6 ms·

Google Fi has been a godsend compared to the likes of AT&T, Verizon, and TMobile.

scarface74 6y ago
And then just like so many other Google initiatives, they got bored abandoned it and in some cases left damaged roads in their wake. https://wpln.org/post/google-fiber-disruptions-have-some-saying-i-told-you-so-about-buried-cables/ https://wpln.org/post/google-fiber-disruptions-have-some-say... https://www.wdrb.com/news/business/louisville-to-fix-google-fiber-street-damage-in-highlands-area-by-next-summer-councilman-says/article_0ed2ab7e-a974-11e9-b734-afc5e2d0502a.html https://www.wdrb.com/news/business/louisville-to-fix-google-... In the meantime AT&T has been rolling out gigabit up/down for the past 5 years. I got AT&T four years ago and the price has been $70/month no extra fees.
- jen20 6y ago
  Google Fi is not Google Fiber - it’s probably the least overtly scumbag-y of the US cellphone networks. That said, I switched away from it today after a few years of OK service because they don’t support Apple Watches.
  - scarface74 6y ago
    My bad. I’m looking at their plans. https://fi.google.com/about/plans/ https://fi.google.com/about/plans/ They look worse than T-mobile. https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans Unlimited 3G hot spot and $20/month for tablets with unlimited data can’t be beat.
    - tolbish 6y ago
      I made the move several years ago when the comparison wasn't close. I haven't had a sim card in years, which is also nice.
    - jen20 6y ago
      > Unlimited 3G hot spot and $20/month for tablets with unlimited data can’t be beat. It can if you spend a lot of time travelling - Google's data packages (on 4G!) are good in most of the world at no additional cost. There's also a service aspect - Fi was often better where I am (downtown in a major US city) than T-Mobile (which my work phone is on). That said, T-Mobile seems to be more customer-centric than AT&T - who even in 2020 seem hostile to doing business, and I'd consider them in future or for my iPad, just for further network diversity.
      - scarface74 6y ago
        T-mobile’s standard plans include 3G roaming for data and calls(?) in Canada and Mexico and 2G data roaming in most other countries. You can also get a $5 “day pass” for 3G data and calls in most countries. As an aside, their rate plans are all inclusive no extra taxes or fees.
        jen20 6y ago
        I'm aware - but Google Fi offers 4G roaming at no extra charge across a much wider range of countries (importantly for me, most of Europe).
        scarface74 6y ago
        It is an “extra charge”. Don’t you pay for every gigabyte of data that you use? It’s all bundled with T-Mobile. What’s the advantage of that over just getting another sim while you’re out of the country? Especially now with e-Sims being a thing.
        jen20 6y ago
        They have two packages, one with per GB charging up to a cap and one bundled. The advantage of using a primary plan (possibly augmented with local services from time to time) is that you have a stable phone number, and a lot less screwing about. For a casual traveler that may not matter. For someone who is in a different country every other week (pre-pandemic) it makes a substantial difference.
- ulfw 6y ago
  Fi is not Fi(ber) Google's problem is that they try too many things to see what sticks, but no one wants to stick around long enough to make it stick.

And then just like so many other Google initiatives, they got bored abandoned it and in some cases left damaged roads in their wake. https://wpln.org/post/google-fiber-disruptions-have-some-saying-i-told-you-so-about-buried-cables/ https://wpln.org/post/google-fiber-disruptions-have-some-say... https://www.wdrb.com/news/business/louisville-to-fix-google-fiber-street-damage-in-highlands-area-by-next-summer-councilman-says/article_0ed2ab7e-a974-11e9-b734-afc5e2d0502a.html https://www.wdrb.com/news/business/louisville-to-fix-google-... In the meantime AT&T has been rolling out gigabit up/down for the past 5 years. I got AT&T four years ago and the price has been $70/month no extra fees.

jen20 6y ago
Google Fi is not Google Fiber - it’s probably the least overtly scumbag-y of the US cellphone networks. That said, I switched away from it today after a few years of OK service because they don’t support Apple Watches.
- scarface74 6y ago
  My bad. I’m looking at their plans. https://fi.google.com/about/plans/ https://fi.google.com/about/plans/ They look worse than T-mobile. https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans Unlimited 3G hot spot and $20/month for tablets with unlimited data can’t be beat.
  - tolbish 6y ago
    I made the move several years ago when the comparison wasn't close. I haven't had a sim card in years, which is also nice.
  - jen20 6y ago
    > Unlimited 3G hot spot and $20/month for tablets with unlimited data can’t be beat. It can if you spend a lot of time travelling - Google's data packages (on 4G!) are good in most of the world at no additional cost. There's also a service aspect - Fi was often better where I am (downtown in a major US city) than T-Mobile (which my work phone is on). That said, T-Mobile seems to be more customer-centric than AT&T - who even in 2020 seem hostile to doing business, and I'd consider them in future or for my iPad, just for further network diversity.
    - scarface74 6y ago
      T-mobile’s standard plans include 3G roaming for data and calls(?) in Canada and Mexico and 2G data roaming in most other countries. You can also get a $5 “day pass” for 3G data and calls in most countries. As an aside, their rate plans are all inclusive no extra taxes or fees.
      - jen20 6y ago
        I'm aware - but Google Fi offers 4G roaming at no extra charge across a much wider range of countries (importantly for me, most of Europe).
        scarface74 6y ago
        It is an “extra charge”. Don’t you pay for every gigabyte of data that you use? It’s all bundled with T-Mobile. What’s the advantage of that over just getting another sim while you’re out of the country? Especially now with e-Sims being a thing.
        jen20 6y ago
        They have two packages, one with per GB charging up to a cap and one bundled. The advantage of using a primary plan (possibly augmented with local services from time to time) is that you have a stable phone number, and a lot less screwing about. For a casual traveler that may not matter. For someone who is in a different country every other week (pre-pandemic) it makes a substantial difference.
ulfw 6y ago
Fi is not Fi(ber) Google's problem is that they try too many things to see what sticks, but no one wants to stick around long enough to make it stick.