4 ms·

I don't need much from a phone, and just about any Android-capable phone would work for me, as far as OS and hardware capabilities go. The thing that's going to

I don't need much from a phone, and just about any Android-capable phone would work for me, as far as OS and hardware capabilities go. The thing that's going to keep me tied to a Google-controlled phone for the indefinite future is Google Fi. I'm not aware of any other cell service plan that does what Fi does: $20/mo base, $10/gig after that (with everything from 6G-15G at no additional cost, after which you either get unlimited throttled data, or can start paying $10/gig for again). And the most important part of that (for me) is that it's the same price no matter where you are in the world. I haven't been traveling this year, but normally I would, and there's no other way I know of to use my phone internationally for so little (at least not without constantly swapping SIMs and changing the phone number).

dannyw 6y ago
That’s crazy. Here in Australia I pay A$35 a month for 45GB. Tax included.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
ignoramous 6y ago
> ...constantly swapping SIMs and changing the phone number There are a lot of cloud telephony companies that'd vend you a number and gladly connect your calls over the Internet so that you avoid roaming fees [0]. And data-plans are easy and super cheap to come-by given the advent of esims [1]. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esim.numero https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esim.numer... [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobillium.airalo https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobillium....
vecinu 6y ago
I'm also on Fi and love it for the reasons you mentioned BUT keep in mind that swapping your SIM for a local plan is a lot cheaper, on average. In Eastern Europe for USD$10/month you get unlimited data and you can have people call you. The one thing I don't like is I can't have people call my number because it's a US number and it costs them extra to call it in Europe.
- aaomidi 6y ago
  Esim has made swapping sims super easy
- javajosh 6y ago
  Don't they have residency requirements? Even Greece has them (although, TBH, there are plenty of locals happy to help you out).
  - ValentineC 6y ago
    > Don't they have residency requirements? Prepaid/pay-as-you-go SIMs shouldn't.
Waterfall 6y ago
I Pay $13 a month for 2GB and unlimited talk and text. Most phones have 2 Sims and can use esim. Truphone is much better internationally. https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/ https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/ It has free incoming calls and you only pay for outgoing.
- wyclif 6y ago
  This sounds good to me, is that offer US customers only?
  - Waterfall 6y ago
    The first one? Yes. The second is not. You can get even cheaper deals. I had a free year from Sprint a year ago with unlimited data.
commoner 6y ago
While Google Fi is understandable for your situation, for the majority of Americans who don't need international roaming, Google Fi is not the most cost-effective solution. Mint Mobile offers unlimited plans with 35GB of unthrottled 5G and 4G data for $30/month, 12GB for $25/month, 8GB for $20/month, and 3GB for $15/month. All of these options are significantly cheaper than the same amount of data on Google Fi. The relevant part is that Mint works just as well on phones not optimized for Google Fi as it does on phones optimized for Google Fi, eliminating vendor lock-in. Mint works on the Librem 5 and the Pinephone (and also on iPhones). Future FOSS phone hardware that uses GSM-based cell networks will be Mint-compatible. https://www.mintmobile.com https://www.mintmobile.com The catch is that the rate is for annual billing, although Mint offers a 3-month trial at the annual rate.
- matoro 6y ago
  I have been using this service for about a year and a half now and I have to say the cost is great but you get what you pay for. It's very unreliable (drops incoming calls, and incoming texts are delayed very frequently) and there are lots of places my friends will have coverage that I will simply have no network at all. So it's servicable, and I would recommend for e.g. a hobby project that needs a cell data connection like a Pinephone/Librem 5, but not for critical cell lines that you need to guarantee won't miss calls.
  - deadwing0 6y ago
    If I'm not mistaken, don't Mint Mobile and Google Fi both use T-Mobile infrastructure in the US?
    - commoner 6y ago
      Mint Mobile is an MVNO that runs on the T-Mobile network. Google Fi is also an MVNO, but it runs on T-Mobile, Sprint, and the regional US Cellular. Since T-Mobile merged with Sprint, the coverage of Mint Mobile and Google Fi will eventually be similar once T-Mobile converts the Sprint towers, which is in progress. If you live in an area where T-Mobile is weaker (rural areas or areas outside of metropolitan areas), AT&T and Verizon will provide more consistent coverage than both Google Fi and Mint. AT&T is GSM-based and will work on the Librem 5 and the PinePhone. Verizon is CDMA-based and might not fully work on these phones. AT&T Prepaid is currently offering an unlimited plan with 22GB of unthrottled 5G and 4G data for $50/month plus tax with monthly billing. There is also an offer for 8GB of 4G data for $25/month plus tax with annual billing. https://www.att.com/prepaid https://www.att.com/prepaid
8note 6y ago
Given that it's a Google service though, it might be shuttered at any moment. I'm happy with my T-Mobile plan even if it's expensive and harder to use, for the convenience that I won't have to suddenly switch plans and carrier
fsflover 6y ago
> I don't need much from a phone But are you fine with it tracking your every move and tricking you into buying useless stuff with targeted ads?

