Project fi announced, Google MVNO for $30/month 1 GB

[AznAnarchy99]

2 Lines, $100, Unlimited talk/text/data (No Throttle) with T-Mobile. This doesn't even come close to that.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

2 Lines, $100, Unlimited talk/text/data (No Throttle) with T-Mobile. This doesn't even come close to that.

140 for Three lines with all the above with Tmobile.

 

[Red Storm]

2 Lines, $100, Unlimited talk/text/data (No Throttle) with T-Mobile. This doesn't even come close to that.

If you need unlimited data, obviously this isn't for you. I use 2GB one month, the next I'll only use 300MB. Why pay for data I'm not going to use?

 

[sweenish]

This would save me money if I didn't have to buy Nexus 6's.

Two lines, 1 GB of data, it's about a $100/month on T-Mobile. Didn't qualify for the fancy unlimited deal at the time.

That same plan is $60/month on fi, and we don't use a full gig, so we'd save a bit over $40/month. But those savings are negated if I factor in two Nexus 6 payments. Only switching one line over is not better.

I hope they stick around, I want to switch. We're covered and all that. And I would not like to depend on an invite for getting in. We would either both switch, or not.

 

[quikah]

This would save me money if I didn't have to buy Nexus 6's.

Two lines, 1 GB of data, it's about a $100/month on T-Mobile. Didn't qualify for the fancy unlimited deal at the time.

You need to look into prepaid. The base 1GB unlimited prepaid through TMo is $40. There are tons of prepaid operators to compare.

Unless you need the international data I don't really see how Fi is all that good.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I am pretty excited about this plan. I love the idea of combining the two networks into one, and the service is a value compared to what I am paying. Only issue is the Nexus thing, but I was 99% certain I was going to buy the next normal sized Nexus. This makes it 100%.

Prepaid might offer a better value but it terrifies me. My phone number is too valuable to me to lose it playing around with prepaid service. This has the price of almost prepay with the solidness of postpay. Sounds great.

 

[sweenish]

You need to look into prepaid. The base 1GB unlimited prepaid through TMo is $40. There are tons of prepaid operators to compare.

Unless you need the international data I don't really see how Fi is all that good.

No, I don't.

Smaller service area and second tier treatment does not sound great at all.

 

[quikah]

No, I don't.

Smaller service area and second tier treatment does not sound great at all.

Then why are you even thinking about Fi? It is prepaid also.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Then why are you even thinking about Fi? It is prepaid also.

You have to assume Google will give better customer support than the crickets of the world. They have built up that capability with Nexuses and Chromecasts.

 

[quikah]

You have to assume Google will give better customer support than the crickets of the world. They have built up that capability with Nexuses and Chromecasts.

I am not so sure why they would get a better deal than all the other MVNO, unless google is paying for it.

Something I missed in the initial reading, but the plan is +tax and fee, pretty much all pre-paid already includes that.

 

[slackerinabox]

I am pretty excited about this plan. I love the idea of combining the two networks into one, and the service is a value compared to what I am paying. Only issue is the Nexus thing, but I was 99% certain I was going to buy the next normal sized Nexus. This makes it 100%.

Prepaid might offer a better value but it terrifies me. My phone number is too valuable to me to lose it playing around with prepaid service. This has the price of almost prepay with the solidness of postpay. Sounds great.

Google voice + prepaid = number for life. Or until google decides to end that 'experiment'

 

[CurrentlyPissed]

Damn. Found that in an Engadget article.

So basically I got a 20% chance of getting supa-fast T-Mobile in major cities and an 80% chance the rest of the time in getting stone age speed 3G from Sprint.

Boo.

Sprints new spark is the fastest LTE available. Theoretical speeds of 180mb. Problem is few cities have it.. Thankfully mine is getting it now (st Louis).

 

[sweenish]

Then why are you even thinking about Fi? It is prepaid also.

It's not pre-paid in the same way.

I've looked at the service maps for fi, and they are better than just T-Mobile post-paid. Definitely better than T-Mobile pre-paid. Better for where I need service, at least. I'm not one of those people that needs every square foot of the US covered to feel good about service.

 

[soccerballtux]

Well it is a Google service, we knew that if we get in early, then we are basically beta testers

never thought of it that way, but they never put a Beta sticker on it so I shouldn't have had to come up with that.

they aught to just leave beta on everything. that would help excuse the crappiness

 

[pete6032]

This would save me money if I didn't have to buy Nexus 6's.

