Google's 'Project Fi' Cellular Service Now Supports iPhone

[MacRumors]

Google today announced a major expansion of its Project Fi smartphone plan, which has previously been available on select Android devices. As of today, iPhone and iPad users are also able to take advantage of Fi, with a new a new iOS app available with setup steps.

Project Fi, which is being renamed "Google Fi" alongside the expansion of the service, is designed to provide hassle-free cellular service with perks like international data coverage at an affordable price.

The Google Fi service is priced at $20 for unlimited talk and text, along with $10 for each GB of data used up to 6GB. At the 6GB cap, data becomes free, and at 15GB, data speeds slow down. The monthly fee caps out at $80, not including taxes and fees, and it costs an additional $15 per person.

On the iPhone, LTE data speeds, unlimited texts, and unlimited calls are included, and there are no roaming fees in more than 170 countries. There are, however, some restrictions.

While iMessage functions fine, sending texts to non-iPhones requires configuring some settings, and voicemails will not be able to take advantage of the visual voicemail feature in iOS. Voicemails will instead be available as text messages, and you'll need to call to check them. Google Fi's network switching feature and VPN do not work on iOS.

Google Fi compatibility on an iPhone XS Max​

Google Fi operates as an MNVO, aka mobile virtual network operator, which means its coverage comes from other carriers like T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Sprint. Google devices are able to take advantage of network switching for better coverage, but this does not work on iOS.

iPhones and iPads will instead use T-Mobile's network for calls, texts, and data, but international roaming is still available. Calls or texts cannot be made over WiFi with Google Fi, and when outside of the U.S., the data hotspot feature will not work.

You could previously get Fi service on an iPhone in an unofficial capacity using a SIM card activated by a Google device and changing some settings, but Google now offers official Google Fi support on the iPhone.

Google says the Fi service will work with the iPhone 5s and later, with iPhones required to be running iOS 11 or higher.

For today only, Google is offering a travel credit when purchasing a Google phone, or a $200 Fi service credit when bringing a phone to Fi.

Article Link: Google's 'Project Fi' Cellular Service Now Supports iPhone

 

[eatrains]

No visual voicemail? Lame.

 

[Starship67]

Seem a bit of a rip off to me. I get unlimited everything including taxes from Tmobile for $85 iPhone, iPad and a Series 4 watch.

 

[newtestleper]

Google Fi operates as an MNVO, aka mobile virtual network operator

Hmm.

 

[CrzyP]

Can Google Fi use eSIM?

 

[keysofanxiety]

Seem a bit of a rip off to me. I get unlimited everything including taxes from Tmobile for $85 iPhone iPad and Series 4 watch.

Yeah but if you use Google Assistant, this is really useful. Remember those phone conversations you had and you're thinking, "damn, what did we talk about again?" Luckily they'll have that information stored, so it's great for a scatterbrain like me.

 

[AngerDanger]

What a coincidence; it just so happens I'm starting a cellular service of my own! AngerFi will guarantee full bars everywhere. Making the switch is easy: send over your first $30 payment, wait 2–3 business days to receive a SignalEnhancer, and apply it directly to your device!

 

[Starship67]

Yeah but if you use Google Assistant, this is really useful. Remember those phone conversations you had and you're thinking, "damn, what did we talk about again?" Luckily they'll have that information stored, so it's great for a scatterbrain like me.

Yea Im sure, probably not the only data they are keeping either.

 

[dannyyankou]

So it's basically $80/month for 6gb of data. Not a great deal.

Edit: Nevermind, I mis-read the article. Data becomes free from 6gb-15gb, but slows down after that. Still not that great of a deal. Verizon is $80/month for 1 line of unlimited and doesn't throttle you until 22gb.

 

[keysofanxiety]

What a coincidence; it just so happens I'm starting a cellular service of my own! AngerFi will guarantee full bars everywhere. Unlimited talk, text, and data, but you might notice a slight issue with the call volume and we throttle like a mother ****er.

To those of you reading this, the AngerFi is an absolute rip. I had to resend an MMS six times, then when it finally sent I got a text from an anonymous number which said "thanks for the nudes".

Never using that again.

 

[LessO2]

Pay Google more to be on T-Mo's network? And to have extra hoops to jump through in order to get what I already have from T-Mo?

I'll pass, thanks.

 

[Fried Chicken]

So basically apples works up down left right to keep their devices as private as possible, and yet people happily jump to google at the first opportunity.

This world is ****ed.

 

[ignatius345]

I wish Apple would get into the MNVO game. Their service would probably be expensive but maybe they'd innovate in some ways and I'm sure it would be easy to deal with for iPhone users. And more competition is always good.

 

[NoBoMac]

Calls or texts cannot be made over WiFi with Google Fi, and when outside of the U.S., the data hotspot feature will not work.

Pass. That is a nice feature of FI and approved Android devices. A friend has been using it for a couple of years now (real happy with FI), lives in a cell dead zone, and the wifi calling has been heaven sent feature for he and his wife (yeah, most post-paid plans have wifi calling, so, nothing novel, just nice to have that in such a cheap plan, and Google hotspots scattered around [ie. they don't blow through data like some people]).

 

[Andres Cantu]

Pre-cursor to the T-Mobile Sprint merger in a way.

 

[kodos]

I can only IMAGINE the stuff Google harvests from you. They don't go into any business without slurping some of your data. That's their entire business model.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Being able to add-on a tablet for no additional cost on Fi is pretty big deal that I think most articles on this are missing.

It's crazy that other carriers charge $10-$20/month extra to add another data-only device to use that same data pool.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I’m still grandfathered in on the AT&T unlimited data plan for my iPad for $29...so I am happy.

 

[smallcoffee]

So it's basically $80/month for 6gb of data. Not a great deal.

Edit: Nevermind, I mis-read the article. Data becomes free from 6gb-15gb, but slows down after that. Still not that great of a deal. Verizon is $80/month for 1 line of unlimited and doesn't throttle you until 22gb.

Yea but does Verizon have international data at no charge and free SMS globally?

 

[weave]

Can Google Fi use eSIM?

Asking the important question here....

I'd never have this for a primary line but being able to travel internationally and have this would be awesome!

 

[ignatius345]

Pass. That is a nice feature of FI and approved Android devices. A friend has been using it for a couple of years now (real happy with FI), lives in a cell dead zone, and the wifi calling has been heaven sent feature

Verizon has this too, on iPhone, and it's great. When you're on a decent wifi signal, the carrier label at the top of the phone screen changes to "Verizon WiFi". I assume other carriers have this too.

Also, if you enable wifi calling on a Mac you can use your cell number to make or receive a call, even if your phone is off.

 

[bigfatipod]

I was hoping Fi would come to iPhone and in the meantime I had switched to Cricket. I'm surprised at how much I like Cricket and actually plan on staying with them. For $35 after taxes, I get 5gb data. There's some disadvantages that might bother other people, but it works great for my needs.

 

[Jaekae]

Really bad price, i have 70gb for ~40$

 

[macman01101]

To those of you reading this, the AngerFi is an absolute rip. I had to resend an MMS six times, then when it finally sent I got a text from an anonymous number which said "thanks for the nudes".

Never using that again.

I used AngerFi recently in Dallas and loved it. I’m considering switching from Verizon!

 

[deebinem]

What a coincidence; it just so happens I'm starting a cellular service of my own! AngerFi will guarantee full bars everywhere. Unlimited talk, text, and data, but you might notice a slight issue with the call volume and we throttle like a mother ****er.

gifs please or its not true...

EDIT: There it is!

Does it come in a variety of custom colors or do I need to jailbreak?