Google Fi • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#101

Post by briffle » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:44 PM UTC

caymanjim wrote: post #83

If you're happy with your phone service in the US, and you're a moderate or large data user, Google Fi is not likely to be a great deal for you. It's in the price ballpark of other carriers, but it's not cheap. For me, the four major wins for Fi are: 1. It's multi-carrier. It seamlessly switches to whichever carrier has the best signal. It also seamlessly switches to VoIP over wifi when in range. You can start a phon…

I get that its multi-carrier, but two of its 3 carriers are merging, and the 3rd carrier isn't nationwide (they have great coverage in some areas, and use 'partners' in other regions).. Really curious how the T-Mobile Sprint Merger will affect Fi.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#102

Post by Someone1234 » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:45 PM UTC

epapsiou wrote: post #66

I want to jump to Fi but is just super expensive for families. I have 4 lines. With Mint I can get unlimited talk, text and 2GB/per line for $15. So a family of 4 = $60. With Fi it would be $145. The difference is more than double. ATT offers 4 lines for $120 with 3GB per line. I remember when it was launched the price advantage was big. But since then the carriers came down and Fi did not (barring that $15 vs $20 pe…

It simply isn't for high data usage no matter how you slice it.

You're calculating the prices based on hitting the data ceiling on Fi every month, if you are hitting the ceiling that often then you shouldn't be on Fi. T-Mobile's family offering is likely better value for true unlimited.

In general I agree Fi isn't great for families, because kids often consume a ton of data. It might be good for a spouses if both parties don't use much data.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#103

Post by blocked_again » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:46 PM UTC

woah wrote: post #100

blocked_again wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US has one of the worst mobile data in the world. I remember having to pay around $30 for ~3 - 5 GB of mobile data the last time I visited US. Worst of all the connection speed was pathetic. And it was not even 4G. When I visited Thailand recently I got unlimited 6 mbps 4G mobile data for a week for around 8 dollars. India on the other hand have carriers offering 4G data at around $0.08 per GB. US definitely have to…

Can you paste some of the 8 cent Indian offers here? I’m very curious.

https://twitter.com/levelsio/status/997453565181358082?s=20

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#104

Post by dawnerd » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:46 PM UTC

blocked_again wrote: post #88

Majestic121 wrote: post #9

Is 10$/GB a reasonable price in the US? It seems completely out of whack to me. For comparison, I have 20GB + unlimited call/texts for 10e/month, with optional 2e/GB recharges, and that's not even the cheapest available offer

US has one of the worst mobile data in the world. I remember having to pay around $30 for ~3 - 5 GB of mobile data the last time I visited US. Worst of all the connection speed was pathetic. And it was not even 4G. When I visited Thailand recently I got unlimited 6 mbps 4G mobile data for a week for around 8 dollars. India on the other hand have carriers offering 4G data at around $0.08 per GB. US definitely have to…

We’re you using a local sim or or international plan? International plan users get kinda screwed with speeds. Was just in France with T-Mobile and service was horrible there too.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#105

Post by exabrial » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:46 PM UTC

I worry about Google spying on me, but I'm extremely pleased with Fi. It's followed me all over the world from the UK, France, Germany, China, and Singapore, as well as all over the USA in major cities and deserted areas as well.

Annnnd... it's really easy to integrate with Jolly Roger Phone Company which makes for some good laughs.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#106

Post by blocked_again » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:47 PM UTC

dawnerd wrote: post #104

blocked_again wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US has one of the worst mobile data in the world. I remember having to pay around $30 for ~3 - 5 GB of mobile data the last time I visited US. Worst of all the connection speed was pathetic. And it was not even 4G. When I visited Thailand recently I got unlimited 6 mbps 4G mobile data for a week for around 8 dollars. India on the other hand have carriers offering 4G data at around $0.08 per GB. US definitely have to…

We’re you using a local sim or or international plan? International plan users get kinda screwed with speeds. Was just in France with T-Mobile and service was horrible there too.

I took a local T mobile sim. I was hardly able to do anything meaningful with the mobile data plan.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#107

Post by wccrawford » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:47 PM UTC

gpm wrote: post #42

xutopia wrote: post #16

Canada has the most expensive plans in the first world and we don't have access to Google Fi yet. It's ridiculous how expensive it can be to have data here.

Looks like it has international support for roaming at the same price though, I wonder if we (Canadians) could just use it anyways...

They will eventually cut you off for being mostly-roaming.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#108

Post by russdill » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:47 PM UTC

pmlamotte wrote: post #46

russdill wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing international support will also be limited.

FWIW, I successfully used my unofficially supported Galaxy S9 in India. I did hit one snag, which is that I had bought the phone prior to going on the trip and hadn't installed the Project Fi app yet which meant I couldn't connect to any network after landing. Once I got on wifi and installed the app, I had 4G during my entire stay even in the most rural areas on overnight trains and no issues. Though had I bothered…

When I brought my Samsung S7 with a Fi data sim to Korea, it worked fine. When I brought it to Japan, nothing. My Nexus 5X worked great in both places.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#109

Post by izzydata » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:48 PM UTC

Majestic121 wrote: post #9

Is 10$/GB a reasonable price in the US? It seems completely out of whack to me. For comparison, I have 20GB + unlimited call/texts for 10e/month, with optional 2e/GB recharges, and that's not even the cheapest available offer

I essentially never use data. I haven't used more than 50mb in years because I am always within wifi range or only using my phones for SMS and phonecalls.

I don't know why cellphone service is so expensive in the US, but it seems difficult to find anything cheaper than $20 a month. Typical plans here for a single user and ~10gb of data is going to be $40-$60 a month.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#110

Post by hedora » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:48 PM UTC

Majestic121 wrote: post #9

Is 10$/GB a reasonable price in the US? It seems completely out of whack to me. For comparison, I have 20GB + unlimited call/texts for 10e/month, with optional 2e/GB recharges, and that's not even the cheapest available offer

I pay $12/month with tracfone, which includes 250MB of data, and “enough” voice and texts.

Additional data is $10/GB, and doesn’t expire. There is no point where it switches to unlimited like google fi.

I can choose the same three networks as Fi, but can’t roam between them.

Overall, Fi seems kinda overpriced, at least for me, because the monthly cost is so high (for unlimited voice and texts I don’t need).

It is way better than any of the “big three” cell plans though.