Project Fi

Project Fi
Project Fi logo
Type Mobile data and voice
Location
  • United States
  • Roaming in 135+ countries
Protocols GSM / CDMA / HSPA+ / LTE
Use Wireless smartphone service
Owner Google
Operator Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Three
Established 22 April 2015 (2015-04-22)
Current status Operational
Commercial? Yes
Website fi.google.com

Project Fi is a mobile virtual network operator owned by Google, providing wireless phone and data services using Wi-Fi and cellular networks belonging to Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Three.[1][2][3][4][5] Google's efforts in this area have been characterized as an attempt to unify the world's wireless networks.[6]

Features

The service automatically switches between networks depending on signal strength and speed,[6] and automatically connects to open Wi-Fi hotspots that meet certain criteria while securing data with encryption through an automatic VPN. Phone calls, if placed over a Wi-Fi connection, will seamlessly transition to a cellular network if Wi-Fi coverage is lost.[6][7][8][9]

Project Fi also allows users to send and receive text messages and phone calls from any device that can use Google Hangouts, including phones, tablets, and computers. These services work regardless of whether the Project Fi phone is powered on or off. [10]

Users of Project Fi can use their service in more than 135 countries with access to high speed data (up to 4G LTE) and Wi-Fi calling billed at domestic rates, as well as free unlimited text messaging.[11] Cellular phone calls are available at $0.20 per minute while outside of the U.S.[12]

Plans

Monthly plans are flat fee-based,[6] paid at the beginning of each monthly billing cycle and start at $20.00 per month for unlimited voice and messaging and an additional $10.00 per GB of data. Unused data is credited $10.00/GB ($0.01/MB) on the customer's next invoice, while extra data is charged at $10.00/GB ($0.01/MB).[13]

In October 2016, Project Fi announced Group Plans, which allow users to be able to manage sub accounts with one "owner" and many "managers" or "users." Subordinate users are $15 per line for Unlimited Talk and Text while data remains the prorated $10.00 per GB of data. The plans also allow owners to shut off the data of their users as well as their international service capabilities.[14]

Availability

The service was rolled out in 2015 to US users with Google's Nexus phones;[6] voice and data services remain available only on this platform, more specifically the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P models. As of October 4th, 2016, the Pixel line from Google was added to the Fi family, with the announcement of the Pixel and Pixel XL phones.

Data-only service with limited coverage is also available as a free add-on for existing customers. Devices using this service share the same data budget as the main phone.[15] Tablets including the Nexus 7 and Nexus 9, as well as non-Nexus devices such as the cellular network-compatible versions of the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S have been confirmed to work with this service.[16][17][18][19] Users can add up to 9 data-only SIM cards to their accounts, and they are allowed to try the data-only SIM card in any device that is compatible with T-Mobile's GSM network.

On March 7, 2016, the service no longer required invites and became available to anyone in the U.S. living in a zip code that has coverage.[20][21]

Management

As of 2016, John Maletis was the head of operations for the Project.[6]

Controversies

Based on changes to its terms of service, Google has been imposing what has been described as a "digital death sentence", removing the Google account -- including Gmail, photos, documents -- of users reselling Google phones like the Pixel or of those having their phones shipped directly from Google to resellers.[22][23]

References

  1. ↑ Fox, Nick (April 22, 2015). "Say hi to Fi: A new way to say hello". Official Google Blog. Google. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ Huet, Ellen (April 22, 2015). "Google Unveils Its 'Project Fi' Wireless Service". Forbes. Forbes.com LLC. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ Velazco, Chris (April 4, 2015). "Google's Project Fi service turns multiple phone networks into one". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ Jacobs, Evan (June 8, 2016). "More speed and coverage with U.S. Cellular — now part of Project Fi". Official Android Blog. Google. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  5. ↑ Kugler, Tyler (July 12, 2016). "Stay connected abroad with high speed data from Project Fi". Official Android Blog. Google. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Metz, Cade (12 July 2016). "Google's Project Fi Is One Step Closer to Unifying the World's Wireless Networks". WIRED. Retrieved 2016-07-12 – via wired.com.
  7. ↑ Fung, Brian (July 8, 2015). "Project Fi review: The most remarkable feature of Google's new cell service". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  8. ↑ Martonik, Andrew (November 1, 2015). "What is Project Fi, how does it work and why do I want it?". Android Central. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  9. ↑ El Akkad, Omar (November 23, 2015). "Why I ditched my cellphone carrier to try Google's Project Fi". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Using Hangouts with Project Fi". Project Fi Support. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Stay connected abroad with high speed data from Project Fi". Official Android Blog. Google, Inc. July 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  12. ↑ "Use your phone outside the U.S.". Project Fi Help. Google, Inc. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  13. ↑ "Plan - Project Fi". Project Fi Support. Google. Retrieved Feb 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Group Plans - Project Fi". Project Fi Support. Google. Retrieved Nov 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Use Project Fi with tablets and other compatible devices". Project Fi Help. Google, Inc. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
  16. ↑ "How to get Project Fi". Project Fi Help. Google. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Project Fi - Supported Devices". Project Fi FAQ. Google. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  18. ↑ Lee, Nicole (December 4, 2015). "After six months with Google's Project Fi, I'd switch to it if I could". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Google's experimental wireless service will work with tablets too". Cnet. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  20. ↑ "From "Hi" to Fi to "Goodbye" to invites: 7 things we've learned about Project Fi". Official Android Blog. Google. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  21. ↑ "Sign up for Project Fi". Project Fi Help. Google. Retrieved 29 March 2016. Eligible location: You need to live in a U.S. zip code where we have coverage.
  22. ↑ Hern, Alex. "Pixel phone resellers banned from using Google accounts; Users lose access to mail, photos, documents and anything else linked to their Google identity", The Guardian, November 17, 2016. Accessed November 22, 2016. "Google has suspended the accounts of hundreds of people who took advantage of a loophole in US sales tax to make a small profit on Pixel phones. The Google customers had all bought the phones from the company’s Project Fi mobile carrier, and had them shipped directly to a reseller in New Hampshire, a US state with no sales tax."
  23. ↑ via Associated Press. "Google hits Pixel resellers with 'digital death sentence'; Google is teaching some users a harsh lesson: if you violate its policies, it can abruptly cut you off from your Gmail account, online photos and other vital digital services", U.S. News & World Report, November 17, 2016. Accessed November 22, 2016.

External links

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