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What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment?

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  What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:02 +0000
    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 20:10 -0400
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:34 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 20:37 -0400
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:56 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Bert <bert@iphouse.com> - 2016-09-18 14:10 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-18 10:20 -0400
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? ElfinArc6 <elfinarc6@gmail.com> - 2016-09-18 09:31 -0500
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? ElfinArc6 <elfinarc6@gmail.com> - 2016-09-18 09:22 -0500
    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:31 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 20:34 -0400
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:54 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 00:54 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 01:08 +0000
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 01:15 +0000
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 21:34 -0400
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2016-09-18 05:50 +0100
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Bert <bert@iphouse.com> - 2016-09-18 14:12 +0000
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> - 2016-09-17 18:27 -0700
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 01:48 +0000
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 21:50 -0400
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 02:07 +0000
                  Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-17 22:11 -0400
                    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 04:16 +0000
    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 01:22 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> - 2016-09-26 18:11 -0500
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Jolly Roger <jollyroger@pobox.com> - 2016-09-26 23:39 +0000
    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2016-09-17 20:00 -0700
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 04:00 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 05:09 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-18 06:45 -0400
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 23:00 +0000
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-09-18 23:55 -0400
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 16:22 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 05:38 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 05:57 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 05:57 +0000
    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 06:31 +0000
      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 07:11 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> - 2016-09-18 18:41 +1000
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nobody@NotMyISP.net> - 2016-09-18 15:37 -0400
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 23:00 +0000
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-18 23:00 +0000
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-18 19:47 -0400
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nobody@NotMyISP.net> - 2016-09-18 21:12 -0400
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 04:14 +0000
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 04:14 +0000
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 04:14 +0000
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 04:14 +0000
        Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nobody@NotMyISP.net> - 2016-09-18 21:42 -0400
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-09-18 19:17 -0700
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-18 22:27 -0400
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-09-19 00:07 -0400
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-09-18 21:16 -0700
                  Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 16:22 +0000
                  Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-19 17:52 -0400
                    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-09-20 18:06 -0400
                      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-20 18:22 -0400
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-19 16:22 +0000
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-09-19 17:52 -0400
                  Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-09-20 18:09 -0400
                    Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> - 2016-09-21 05:02 +0000
                      Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> - 2016-09-21 17:10 +1000
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-09-19 00:05 -0400
          Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? "Percival P. Cassidy" <Nobody@NotMyISP.net> - 2016-10-12 18:04 -0400
            Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? ElfinArc <elfinarc6@gmail.com> - 2016-10-12 17:27 -0500
              Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? Bert <bert@iphouse.com> - 2016-10-13 13:53 +0000
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? ElfinArc <elfinarc6@gmail.com> - 2016-10-13 09:41 -0500
                Re: What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-10-13 11:22 -0400

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#34381 — What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment?

What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment?

Someone in m.p.m.i mentioned they use "Fi" so I looked it up since I live
in the mountains above Google's Mountainview HQ...

https://fi.google.com/about/

That page (and the four that fall below is) is so full of Marketing BS that
it rivals those of Apple MARKETING. It's actually difficult to read, it's
so disgustingly MARKETING oriented. 

Nonetheless, watching the annoying video, it says Google partnered with the
hardware phone makers and the carriers to create a network solution.

That they *start* with "finding trains" is disconcerting (who gives a shit
about trains - I haven't been on a train in thirty years) and the *next*
value is "streaming* your favorite songs (again, who gives a shit since you
can *download* any song you want for free in seconds and songs don't take
up any space percentagewise).

Listening further in the video, there is a line saying "prices that make
sense" (um, ok - I like that, but prices for what?) and then "tech that
just works" (heh heh ... we've heard *that* before)... what that means is
it's likely *limited* like you can't believe - and always will mean that.

Yikes! That's it? That is Fi? It ends with "Join us". 
Holy cow. 

That is fi?
Naaaaaaah. Can't be.
It didn't say *anything* anyone actually cares about.
(trains? streaming songs?)

Whenever anyone says "it just works", what they mean is "morons love this
stuff because it doesn't actually do anything MARKETING hasn't scripted for
you!".

