Author Topic: Google Project Fi (Read 9673 times)

Financial Ascensionist · « **on:** March 08, 2016, 05:58:31 AM »

Have you seen this new affordable phone service by Google: https://fi.google.com/about/plan/

It's priced quite competitively compared to other Mustachian phone plans like Republic Wireless and it has the major advantage of having a single rate for data world wide. Unfortunately, being tide to Nexus phones can be a problem. Google is cutting the price of it's own phones to very reasonable levels, but if you already have a phone, buying a new one just to integrate with the new service would be quite a bummer.

Anyone switching?

Clean Shaven · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2016, 06:33:04 AM »

I'm in Verizon because of where I live - coverage - but am looking at other options in hopes of reducing the high monthly costs. Even Verizon prepaid would be less, but we have two phones under contract until August, so we're a bit restricted until then.

Google fi is one of the ones I'm looking into, but not sure on coverage in the boonies.

Financial Ascensionist · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2016, 06:44:25 AM »

They make it quite easy to see where they have good coverage: https://fi.google.com/coverage

Indy007 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2016, 07:19:45 AM »

I switched to Google Fi in the middle of 2015 while it was still invite only. My old phone was in need of upgrading so I decided to try it out. I've used it both domestic and international and have had no problems so far.

Not sure if they're still offering it or not, but at the time I signed up you could purchase the phone on a payment plan with no fees and no interest.

NESailor · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2016, 08:37:10 AM »

I switched about 3 months ago and it was still invite only at that point. I had a very outdated semi-smartphone so I was looking at upgrading to Republic or something similar (actually I was looking at Ptel...dodged a bullet on that one!).

A new Nexus 5X cost a pretty penny but I went for it anyway (the smaller one). I've used it successfully at home where we've always had poor service with ALL carriers since it runs on our WiFi. I've also used it a little bit in Canada and it worked just fine. I'm a very light data consumer so I managed to get almost the entire $10 refunded to me in month 2 for a total monthly bill of around $25 with taxes and fees and everything. Month 3 bill is coming up soon and I expect to get at least $9 credited back again.

So far so good!

effigy98 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2016, 09:45:57 AM »

Best money saving purchase of 2015 for me. The phone even at full price paid for itself in about 8 months and after that I start really saving money over old Verizon. I actually get a lot better call quality now. I have not went over the 20 dollar a month since I got it (25ish with taxes)

Clean Shaven · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2016, 10:02:58 AM »

For those using Google fi - how's the voice quality for phone calls over wifi? Any unusual issues? (echoes, delays, compression effect?)

Matumba · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2016, 10:21:48 AM »

Voice service over wifi depends on the wifi quality. Sometimes you get small delays, but if wifi fails the regular network takes over almost seamlessly. That is, if you have coverage.

sheepstache · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2016, 10:26:51 AM »

I'm using it. I feel like coverage isn't as good as with my old at&t dumb phone. Like I never had problems receiving calls and now I'll find I have missed calls. But it could also be that I'm not used to the phone still and am just not hearing/feeling the call come in.

SV19 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2016, 11:00:05 AM »

My family plan with T-mobile still comes out considerably cheaper for me but I am going to keep an eye on Project Fi as a potential option in the future.

Clean Shaven · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2016, 11:43:16 AM »

Quote from: Matumba on March 08, 2016, 10:21:48 AM

Voice service over wifi depends on the wifi quality. Sometimes you get small delays, but if wifi fails the regular network takes over almost seamlessly. That is, if you have coverage.

Thanks. Where I live (mountains) I get OK Verizon coverage for voice; AT&T barely works for texts. Don't know yet on Sprint or T Mobile.

If Google fi voice over wifi works for at home usage, I'd be OK with that, even if I didn't have much (or any) cell signal coverage at home.

I've looked at cell provider maps, and don't really trust them - just have to try using the phone at my house and see whether it works. Per AT&T map, we should have LTE at my house - but there's barely any signal, and you can't make a voice call on that network.

sheepstache · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2016, 01:15:59 PM »

Oh, ps. they're offering $150 off the nexus 5x phone if you sign up in the next month.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/03/project-fi-drops-invite-program-offers-150-off-a-nexus-5x-with-service/

Financial Ascensionist · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2016, 04:10:46 PM »

Reading the fine prints, the international data is all 3G. The convenience is still pretty solid for short trips, but I suspect that anyone doing slow travel and spending a long time in a specific location would be better off getting a prepaid local SIM while he or she is there.

