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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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#34405

In article <nrkrq1$v9n$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> 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, 

you don't know what a lot of things are.

> 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?).

no.

> 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.

whoosh.

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#34408

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 21:50:34 -0400, nospam wrote:

> you don't know what a lot of things are.

You're always exceptionally unhelpful.

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#34409

In article <nrkssl$108b$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> 
> > you don't know what a lot of things are.
> 
> You're always exceptionally unhelpful.

nope. i'm quite helpful, it's just that you're always exceptionally
dense and any suggestions or explanations sail *way* over your head.

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#34420

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 22:11:23 -0400, nospam wrote:

> nope. i'm quite helpful

You're exceptionally unhelpful.

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#34396

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

> 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.

This is only my very first look at Google Fi, and all I read was their four
MARKETING pages, but, what I intuited above seems to be the case, but I
will look at your responses.

It seems to be a "city" tool, which is why they talk about "trains" (of all
things) first and foremost. And it seems to be for the younger crowd, which
is, I guess, why they talk about "streaming songs" secondly.

Does anyone stream songs?
Why would you bother?
You can download any song you want in a few seconds.
Then you can *play* that song with or without the Internet.
Why would you stream something that puny?

I mean, streaming video makes sense (even though you can easily download
almost any video you want - but it's harder to download video - especially
on iOS which doesn't allow torrents) - in that it takes longer than a few
seconds and it takes up a lot more space. 

But streaming songs?
Who would bother when downloading them is trivial and fast already?

Anyway, I do like the *prices that make sense*, in that the pricing is
*simple* (which is one reason I liked T-Mobile initially) but the pricing
is merely competitive, as in "about the same" as T-Mobile for the same
thing.

So coverage is all important. 
The Google Fi coverage sucks where I live above Mountainview, but, T-Mobile
coverage sucks just as much so that's a wash.

In the city, I'm sure the coverage is fine (but so is T-Mobile's coverage).

So, in the end, unless someone pops in with some tremendous value equation
of Google Fi over T-Mobile, I don't see it as worse, nor better - but just
about the same (with the exception that the phones are the limiting
factor).

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#34838

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 01:22:19 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

>Does anyone stream songs?
>Why would you bother?
>You can download any song you want in a few seconds.
>Then you can *play* that song with or without the Internet.
>Why would you stream something that puny?

I don't know anyone who streams songs, but I know a lot of people who
stream music.

On a related note, I used to know a lot of people who downloaded songs
for later playback, but I think all of them have switched to streaming
because it's so much easier.

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#34839

On 2016-09-26, Char Jackson <none@none.invalid> wrote:
>
> I don't know anyone who streams songs, but I know a lot of people who
> stream music.

Many people stream music. For instance, all of the music I own is
available to stream through iCloud on all of my devices automatically. I
don't have to copy song files anywhere, nor is the space on my devices
occupied by a large music library. My music is available to stream
immediately wherever I am at the time which is quite liberating. : )

> On a related note, I used to know a lot of people who downloaded songs
> for later playback, but I think all of them have switched to streaming
> because it's so much easier.

No thanks. I don't rent my music, because I'd rather buy it once and do
whatever I want with it than pay monthly fees and lose it if I stop
paying. That's a sucker's game IMHO. 

-- 
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

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#34413

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:02:36 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

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

It's kinda difficult to explain.  It's not quite "Wi-Fi Calling" which
is what the various carriers are offering.  The simplest explanation
is that it's a VoIP service, that uses Wi-Fi to connect to the PSTN
(public switched telephone network), with Android based software that
switches automagically to one of the wireless carriers if the Wi-Fi
signal craps out.  Kinda like "Wi-Fi Calling" but backwards with a
multi-network switch attached (run by Google).

One of my friends has a Nexus 5X with Google Fi.  When she's visiting,
all her calls (in, out, and SMS) arrive via my Wi-Fi router.

"Project Fi Revisited:  6 months with Google's Weird wireless service"
<http://www.computerworld.com/article/3056595/mobile-wireless/project-fi.html>

"Nexus plus Project Fi:  Should you sign up for Google's wireless
service?"
<http://www.computerworld.com/article/2998266/mobile-wireless/nexus-5x-6p-project-fi.html>
Read the section on "Understanding Project Fi".

FAQ:
<http://www.computerworld.com/article/2999427/mobile-wireless/project-fi-google-voice.html>

"How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on an Android Phone"
<http://www.howtogeek.com/234608/how-to-enable-wi-fi-calling-on-an-android-phone/>

Incidentally, one fly in the ointment has been xfinitywifi.  For some
unknown reason, many wireless devices and phones prefer to connect to
SSID=xfinitywifi first.  Without a Comcast account, the connection
just sits there waiting for a login and password.  When my friend
arrives, the first thing I have to do is make sure its Wi-Fi is
connected to my router, not to the neighbors xfinitywifi connection.

