Google has introduced their oft-rumored wireless network today, Project Fi, offering a "fast and easy wireless experience."
Project Fi aims to seamlessly connect you to the strongest connection available, whether that is a Wi-Fi connection, or 4G LTE offerings from Google's two partners: Sprint and T-Mobile US. Google says the Wi-Fi hotspots have been vetted and are fast and reliable, and Google will secure your data automatically with encryption.
Says Google: "Project Fi works to get technology out of the way so you can communicate through whichever network type and device you're using. Wherever you're connected to Wi-Fi--whether that's at home, your favorite coffee shop or your Batcave--you can talk and text like you normally do. If you leave an area of Wi-Fi coverage, your call will seamlessly transition from Wi-Fi to cell networks so your conversation doesn't skip a beat. We also want to help phone numbers adapt to a multi-screen world. With Project Fi, your phone number lives in the cloud, so you can talk and text with your number on just about any phone, tablet or laptop. So the next time you misplace your phone, you can stay connected using another screen."
There is no annual contract required and the plans start at $30 a month for unlimited text (including international), Wi-Fi tethering and talk and 1GB of data. Each additional GB of data is $10 more, which is almost prohibitively expensive although Google will refund you for any unused data. For example, 3GB is $30 but if you only use 1GB Google will refund you the $20.
Another major caveat is hardware availability. You can only use the Google Nexus 6, which will cost you over $600 upfront and is currently the only device that can support the switching necessary to make Fi work.
Overall, this appears to be an interesting experiments by Google, but one that is not likely to rattle too many feathers due to its prohibitive pricing and hardware. To request an invite, click here.
Says Google: "Project Fi works to get technology out of the way so you can communicate through whichever network type and device you're using. Wherever you're connected to Wi-Fi--whether that's at home, your favorite coffee shop or your Batcave--you can talk and text like you normally do. If you leave an area of Wi-Fi coverage, your call will seamlessly transition from Wi-Fi to cell networks so your conversation doesn't skip a beat. We also want to help phone numbers adapt to a multi-screen world. With Project Fi, your phone number lives in the cloud, so you can talk and text with your number on just about any phone, tablet or laptop. So the next time you misplace your phone, you can stay connected using another screen."
There is no annual contract required and the plans start at $30 a month for unlimited text (including international), Wi-Fi tethering and talk and 1GB of data. Each additional GB of data is $10 more, which is almost prohibitively expensive although Google will refund you for any unused data. For example, 3GB is $30 but if you only use 1GB Google will refund you the $20.
Another major caveat is hardware availability. You can only use the Google Nexus 6, which will cost you over $600 upfront and is currently the only device that can support the switching necessary to make Fi work.
Overall, this appears to be an interesting experiments by Google, but one that is not likely to rattle too many feathers due to its prohibitive pricing and hardware. To request an invite, click here.