So, um, what is Fi?

Going *back* to the web page, the header line says it's "A new way to say
hello".
 https://fi.google.com/about/

Uh, ok. That's pretty useless. 
New isn't better. 
It's just different. 
Or, maybe it's not even different.
Being new is meaningless.
Saying "hello" a new way is probably just as meaningless.

Reading on, Fi has four parts:
a. The Network
b. The Plan
c. The Experience
d. The Phones

Jeezus. Can't they just *say* what the f**c it is?
Anyway, this is long so I'll take it up in another post.

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#34386

In article <nrklir$o0j$3@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> What is Google Fi and what does it mean for Android & iOS equipment?

it means nothing for most android and all ios equipment since it's only
supported on the nexus 5x, 6 & 6p.

> Someone in m.p.m.i mentioned they use "Fi" so I looked it up since I live
> in the mountains above Google's Mountainview HQ...
> 
> https://fi.google.com/about/
> 
> That page (and the four that fall below is) is so full of Marketing BS that
> it rivals those of Apple MARKETING. It's actually difficult to read, it's
> so disgustingly MARKETING oriented. 

english is hard.

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#34389

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:10:00 -0400, nospam wrote:

> english is hard.

I realize that English is hard for you, which is why you can't describe
what Google Fi is (which is the question, after all).

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#34390

In article <nrknek$qee$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> 
> > english is hard.
> 
> I realize that English is hard for you, which is why you can't describe
> what Google Fi is (which is the question, after all).

i can describe it quite well, as can other people, including those who
wrote the web pages you've been having trouble with.

the problem is you don't understand much of anything.

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#34393

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:37:59 -0400, nospam wrote:

> i can describe it quite well,

Obviously you can't, since that is the question.

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#34438

In news:170920162010000894%nospam@nospam.invalid nospam
<nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote: 

> it means nothing for most android and all ios equipment since it's
> only supported on the nexus 5x, 6 & 6p.

The service requires a phone that can do both GSM and CDMA, since it
uses T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular. 

-- 
bert@iphouse.com	St. Paul, MN

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#34440

In article <XnsA6875D4EEEDE1VeebleFetzer@127.0.0.1>, Bert
<bert@iphouse.com> wrote:

> > it means nothing for most android and all ios equipment since it's
> > only supported on the nexus 5x, 6 & 6p.
> 
> The service requires a phone that can do both GSM and CDMA, since it
> uses T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular.

no it doesn't. it requires a phone specifically designed to switch
among multiple carriers on the fly, and there aren't a whole lot of
those. as in three.

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#34442

nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> Wrote in message:
> In article <XnsA6875D4EEEDE1VeebleFetzer@127.0.0.1>, Bert
> <bert@iphouse.com> wrote:
> 
>> > it means nothing for most android and all ios equipment since it's
>> > only supported on the nexus 5x, 6 & 6p.
>> 
>> The service requires a phone that can do both GSM and CDMA, since it
>> uses T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular.
> 
> no it doesn't. it requires a phone specifically designed to switch
> among multiple carriers on the fly, and there aren't a whole lot of
> those. as in three.
> 
Yep, only those 3 at the moment.  Most likely that the new Pixel
 branded phones will also since they are the next generation of
 Google's phones.

But that really limits just how big an MVNO Google wants to be. 
 In the Android world Samsung is the elephant in the room, but
 Project Fi does not now work with them or any others.  And no
 iPhone support either.  In the Project Fi G+ community there are
 all sorts of ideas about how to make iPhones work on the system. 
 You can put an already activated Project Fi sim in an iPhone, but
 it only works on T-Mobile, no switching.  Or you can use the data
 SIM in it and use something like Hangouts, but again only on
 T-Mobile since the data SIM only does TMO.

When I was with Project Fi I had the 5X and a data sim in my
 iPhone, but it was less than satisfactory for a number of
 reasons, the biggest being that in spite of TMO's (and other
 carriers), coverage maps, the data on TMO was pretty weak and
 spotty around here.  Hell even Sprint was weak as hell.  So I
 dropped them and went back to Verizon, could just as easily gone
 to AT&T for about the same cost and coverage.  It is just the
 other actual cell carriers that aren't so good in this rural
 area.