-- 
Jeff Liebermann     jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D    http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann     AE6KS    831-336-2558

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#34419

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:00:05 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

>  Kinda like "Wi-Fi Calling" but backwards

Thanks Jeff for the links, as they were helpful, as was this simple summary
above!

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#34422

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:00:05 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> "Project Fi Revisited:  6 months with Google's Weird wireless service"
> <http://www.computerworld.com/article/3056595/mobile-wireless/project-fi.html>

Following is a summary of details of that article that Jeff helpfully
provided, where my comments are in the order stated in the article.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/3056595/mobile-wireless/project-fi.html

They switched a husband and wife from T-Mobile to Google Fi, where the guy
wrote about his experience.

Once they received the Google SIM card, they said it was simple except for
Google Voice (which used conflicting technology), but the guy worked around
the GV issues.

They said it uses only the Sprint, T-Mobile, & (encrypted on) public Wi-Fi
networks, which, for me, means T-Mobile since none of the others exist in
quantity where I go. And T-Mobile sucks, but no more so than does Verizon
or AT&T where I live. In the valley, they're all good.

They said they saved money on Google data by making phone calls over the
public WiFi networks, but that they never knew *when* they were on public
WiFi (which means they didn't really check it out for sure). 

Besides, why not just make those "unlimited" calls and texts over the
T-Mobile or Sprint network, which shouldn't *use* data in the first place?

Anyway, they did say there are the obligatory taxes and fees of about "four
bucks and change" per phone line.

In the end, just like I had roughly calculated, he paid almost *exactly*
what he had paid on T-Mobile (only he had a limited number of calls on his
T-Mobile plan, while I have unlimited).

With the four bucks in taxes added, he averaged $32.23/month, while his
wife averaged $29.05 a month, which I'll just call 30 bucks a month per
phone, which is *more* than I'm paying now for unlimited calls and texts
and 3.5GB of data per phone for 4 phones with T-Mobile.

He then discussed International Roaming (which my plan with T-Mobile also
has, and, in fact, is *why* I moved from $60 for 4 phones to $100 for 4
phones since we travel to Europe for at least a month or two every year).

He did describe a *data-only* SIM, much like the free 200MB/month T-Mobile
data-only SIM that I have in my tablets, where the cost is $10/GB to
Google. This is a nice option for those who need data on their tablets over
the free amount provided by T-Mobile to anyone who asks for it in the USA.

He liked the Fi customer support and the voicemail.

Near the end, he said Google Fi is probably not for you unless you use at
*lot* of data (between 1GB and 3GB).

He said the primary concern is the T-Mobile coverage, as the WiFi is bogus
(my words) in that you can never depend on public WiFi coverage. This is
the same concern with my current plan, which is 20% cheaper than Google Fi,
for just about the same service (even if I had one of the 3 phones it works
with).

In summary, his costs are 20% higher than mine, and, his coverage is
essentially the same. 

Doesn't sound like a good deal for me - but YMMV if you're a heavy data
user, which I'm not.

The only part of the article that I didn't completely understands was how
the public WiFi was gonna save him money on *calls* and *texts*. I can
easily see how it saves money on data - but calls and texts?

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#34435

In article <nrl7hf$1c6l$1@gioia.aioe.org>, Horace Algier
<horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

> The only part of the article that I didn't completely understands was how
> the public WiFi was gonna save him money on *calls* and *texts*. I can
> easily see how it saves money on data - but calls and texts?

that's not the only part you didn't understand.

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#34453

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:45:24 -0400, nospam wrote:

> that's not the only part

I must complement you on your rather astounding ability to be unhelpful in
every communicade.

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#34464

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 23:00:51 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:45:24 -0400, nospam wrote:
> 
>> that's not the only part
> 
> I must complement you on your rather astounding ability to be unhelpful in
> every communicade.

Guesses: complement => compliment? communicade => cascade of communiquées?

Cheers, -- tlvp
-- 
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

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#34476

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 23:55:32 -0400, tlvp wrote:

> Guesses: complement => compliment? communicade => cascade of communiquées?

Lewis (of all people) and I are regulars on alt.usage.english, where this
has been discussed in the past...

"I are a regular?"
"I am a regular?"

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#34424

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:00:05 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> "Nexus plus Project Fi:  Should you sign up for Google's wireless
> service?"
> <http://www.computerworld.com/article/2998266/mobile-wireless/nexus-5x-6p-project-fi.html>
> Read the section on "Understanding Project Fi".

Thanks Jeff for that URL:
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2998266/mobile-wireless/nexus-5x-6p-project-fi.html

It basically says that Google tries to "make it simple", which is a really
lousy value equation, since using a cellphone is already ridiculously
simple.

