Project Fi Is Now Google Fi • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#21

Post by toomuchtodo » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

lghh wrote: post #2

Google Fi is one of the best services that Google offers. I am trying to cut down on my Google dependence, but I don't see myself leaving Fi any time soon.

I’m hopeful Apple’s push with eSIMs will allow for carriers and MVNOs to replicate Fi without the need to use Google.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#22

Post by skykooler » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:17 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

Man, that's amazing. Here in the US, I have 5 GB / "unlimited" low-speed data, for $70/month.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#23

Post by Someone1234 » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

russdill wrote: post #18

Someone1234 wrote: post #10

Maybe bigger news is that they now officially support (in "beta") iPhones, Samsung's S line, and many other handsets. If you use a non-Fi native device it won't support Sprint (T-Mobile only) and fast switching from WiFi to cellular is disabled. It might have limitations but at least it is officially supported. People have already been using non-supported devices on Fi with these same limitations, it was just technic…

I'm guessing international support will also be limited.

That's a very good point. I'd imagine that it has to be since other handsets won't know which network to connect to in order to get Fi service.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#24

Post by kevindqc » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:18 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

:( In Canada, I pay ~70$ for 6GB and unlimited calls/text

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#25

Post by caymanjim » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:18 PM UTC

michaelcampbell wrote: post #3

lghh wrote: post #2

Google Fi is one of the best services that Google offers. I am trying to cut down on my Google dependence, but I don't see myself leaving Fi any time soon.

I would have used it but I'm too attached to my "real" cell # and my GVoice # as separate numbers. I give them out to different people for different purposes.

Switching your cell number to Google Fi doesn't preclude using Google Voice. They're unrelated services, and you can transfer your existing cell number to Fi.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#26

Post by ForHackernews » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:19 PM UTC

For people interested, an alternative low-cost wifi-first carrier is Republic Wireless https://republicwireless.com/

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#27

Post by vtesucks » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:19 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 have friends in India who claim to pay 10 cents per GB.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#28

Post by dcchambers » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:19 PM UTC

If the non-supported phones are stuck on T-Mobile's network and don't support the seamless WiFi/Cell switching, what advantage is there to picking Fi over regular T-Mobile service? Price-wise Fi only wins if you use very little data.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#29

Post by giarc » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:20 PM UTC

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.

I did the "estimate your bill" for Google Fi. For 6GB of data and unlimited talk and text it's $80USD or $106CAD per month.

Compared to a Telus "Build Your Plan" with unlimited nationwide talk and text, plus 6GB is $90CAD or $67USD.

Re: Project Fi Is Now Google Fi

#30

Post by glogla » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:20 PM UTC

_underflow_ wrote: post #11

Anyone looked into potential privacy implications? I understand my current carrier can potentially deduce things about my habits in the unlikely event that they were so inclined, but Alphabet et al seem to make a not insignificant portion of their profit from data gathering - that is, they don't need to be interesting in me particularly to sell data about me to those that are (whether for benign ad targeting or somet…

> I understand my current carrier can potentially deduce things about my habits in the unlikely event that they were so inclined

I worked for one carrier and part of our project was exporting (without names) location history to some external company which then provided segmentation into categories like "student", "stay at home", "working", "retired" based on how people move. The results were then reintegrated and used for marketing purposes.

So they absolutely can and they absolutely do that.