Google Fi Wireless

Google Fi was announced exclusively for the Nexus 6 smartphone on April 22, 2015, on the Sprint and T-Mobile networks.{{cite web |first=Nick |last=Fox |title=Say hi to Fi: A new way to say hello |url=https://googleblog.blogspot.no/2015/04/project-fi.html |website=Official Google Blog |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Welch |title=Google launches its own mobile network for Nexus 6 owners |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/22/8467433/google-launches-mobile-service |website=The Verge |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Ellen |last=Huet |title=Google Unveils Its 'Project Fi' Wireless Service |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/04/22/google-unveils-wireless-service-project-fi/ |website=Forbes |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Velazco |title=Google's Project Fi service turns multiple phone networks into one |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/04/22/google-project-fi/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=April 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} Because of high demand at launch, the service required that users receive invitations, which were gradually released throughout summer 2015.{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Byford |title=Google's Project Fi invites won't roll out to everyone til mid-summer |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/22/8642775/google-project-fi-invite-date |website=The Verge |date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=Google's Project Fi Invites To Reach Everyone By Mid-Summer |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/22/googles-project-fi-invites-to-reach-everyone-by-mid-summer/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} The invitation system was dropped on March 7, 2016.{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Arscott |title=From "Hi" to Fi to "Goodbye" to invites: 7 things we've learned about Project Fi |url=https://blog.google/products/project-fi/from-hi-to-fi-to-goodbye-to-invites/ |website=The Keyword Google Blog |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Jon |last=Fingas |title=Google's Project Fi no longer requires an invitation to join |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/03/07/google-project-fi-drops-invitations/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Frederic |last=Lardinois |title=You can now sign up for Google's Project Fi cell service without an invite |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/07/you-can-now-sign-up-for-googles-project-fi-without-an-invite/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} U.S. Cellular was added on June 8, 2016.{{cite web |first=Evan |last=Jacobs |title=More speed and coverage with U.S. Cellular — now part of Project Fi |url=https://blog.google/products/project-fi/more-speed-and-coverage-with-us/ |website=The Keyword Google Blog |date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |title=Google adds US Cellular to Project Fi |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/8/11886758/project-fi-us-cellular-google-network-wireless-carrier-lte |website=The Verge |date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Ron |last=Amadeo |title=Google's Project Fi cell service adds US Cellular to the mix |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/06/googles-project-fi-cell-service-adds-us-cellular-to-the-mix/ |website=Ars Technica |date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} Three was added on July 12, 2016.{{cite web |first=Tyler |last=Kugler |title=Stay connected abroad with high speed data from Project Fi |url=https://blog.google/products/project-fi/stay-connected-abroad-with-high-speed/ |website=The Keyword Google Blog |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Miller |title=Google adds Three network to Project Fi's family to improve international speeds |url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/7/12/12159210/google-project-fi-three-network-international-roaming-speed |website=The Verge |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Ron |last=Amadeo |title=Google's Project Fi gets international LTE, adds Three to carrier lineup |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/07/googles-project-fi-gets-international-lte-adds-three-to-carrier-lineup/ |website=Ars Technica |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} In October 2016, Google added the ability to use Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones,{{cite web |first=Marguerite |last=Reardon |title=Google adds Pixel phones to Project Fi lineup |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/google-pixel-phones-project-fi-lineup/ |publisher=CNET |date=October 4, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} and later introduced a Group Plan, letting subscribers add extra members to their plans.{{cite web |first=Marcia |last=Jung |title=Introducing Project Fi's group plan |url=https://blog.google/products/project-fi/introducing-project-fis-group-plan/ |website=The Keyword Google Blog |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Ingraham |title=Google's Project Fi now has family plans |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/11/google-project-fi-group-plans/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Nick |last=Statt |title=Google introduces group plans for its Project Fi mobile network |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/11/13235192/google-project-fi-group-plan-wireless-cell-service |website=The Verge |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}