So, I'm not sure *what* Google Fi is trying to make simple.

They say that simplicity is the primary goal again, here:
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2999427/mobile-wireless/project-fi-google-voice.html

But anyway, they discuss right off the bat that Google Fi uses VPN when
connected to a public WiFi hotspot, but, as anyone knows, it's ridiculously
simple already to use VPN (I'm never NOT on a free VPN, for example) on
either iOS or Android devices.

So, as with most well MARKETED things, they're only making it simple for
the morons who don't know how to use a freeware VPN at public WiFi hotspots
(which isn't likely anyone on this newsgroup other than the common trolls).

At the time of that publicication, you needed an *invitation* to sign up,
and that took weeks, they said (which is a negative if it's still so).

The advantage, he says, is that if T-Mobile coverage isn't available, it
falls back on Sprint, and if a WiFi is stronger, it uses that (but really,
where do you folks find free public WiFi of any decent quality?).

So, in reality, since Sprint sucks, and free public WiFI basically doesn't
exist (and even if it did - you could use it *without* Google Fi!), it's
really just a T-Mobile network (which is easier to get with a cheaper
T-Mobile plan).

The *one* advantage is that switching between WiFI callinga and cellular
calling didn't *drop* the connection. OK. That's nice. But is it worth a
*special* phone and service for that one nicety?

This sub link has the best summary of what Google FI is (which, to me, is
no big deal whatsoever, and certainly not worth anything yet):
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2913639/mobile-wireless/google-project-fi-wireless-service.html

"The gist of it is this: Project Fi lets you use a combination of different
mobile data networks -- Sprint's and T-Mobile's, for the moment -- along
with public and authorized private Wi-Fi networks (with added security) to
make and receive calls, send texts, and get online".

Shortened, and simplified, Google Fi is just another 'carrier' who has a
simple cost structure which is about the same cost as your current carrier
for about the same service. If you're a moron who can't figure out how to
set up a free VPN at public WiFi hotspots, you'll like what they call the
"simplicity" of Google Fi. If you use a lot of data (over 3GB), you'll like
the simple cost structure of the data plan (although T-Mobile already has a
simple data cost plan of about the same price anyway). If Sprint has great
coverage by you, then maybe Google Fi is for you; otherwise, it's hard to
justify the purchase of four specific new phones just to use a system which
has no advantages over your current setup.

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#34425

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:00:05 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> "How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on an Android Phone"
> <http://www.howtogeek.com/234608/how-to-enable-wi-fi-calling-on-an-android-phone/>

Thanks Jeff for that article:
http://www.howtogeek.com/234608/how-to-enable-wi-fi-calling-on-an-android-phone/

An interesting sentence was this one:
 "Your phone will seamlessly hand off to the cellular network when you move
out of Wi-FI range."

Mine easily makes WiFi calls when I'm at home, where I also have a T-Mobile
cellular repeater, but when I move out of range of my WiFi, it drops the
WiFi call (and it says it will do that with a notification before it
happens).

It may be my older version of Android though (Jellybean) or it may be that
I have "WiFi preferred" set by default (as opposed to "Cellular Network
Preferred").

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#34426

On Sat, 17 Sep 2016 20:00:05 -0700, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> FAQ:
> <http://www.computerworld.com/article/2999427/mobile-wireless/project-fi-google-voice.html

Thanks Jeff for that FAQ.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2999427/mobile-wireless/project-fi-google-voice.html

From reading your other suggested articles, there's really no real value in
Google Fi other than for morons who can't figure out how to set up
encryption at public hotspots or for folks who are too stupid to find a
decently-priced plan on one of the big three carriers.

If *both* Sprint and T-Mobile are really big in your area, then Google Fi
*may* have value in that it can use both - but to purchase a separate phone
for four people just to get Sprint coverage is pretty pricey.

Anyway, reading the FAQ, here's what's interesting, in the order found:

1. They play up *simplicity* but that's only saying it's for morons who
can't figure out how to use a cell phone at a public hotspot or for people
too stupid to find a good carrier plan on their own (who can't navigate the
carrier complexities - of which - I agree - there are many).

2. They discuss that there is a *complexity* when it comes to Google Voice.

That FAQ just gets messier from there.... 

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#34427

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

> 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/

I just read *all* the articles suggested, so I think I now have a pretty 
good handle on what Google Fi is.

Pretty much, since the MARKETING guys play up *simplicity* as their 
*biggest* benefit, and *cost* as their second-biggest benefit, you can see 
that they play to morons who can't figure out such things on their own.

For example, the *cost* is about the same as my T-Mobile plan currently, 
so, Google Fi is only cost effective for peoople who are too stupid to find 
a good plan on their own. (I admit, carriers make plans complex, and Google 
Fi is simple - but it doesn't cost any less than a good carrier plan for 
the same features, essentially).

