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Just wondering.. Can an app pull off the carrier switching function of Fi or is it an OS level functionality?
by Johnie 10y ago
Just wondering.. Can an app pull off the carrier switching function of Fi or is it an OS level functionality?
- DiabloD3 10y agoWorse, it is cell phone modem hardware functionality. It requires a very specific part of LTE-A implemented, connecting to multiple networks simultaneously (not merely multiple towers actively simultaneously, which I'm pretty sure LTE added, not LTE-A). Only Nexus phones after the 5 support it, which leaves me out because I have a 5. 5x, 6, 6p all support it. Also, obviously, the radio needs to support all the bands that all the carriers you want to access support, and support them under the base protocols you want to use. Case in point, Sprint is CDMA, T-Mobile are GSM. Modern LTE chips are supposed to support a wide range of channels (ie, all present and future channels used by the major four networks should work today on a brand new phone; should). Eventually, all future phones will support it else get locked out of next generation MVNOs. Google-Fi is the first, won't be the last.
- untog 10y agoGoogle Fi also makes extensive use of wi-fi for texting and calls, which definitely requires OS-level hooks.
- DiabloD3 10y agoAs far as I can tell, a lot of that magic isn't in the OS that way, as in, they are using "Wifi calling", which AT&T and Verizon also support on limited handsets (ie, Apple only, even though all modern Android phones support it fine. A lot of their multiple device calling magic seems to be done entirely in the backend. I'm not saying there ISN'T magic in the OS specifically for Google-Fi, but they seem to be trying to use as much standard magic as possible before using their own. Although, it'd be nice if a Google engineer actually confirmed if my suspicions are right.