Two lines, 1 GB of data, it's about a $100/month on T-Mobile. Didn't qualify for the fancy unlimited deal at the time.

That same plan is $60/month on fi, and we don't use a full gig, so we'd save a bit over $40/month. But those savings are negated if I factor in two Nexus 6 payments. Only switching one line over is not better.

I hope they stick around, I want to switch. We're covered and all that. And I would not like to depend on an invite for getting in. We would either both switch, or not.

Exactly. Not price competitive when factoring in phone price. Not price competitive and you get access to the two lesser US cellular networks of T-Mobile and Sprint. IMO.

 

[Artdeco]

Google voice + prepaid = number for life. Or until google decides to end that 'experiment'

I picked a number that's easy to remember and have used it for years, service isn't perfect, but close enough for me.

 

[OSULugan]

The reason why I don't like a plan that charges based on "data used" (and refunds a pro-rate amount on data not used) is that suddenly every data transaction needs to be examined and weighed based on cost/benefit.

Do I want to skype with my family tonight while on travel? How long? Is it worth it to run over LTE (and get good quality), or is the hotel wifi good enough (even though I get jumpy video / audio)? That's $2-$3 for a decent length conversation. Every time I go to reach for my phone, I need to evaluate whether it's worth that cost. And really, the whole concept of paying for data starts to feel like long-distance phone charges to me. When, really, the network is there, and by using bandwidth I'm not going to impinge on others noticeably.

 

[Insomniator]

I certainly like the idea of google getting into the ring, and I assume they will eventually do it better and cheaper -- but until I see the network/signal is as strong as Verizon's I'm never going to switch.

I also hope the next nexus device isn't a stupid phablet.

 

[sweenish]

Exactly. Not price competitive when factoring in phone price. Not price competitive and you get access to the two lesser US cellular networks of T-Mobile and Sprint. IMO.

No.

Not a savings for me because I can't afford a phone payment right now. If I were getting a phone anyway, it would be a savings.

Or are you one of those people thinks the free phones at other carriers are actually free?

And this without the fact that T-Mobile, where they have coverage, easily outclasses ATT and/or Verizon. I know that for me, Verizon blows chunks in my city. They are oversaturated, and my speeds showed. T-Mobile 3G is faster than what I was getting on Verizon 4G.

Have you opinion. Don't use my words to reinforce it.

 

[sweenish]

The reason why I don't like a plan that charges based on "data used" (and refunds a pro-rate amount on data not used) is that suddenly every data transaction needs to be examined and weighed based on cost/benefit.

Do I want to skype with my family tonight while on travel? How long? Is it worth it to run over LTE (and get good quality), or is the hotel wifi good enough (even though I get jumpy video / audio)? That's $2-$3 for a decent length conversation. Every time I go to reach for my phone, I need to evaluate whether it's worth that cost. And really, the whole concept of paying for data starts to feel like long-distance phone charges to me. When, really, the network is there, and by using bandwidth I'm not going to impinge on others noticeably.

How is that different from ANY OTHER CARRIER?

They have caps, and if you pay for a bucket and don't use all of it, there is no refund. If you go over, overage fees are worse than if you changed your plan in advance. At least with fi, it's strictly pay for what you use.

Obvious exceptions for grandfathered plans and the few "truly" unlimited plans in existence. But they are exceptions.

 

[pete6032]

No.

Not a savings for me because I can't afford a phone payment right now. If I were getting a phone anyway, it would be a savings.

Or are you one of those people thinks the free phones at other carriers are actually free?

And this without the fact that T-Mobile, where they have coverage, easily outclasses ATT and/or Verizon. I know that for me, Verizon blows chunks in my city. They are oversaturated, and my speeds showed. T-Mobile 3G is faster than what I was getting on Verizon 4G.

Have you opinion. Don't use my words to reinforce it.

I think you need to re-read what I posted. I was agreeing with you.

 

[sweenish]

I think you need to re-read what I posted. I was agreeing with you.

No, you weren't.

Fi is a cheaper plan.

The timing for me just doesn't make it better. You made broad generalizations.

I'm also currently on T-Mobile, who I think is a great carrier. You weren't agreeing with me on anything.

 

[Artdeco]

Got my Project Fi SIM card, went with a 1GB plan, my unlimited plan with VZ expires this fall, (I was one of those that got a Note 3 with unlimited they couldn't cancel because of a glitch in the system).

Activated without a hitch, although I'm already regretting allowing them to use my GV number.