-- 
Elfin

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#34441

Bert <bert@iphouse.com> Wrote in message:
> In news:170920162010000894%nospam@nospam.invalid nospam
> <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote: 
> 
>> it means nothing for most android and all ios equipment since it's
>> only supported on the nexus 5x, 6 & 6p.
> 
> The service requires a phone that can do both GSM and CDMA, since it
> uses T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular. 
> 
> -- 
> bert@iphouse.com	St. Paul, MN
> 
More to it than that, lots of phones have that support.  It is the
 switching of carriers and/or wifi that makes the difference and
 that is only in the firmware/software of the Nexus 5X, 6 and
 6P

-- 
Elfin

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#34387

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:02:36 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> Reading on, Fi has four parts:
> a. The Network
> b. The Plan
> c. The Experience
> d. The Phones

The first of the four things that "Fi is" is "Network".
Reading that ... https://fi.google.com/about/network/

The bullet is: 
"Project Fi automatically connects to the best network"

Um. OK. Nothing wrong with that.
So let's read on...

The next bullet is:
"Tap into a network of networks"

Um. That's nice too. Nothing wrong with switching into the best network of
networks it can find. So, um, that's nice to have....

Next bullet item:
"Get access to multiple 4G LTE networks"

Ok. We're talking something concrete. This means Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T,
etc., I presume (whomever is best at the time)?

Finally, we get to what appears to be the value equation...
 "Project Fi intelligently connects you to the best network at your
location whether it┬ Wi-Fi or one of our partner 4G LTE networks".

OK. That's nice. Very nice (if it works).
And if the cost isn't prohibitive.

They have a check-coverage map, which, when I popped in my address, showed
a coverage map which seems pretty explicit when you zoom into your home:
http://i.cubeupload.com/fHbbHn.jpg

So, I guess the main point is that instead of just having either T-Mobile
or Verizon, you get *both* T-Mobile *and* Verizon, and, presumably, WiFi
networks in between.

If it works - and if the cost isn't prohibitive - that's nice.
The devil is always in the details...

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#34388

In article <nrkn9g$q9p$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> So, I guess the main point is that instead of just having either T-Mobile
> or Verizon, you get *both* T-Mobile *and* Verizon, and, presumably, WiFi
> networks in between.

you guessed wrong.

> If it works - and if the cost isn't prohibitive - that's nice.
> The devil is always in the details...

or in comprehension.

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#34391

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:34:28 -0400, nospam wrote:

> you guessed wrong.

You are amazingly unhelpful.

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#34392

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:31:45 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> They have a check-coverage map, which, when I popped in my address, showed
> a coverage map which seems pretty explicit when you zoom into your home:
> http://i.cubeupload.com/fHbbHn.jpg

So the coverage sucks horrifically, at least where I frequent near
Mountainview, but even if the coverage were good, we still need to know
what it is because it's four things:
1. The Network (which we covered)
2. The Plan
3. The Experience
4. The Phones

So moving on to "The Plan"...
https://fi.google.com/about/plan/

The first bullet is:
 "Sign up for our one simple plan"

Um, that's nice. I'm all for one simple plan.

Next bullet item:
 "
Fi Basics for $20 per month
 "Our plan starts with the Fi Basics for $20 per month, which includes:
unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international texts, ability to
use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and coverage in 135+ destinations."

Um.... er.... ok. I have four phones with T-Mobile at $100/month with
unlimited talk & text and 3.5GB data in each phone (no rollover). So,
that's *cheaper* at $80/month but it has dismal coverage and no data...

Looking at data, we see:
 "It's always $10 per GB for data"

Well, that's interesting. I like that it's simple. And relatively cheap,
since, in effect, I'm paying 100-80=20/month for data for 4 phones, which
is $5/month for 3.5GB of data (most of which I never use).

