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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-effecti
by 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 agoI 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 agoIf I'm not mistaken, don't Mint Mobile and Google Fi both use T-Mobile infrastructure in the US?
- commoner 6y agoMint 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
- kalleboo 6y ago> Verizon is CDMA-based and might not fully work on these phones CDMA is no longer activated on new contracts/devices, and the CDMA network is planned to be shut down by next year (December 31, 2020). Verizon is now LTE (GSM/3GPP)-based.
- commoner 6y agoYou're right about that. It looks like some PinePhone users are reporting success with Verizon while others are not. Your mileage may vary. https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9150 https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9150 https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/PinePhone_APN_Settings#Verizon_.28USA.29 https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/PinePhone_APN_Settings#Ver... Some Librem 5 users suggest activating the Verizon SIM card in an Android phone or iPhone, and then moving the activated SIM card to the Librem 5: https://www.reddit.com/r/Purism/comments/cjjcdv/well_librem_5_support_verizon/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Purism/comments/cjjcdv/well_librem_... GSM-based networks still seem to be the more reliable option for Linux phones, but it's good to see that Verizon might also be compatible with some effort.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- CameronNemo 6y agoThe t mobile prepaid plan is 15/month for 2 GB. Another option.