In February 2023, Google Fi and US Cellular discontinued their partnership, leaving T-Mobile as the only network usable with it in the US.{{Cite web |author1=Nickolas Diaz |date=2023-03-01 |title=Google Fi no longer uses US Cellular as part of its official network |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/carriers/google-fi-drops-us-cellular |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Android Central |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Google Fi Ditches Another Mobile Network, Leaving Only T-Mobile |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/google-fi-reportedly-drops-us-cellular-leaving-t-mobile-as-last-network/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=CNET |language=en}}

Prior to the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, Google Fi Wireless automatically switched between its partner networks depending on signal strength and speed.{{cite web |first=Cade |last=Metz |title=In the New Wireless Universe, You're Finally at the Center |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/05/google-changing-way-phones-use-wireless/ |website=Wired |date=May 1, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} It automatically connects to open Wi-Fi hotspots while securing data with encryption through an automatic VPN.{{cite web |first=Richard |last=Lawler |title=Google links Google Fi-approved WiFi hotspots to Nexus phones |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/24/google-project-fi-wifi-assistant-nexus/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=August 24, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}} Phone calls transition to a cellular network if Wi-Fi coverage is lost.{{cite web |first=Cade |last=Metz |title=Google Fi Is One Step Closer to Unifying the World's Wireless Networks |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/googles-project-fi-one-step-closer-unifying-worlds-wireless-networks |website=Wired |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Fung |title=Project Fi review: The most remarkable feature of Google's new cell service |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/07/08/the-most-remarkable-feature-of-googles-new-cell-service/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Martonik |title=What is Project Fi, how does it work and why do I want it? |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/what-project-fi-how-does-it-work-and-why-do-i-want-it |website=Android Central |date=November 22, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Omar |last=El Akkad |title=Why I ditched my cellphone carrier to try Google's Project Fi |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/google-expanding-into-us-cellphone-plans-with-project-fi/article27443197/ |website=The Globe and Mail |publisher=The Woodbridge Company |date=November 23, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}

Google Fi Wireless users could originally use the now defunct Google Hangouts on any phone, tablet, or computer to call and text.{{cite web |title=Use Hangouts with Project Fi |url=https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6188337 |website=Project Fi Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=March 25, 2017}} There is still a web interface for voice, texts, and voicemail available if you turn off RCS Chats in Google Messages.{{cite web |title=Use Messages for web with Google Fi|url=https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6188337?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid|website=Google Fi Wireless Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=March 17, 2025}}

Google Fi Wireless also implements VoLTE as part of a staged rollout.{{cite web |title=Project Fi currently testing VoLTE calling for 'subset' of subscribers |url=https://9to5google.com/2017/02/17/google-mvno-project-fi-volte-calling-test/ |website=9to5Google |access-date=January 16, 2018 |date=February 18, 2017}}

In addition to using a phone's physical SIM card, Google Fi offers a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) option whereby the customer uses their compatible phone (Google Pixel, Android or iPhone) using an eSIM (embedded SIM) virtual card to establish Google Fi as a standalone service or in conjunction with another provider. When a phone uses the DualSim, the phone owner can make and receive telephone calls from either Google Fi or the other mobile provider, but only one of the data service can be used at a time.{{Cite web |title=Get Answers To All Your Google Fi Questions |url=https://fi.google.com/about/faq |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329225851/https://fi.google.com/about/faq/ |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website= |language=en}}

In October 2021, Google Fi Wireless announced that it would allow end-to-end encrypted calls.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-28|title=Google Fi's adding support for end-to-end encrypted calls|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/google-fi-adding-support-for-end-to-end-encrypted-calls/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Android Police|language=en-US}}