I *like* the next bullet item:
 "Never pay for unused data"

Then they get into the math:
 "You only pay for what you use—get about 1￠ in credit for each MB of
unused data"

And ... 
 "Pay one rate for high speed international data around the world"

With T-Mobile, I already get unlimited International data in Europe, so,
that's no big deal but it's nice to know that...

"In 135+ destinations, data usage costs the same $10 per GB as it does in
the US. ... Also, call around the world for 20￠ per minute and send
unlimited international texts. "

So, again, that's the same as my T-Mobile plan on the calls, which are 20
cents a minute when I'm in Europe calling either European numbers or
calling the USA (or receiving calls from anywhere, since you pay on both
ends).

So, overall, this "Plan" seems reasonably similar to mine with T-Mobile.

The price is "about the same" as my T-Mobile plan, but it's hard to judge
because I don't use much data, so, without any data, the Fi plan is
actually *cheaper* (by twenty bucks) than my T-Mobile plan.

Fi: Four phones: Presumably that's 80 bucks a month for phone, and who
knows what for data. Let's say 20 bucks, overall, for data (there is one of
the four consumers who uses a lot of data - the rest use none). 

Assuming we ignore taxes and additional government fees...
T-Mobile comes out to $100/month (actually)
Project Fi comes out to $100/month (roughly)

So that's not bad, in that Project Fi doesn't seem to be more expensive.
The coverage sucks - but that will only improve over time.

So it's worth keeping an eye on.

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#34394

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:54:33 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> Assuming we ignore taxes and additional government fees...
> T-Mobile comes out to $100/month (actually)
> Project Fi comes out to $100/month (roughly)
> 
> So that's not bad, in that Project Fi doesn't seem to be more expensive.
> The coverage sucks - but that will only improve over time.
> 
> So it's worth keeping an eye on.

So, "The Plan" seems simple enough at $20/phone for talk and text and
whatever you use for data (assume $5/month) so that's the same as my
current T-Mobile plan at $100/month for 4 phones with 3.5 GB of data per
phone (non rollover). 

The Google Fi coverage around home sucks but the coverage for T-Mobile data
sucks also around home, so, that's pretty much a wash, I think. I do get a
repeater from T-Mobile, and I fall back to WiFi anyway (using WISP since
there is no cable or DSL available), so, I think coverage, while sucky, is
a wash.

So, coverage is a wash.
Price is a wash.

That's not bad - it's just not great.
Now we move on to "The Experience".
https://fi.google.com/about/experience/

The first bullet item is:
 "One number to chat across networks and devices"

Hmmm... "chat"?. Who chats? Anyway, what's "one number" mean anyway?
I already have "one number" for my cellphone, so to speak.

They don't explain.
The next bullet item is:
 "Calls and texts over Wi-Fi for more coverage".

Um. OK. Everyone does that. I have WISP for WiFi at home, so, my calls go
over that anyway. No big deal there as it's to be expected.

Next bullet item:
"Calls transition seamlessly between Wi-Fi and cell networks"

Ok. That's nice. I've noticed that T-Mobile will *drop* a call that I make
at home, and then when I drive down the driveway, it drops. Then I have to
call again, and it connects on the cellular network. So if Google Fi does
that switch, its' nice.

It's not critical - but it's nice to have. 
And it's better than what T-Mobile does.

Next bullet item is interesting...
 "Use your phone number with tablets and laptops too"

Hmmm.... at first it sounds intriguing ... but then you realize they are
only talkinga about Google Hangouts (and probably Google Voice) so, that's
no big deal. You can do that anyway. On any data/wifi network.

NOTE: I was in MARKETING for years. Whenever they run out of goodies, they
start extoling things that are already there, becuase there is always a
moron who is simply adding up features. 

That's it. 
So, the only thing that you get with "The Experience" is that calls don't
drop when you move from WiFi to Cellular. 

I'd call "The Experience" a wash.
Not bad. But nothing special.

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#34395

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 01:08:11 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> So, the only thing that you get with "The Experience" is that calls don't
> drop when you move from WiFi to Cellular. 
> 
> I'd call "The Experience" a wash.
> Not bad. But nothing special.