FiftyIsTheNewTwenty · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2016, 02:52:32 PM »

That Nexus 5x deal (for $200) is pretty tempting, but I'm not ready to open myself to such additional data mining.

If I could lock things down to minimize this over my current setup I might go for it.

mbl · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2016, 08:21:08 AM »

I just ordered the Nexus 5 yesterday.
This will be my first smart phone.
I currently am with PagePlus.

Give me some info on the data mining risk?
Sorry to be asking what might be a basic question.

TIA

MMM98 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2016, 02:30:17 PM »

My daughter finds the coverage more than adequate in rural Michigan, no complaints

arebelspy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2016, 02:40:21 PM »

Quote from: Financial Ascensionist on March 08, 2016, 05:58:31 AM

Have you seen this new affordable phone service by Google: https://fi.google.com/about/plan/

Indeed I have; MMM had a whole article on it in September!
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2015/09/20/google-fi-review/

I'm currently on T-Mobile, because until this came out, they had the best International Plan. I'll be switching to FI next time I'm in the States (May). Looking forward to saving ~30/mo.

Fudge102 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2016, 10:54:49 AM »

So I just heard about this from a friend of mine and I've been investigating. I've come to realize that if I do it, I need to do it by June 9th to get the discount off of the Nexus phone. Any more feedback that you guys have? My buddy says it works fine where I currently live, I'll be moving in about 8 months so hard to speak about the future. I've had verizon since 2002 when I got my first phone so I'm hesitant to leave. But $86 a month vs $55 a month is hard to beat, especially since I'll be losing that military discount in 8 months and it'll be closer to $100 a month. My only concern really is the early termination fee. From what I've read it's $350-$10*number of months you've had the plan, so basically about $190 to pay. A rather large chunk of change. So I'm mulling with the idea. Any insights you have or tips on the termination fee would be awesome. Is it worth it? Thanks!

arebelspy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2016, 09:30:42 PM »

Quote from: arebelspy on April 03, 2016, 02:40:21 PM

I'm currently on T-Mobile, because until this came out, they had the best International Plan. I'll be switching to FI next time I'm in the States (May). Looking forward to saving ~30/mo.

I switched, and it was great. Miss my iPhone, but will use Android if I have to, to save $350-400/yr.

Actually, when I put it that way, maybe I'm regretting switching.

Heh. Well the service is great. The phone OS, not so much, but if you don't mind/like it, well worth it. :)

Bill is about $23 before data (20 base + taxes), so my bill has been around $25ish. Installed some various android tweaks to make most apps only have wifi access, and set apps I do use on cell use not to use background data on cell service, so I use very little data, but worth paying for more when needed.

Probably better options if you are solely in the US, but for International travelers, it's a no-brainer.

AlanStache · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2016, 08:22:12 AM »

Probably switching today from t-mobile. The nexus 5 deal is now good till july 10, maybe they keep changing the date to keep people thinking they have to rush and sign up now... I was all set to switch but learned that the nexus 5 does not have a built in stylus like my galaxy note 3, one of my games needs this but is not worth 25$/month when I can carry one as needed to play. It sucks that I bought my current phone in January but on the up side it still has resale value.

Parent and I were on a t-mobile family plain until recently, it was best at the time but now not so much. Parents phone died a few weeks ago prompting a switch to Cricket because parent did not want to buy a phone outright. We did not know about the rebate at the time and parent did not want to output the cash for a phone despite a payback period under a year.

might nudge gf to look at this too, she has an old iphone and a painfully expensive att&t family plain, but she probably too much likes her iphone. I think her definition of a cell phone is an iphone and anything else is settling on an inferior product for the sake of cost.

BigRed · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2016, 09:18:36 AM »

That $150 deal has been going on for quite some time. I got it a few months ago, it had the same apparent expires soon statement. I wouldn't worry too much about it going away imminently.

I did it, signed up for Fi, paid for one month, and then cancelled, because I'm not willing to give Google every bit that goes through my phone, including my calls. I'm on T-mobile.

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Author Topic: Google Project Fi (Read 9673 times)