Monthly plans start at $20 per month and are flat fee-based, paid at the beginning of each monthly billing cycle. All plans include unlimited calls and messaging. Money for unused data is credited back to the user's account, while overuse of data results in a charge of $10 per gigabyte.{{cite web|title=Phone plans & prices|url=https://fi.google.com/about/plan/|access-date=April 29, 2021|website=Project Fi}} When outside the United States, cellular phone calls cost $0.20 per minute, data costs the same $10 per gigabyte (i.e., there are no extra data charges outside of the US), and texting is free.{{cite web |title=Use your phone outside the U.S. |url=https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6157794 |website=Project Fi Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=March 25, 2017}} Data is free at full speeds between 6 GB and 15 GB for the duration of the billing cycle with Bill Protection. After 15 GB, data continues to be free but will be throttled to unspecified speeds.{{Cite web|url=http://fi.google.com/about/plan/|title=Google Fi - Plan benefits & details|website=Meet Google Fi, a different kind of phone plan.|language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}} A data-only SIM card can be used on tablets and other compatible devices, including the 2013 Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and iPad Air 2. The devices must be compatible with the T-Mobile network, and users can add up to 4 data-only SIM cards in one account (before July 2019 the limit was 9 data-only SIM cards in one account).{{cite web |title=Use Project Fi with tablets & other compatible devices |url=https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6330195 |website=Project Fi Help |publisher=Google Inc. |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Marguerite |last=Reardon |title=Google's experimental wireless service will work with tablets too |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/googles-experimental-wireless-service-will-work-with-tablets-too/ |publisher=CNET |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Jules |last=Wang |title=Google Fi is cracking down on data SIM hoarders limiting each account to 4 |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/07/25/google-fi-data-only-sim-limit/ |date=July 25, 2019 |access-date=January 6, 2020}}

A Group Plan, which allows users, referred to as "managers", to add other people, referred to as "members", to their subscription, costs an additional $15 per user. Group Plans let managers view data usage by member, set data notifications, add monthly allowances, and pause members' data usage. In June 2017, Group Plans were updated to feature "Group Repay", in which Google Fi Wireless automatically calculates each of the members' individual shares of the bill and allows for easy payments. Such payments can be a fixed amount, an individual's total usage, or only for data usage above the standard data allotment.{{cite web |last=Deahl |first=Dani |date=June 20, 2017 |title=Project Fi now automatically calculates and bills each member of a group plan |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/20/15839824/project-fi-group-plans-repay |access-date=June 20, 2017 |website=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media}}{{cite web |first=Frederic |last=Lardinois |title=Google makes splitting the cost of Project Fi group plans easier |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/20/project-fi-group-repay/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=June 20, 2017}}{{cite web |first=Emil |last=Protalinski |title=Google's Project Fi now lets you split the bill |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/20/googles-project-fi-now-lets-you-split-the-bill/ |website=VentureBeat |date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=June 20, 2017}}

Nicole Lee of Engadget praised the service's plans, writing that "In the course of six months, I've barely touched my monthly 2 GB data allotment and frequently receive money back each month from unused data. I found myself paying a little more than $20 a month for Fi, which is the least I've paid for a cell phone service, ever."{{cite web |first=Nicole |last=Lee |title=After six months with Google's Project Fi, I'd switch to it if I could |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/04/google-project-fi/ |website=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=April 21, 2017}} JR Raphael of Computerworld also praised the pricing strategy and network transitions. He noted that "Fi's customer support is [...] actually a pretty good experience", elaborating that "if you need extra help, both interfaces offer the ability to get 24/7 support from a real person via phone or email."{{cite web |first=JR |last=Raphael |title=Project Fi revisited: 6 months with Google's weird wireless service |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/3056595/mobile-wireless/project-fi.html |website=Computerworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=April 14, 2016 |access-date=April 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118003709/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3056595/mobile-wireless/project-fi.html |url-status=dead }}

• Google Fiber
• Google Voice

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://fi.google.com}}

{{Google LLC}}

Fi Wireless

Category:Mobile virtual network operators