Moving on to the last descriptive term for Google Fi, we get to:
"The Phones" https://fi.google.com/about/phones/

It looks like iOS is out of the question, upon first look since they list:
- $500 Nexus 6P (I have a $300 GSM Nexus 5 unused at the moment)
- $200 Nexus 5X (see above)

Um... er ... that's it?
No other phones listed?

Just the two Nexus phones (neither of which I have)?

Oh well, that's the only thing that's a negative if that's the case.
I'm sure all the *new* Nexus phones will support the Google Fi, but,
overall, Fi is a wash over T-Mobile.

I'm sure Fi will get better - and the pricing is the same as T-Mobile
(essentially) so it's good for competition.

Maybe it's more useful in the city?
They did start with *trains* after all...

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#34399

In article <nrkpr5$t3p$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> 
> Moving on to the last descriptive term for Google Fi, we get to:
> "The Phones" https://fi.google.com/about/phones/
> 
> It looks like iOS is out of the question, upon first look since they list:
> - $500 Nexus 6P (I have a $300 GSM Nexus 5 unused at the moment)
> - $200 Nexus 5X (see above)
> 
> Um... er ... that's it?
> No other phones listed?

you have to be inside google's walled garden for it to work.

> Just the two Nexus phones (neither of which I have)?

three phones.

> Oh well, that's the only thing that's a negative if that's the case.
> I'm sure all the *new* Nexus phones will support the Google Fi, but,
> overall, Fi is a wash over T-Mobile.

there aren't going to be any new 'nexus' phones.

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#34421

nospam wrote:

> Horace Algier wrote:
>
>> I'm sure all the *new* Nexus phones will support the Google Fi
>
> there aren't going to be any new 'nexus' phones.

Presumably Pixel phones will support Project Fi.

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#34439

In news:nrkpr5$t3p$1@gioia.aioe.org Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net>
wrote: 

> Moving on to the last descriptive term for Google Fi, we get to:
> "The Phones" https://fi.google.com/about/phones/
> 
> It looks like iOS is out of the question, upon first look since they
> list: - $500 Nexus 6P (I have a $300 GSM Nexus 5 unused at the moment)
> - $200 Nexus 5X (see above)
> 
> Um... er ... that's it?
> No other phones listed?
> 

Those are the phones you can buy through Google, so they're Google's own
phones. 

-- 
bert@iphouse.com	St. Paul, MN

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#34397

On 2016-09-18 01:08:11 +0000, Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> said:

<<Le Snip>>

> 
> So, the only thing that you get with "The Experience" is that calls don't
> drop when you move from WiFi to Cellular.

So? The same applies to Verizon with WiFi or VoLTE calls.



-- 
Regards,

Savageduck

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#34404

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 18:27:13 -0700, Savageduck wrote:

>> So, the only thing that you get with "The Experience" is that calls don't
>> drop when you move from WiFi to Cellular.
> 
> So? The same applies to Verizon with WiFi or VoLTE calls.

I don't know what VOLTE is, so, googling...
VoLTE: What it is and why should you use it? | Android Central
http://www.androidcentral.com/volte-how-use-it-and-why-you-should

It's just voice over LTE, so, I guess that's the same, effectively, as
voice over any other kind of data connection (only faster - but who cares
if voice is faster?).

Oh, ok. It's the *bandwidth" that matters ... 
 "thanks to VoLTE is the ability to use more bandwidth to make phone calls
with higher quality audio traveling both ways. When you are on a call with
someone else who is using VoLTE, you immediately notice the difference in
call quality on both ends. You'll also notice the calls connect faster if
you are calling someone near you, and while that's not a feature worth
bragging about it's a cool thing to test for yourself."

Anyway, when I'm on T-Mobile WiFI at home, and I drive down the driveway,
as soon as I lose my WiFi signal, I lose the phone call. Every time.

Then I can call back, and it's fine (becuase then I'm on cellular) but the
point is that switching between the two doesn't happen with my T-Mobile
connection.

Are you saying your *verizon* connection *does* easily switch between the
two? If so, that's a plus.

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