As an example of cost, on my tablet, I already have 200MB/month free from 
T-Mobile, but if I wanted 2GB/month, it would only cost $10 from T-Mobile, 
whereas from Google Fi, it's $10/GB (which is twice as expensive). Google 
Fi gives some of that money back though, so I'm not sure yet if Google Fi 
charges that *every* month, or only when you actually use it. 

The *simplicity* isn't really there either, as the Google Voice FAQ shows 
that there is certainly complexity involved. 

Google Voice aside, Google Fi is just as simple as popping a SIM card in 
your phone, which, um, er ... is the *same* simplicity of T-Mobile. They 
also tout the simplicity of WiFi calling - but - again - it's trivial to do 
WiFi calling (it's just a button in the Android settings) so that 
simplicity is only for the morons.

The only place where they can actually tout simplicity is that they 
automatically institute a free VPN whenever connected to a public WiFi 
hotspot. OK. That's nice. For morons. 

Personally, I am *always* on a free VPN no matter *what* I'm doing on the 
net, and that includes whenever I'm at a public WiFi hotspot on either iOS 
or Android. So, there's no value to "me"; but to morons who can't figure 
out how to set up a free public VPN, then it *is* simpler when connected to 
public WiFi hotspots.

As for Google Fi cellular *coverage*, there's really no value there either, 
as far as I can tell. It uses T-Mobile (which I already have) plus Sprint. 
Hmmm.... what's Sprint's coverage? I don't actually know (and don't care 
because T-mobile works for me most places.) All the carriers suck in the 
mountains, so I can't imagine Sprint being any better than T-Mobile is.

It gets a little complex when you try to figure out whether the Google Fi
data plan is worthwhile because with T-Mobile, if you don't use the data,
you lose it - but - the data is *half* as expensive on T-Mobile as it is on
Google Fi.

Here, for the record, is my T-Mobile's current data charges for my plan:
TABLET:
- $0 for 200MB/month 
- $10 for 2GB/month
- $20 for 6GB/month
PHONE:
- $100 for 4 phones unlim talk/text & 2.5GB/month per phone
(They gave me a "special promo" from 9/22 to 2/19 of 4GB/month per phone)
- $15 for 6GB/month
- $30 for 10GB/month
- $45 for unlimited data

Google Fi, on the other hand, charges twice as much for data at $10 for 1GB
per month, but, if you don't use it, it rolls over (although I don't know
how long it rolls over).

Overall Google Fi isn't a horrible deal on price; it's just not a good deal
on anything. It's only a good deal if you already have a bad deal.

However, does anyone know if the Google Fi $10 for 1GB rolls over forever? 
After a few years, you'll have so much data accumulated that I wonder if
you can stop paying the $10/month and just use up all the accrued data?

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#34429

On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:31:42 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:

> Here, for the record, is my T-Mobile's current data charges for my plan:
> TABLET:
> - $0 for 200MB/month 
> - $10 for 2GB/month
> - $20 for 6GB/month
> PHONE:
> - $100 for 4 phones unlim talk/text & 2.5GB/month per phone
> (They gave me a "special promo" from 9/22 to 2/19 of 4GB/month per phone)
> - $15 for 6GB/month
> - $30 for 10GB/month
> - $45 for unlimited data

I forgot that you can add and cancel the T-Mobile data plans at any time, 
so, effectively, you can use them whenever you think you'll *need* data. 

So that makes T-Mobile far *cheaper* than Google Fi for data (half the 
price).

Given that, I must ask: Is there *any* compelling reason to use Google Fi?

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#34433

Horace Algier <horatio@horatio.net> wrote:

>On Sun, 18 Sep 2016 06:31:42 +0000 (UTC), Horace Algier wrote:
>
>> Here, for the record, is my T-Mobile's current data charges for my plan:
>> TABLET:
>> - $0 for 200MB/month 
>> - $10 for 2GB/month
>> - $20 for 6GB/month
>> PHONE:
>> - $100 for 4 phones unlim talk/text & 2.5GB/month per phone
>> (They gave me a "special promo" from 9/22 to 2/19 of 4GB/month per phone)
>> - $15 for 6GB/month
>> - $30 for 10GB/month
>> - $45 for unlimited data
>
>I forgot that you can add and cancel the T-Mobile data plans at any time, 
>so, effectively, you can use them whenever you think you'll *need* data. 
>
>So that makes T-Mobile far *cheaper* than Google Fi for data (half the 
>price).

Fi seems better because it refunds the unused data as cash at the end
of the month <https://fi.google.com/about/plan/>.
>
>Given that, I must ask: Is there *any* compelling reason to use Google Fi?

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