dannyw 6y ago

That’s crazy. Here in Australia I pay A$35 a month for 45GB. Tax included.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

ignoramous 6y ago

> ...constantly swapping SIMs and changing the phone number There are a lot of cloud telephony companies that'd vend you a number and gladly connect your calls over the Internet so that you avoid roaming fees [0]. And data-plans are easy and super cheap to come-by given the advent of esims [1]. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esim.numero https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esim.numer... [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobillium.airalo https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobillium....

vecinu 6y ago

I'm also on Fi and love it for the reasons you mentioned BUT keep in mind that swapping your SIM for a local plan is a lot cheaper, on average. In Eastern Europe for USD$10/month you get unlimited data and you can have people call you. The one thing I don't like is I can't have people call my number because it's a US number and it costs them extra to call it in Europe.

aaomidi 6y ago
Esim has made swapping sims super easy
javajosh 6y ago
Don't they have residency requirements? Even Greece has them (although, TBH, there are plenty of locals happy to help you out).
- ValentineC 6y ago
  > Don't they have residency requirements? Prepaid/pay-as-you-go SIMs shouldn't.

Waterfall 6y ago

I Pay $13 a month for 2GB and unlimited talk and text. Most phones have 2 Sims and can use esim. Truphone is much better internationally. https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/ https://www.truphone.com/us/consumer/sim/ It has free incoming calls and you only pay for outgoing.

wyclif 6y ago
This sounds good to me, is that offer US customers only?
- Waterfall 6y ago
  The first one? Yes. The second is not. You can get even cheaper deals. I had a free year from Sprint a year ago with unlimited data.

commoner 6y ago

While Google Fi is understandable for your situation, for the majority of Americans who don't need international roaming, Google Fi is not the most cost-effective solution. Mint Mobile offers unlimited plans with 35GB of unthrottled 5G and 4G data for $30/month, 12GB for $25/month, 8GB for $20/month, and 3GB for $15/month. All of these options are significantly cheaper than the same amount of data on Google Fi. The relevant part is that Mint works just as well on phones not optimized for Google Fi as it does on phones optimized for Google Fi, eliminating vendor lock-in. Mint works on the Librem 5 and the Pinephone (and also on iPhones). Future FOSS phone hardware that uses GSM-based cell networks will be Mint-compatible. https://www.mintmobile.com https://www.mintmobile.com The catch is that the rate is for annual billing, although Mint offers a 3-month trial at the annual rate.

matoro 6y ago
I have been using this service for about a year and a half now and I have to say the cost is great but you get what you pay for. It's very unreliable (drops incoming calls, and incoming texts are delayed very frequently) and there are lots of places my friends will have coverage that I will simply have no network at all. So it's servicable, and I would recommend for e.g. a hobby project that needs a cell data connection like a Pinephone/Librem 5, but not for critical cell lines that you need to guarantee won't miss calls.
- deadwing0 6y ago
  If I'm not mistaken, don't Mint Mobile and Google Fi both use T-Mobile infrastructure in the US?
  - commoner 6y ago
    Mint Mobile is an MVNO that runs on the T-Mobile network. Google Fi is also an MVNO, but it runs on T-Mobile, Sprint, and the regional US Cellular. Since T-Mobile merged with Sprint, the coverage of Mint Mobile and Google Fi will eventually be similar once T-Mobile converts the Sprint towers, which is in progress. If you live in an area where T-Mobile is weaker (rural areas or areas outside of metropolitan areas), AT&T and Verizon will provide more consistent coverage than both Google Fi and Mint. AT&T is GSM-based and will work on the Librem 5 and the PinePhone. Verizon is CDMA-based and might not fully work on these phones. AT&T Prepaid is currently offering an unlimited plan with 22GB of unthrottled 5G and 4G data for $50/month plus tax with monthly billing. There is also an offer for 8GB of 4G data for $25/month plus tax with annual billing. https://www.att.com/prepaid https://www.att.com/prepaid

8note 6y ago

Given that it's a Google service though, it might be shuttered at any moment. I'm happy with my T-Mobile plan even if it's expensive and harder to use, for the convenience that I won't have to suddenly switch plans and carrier

fsflover 6y ago

> I don't need much from a phone But are you fine with it tracking your every move and tricking you into buying useless stuff with targeted ads?