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Is it actually unlimited if it's just 22GB? Most carriers offer unlimited data now that becomes deprioritized at a certain point. That means that if the networ

by mdasen 6y ago

Is it actually unlimited if it's just 22GB? Most carriers offer unlimited data now that becomes deprioritized at a certain point. That means that if the network is congested, other customers are prioritized above them. However, this isn't deprioritization. This is a plan that is throttled down to 256kbps. Before the return of unlimited, most carriers got rid of overage charges and just slowed phones down to 2G speeds. Given that Google Fi is just T-Mobile service, this doesn't seem that interesting. First, it's not $30 for a single user. It's $30 per person for 3+ users. I could sign up for T-Mobile Essentials for $30 per person for 3 users and get 50GB of premium data and then just be deprioritized after that rather than slowed even if there isn't congestion. If you need more than three lines, T-Mobile Essentials is actually cheaper. Again, you get 50GB of premium data and beyond that you're only deprioritized rather than throttled so most of the time you get a full experience. This new Google Fi plan doesn't include international so it's not like it has that going for it. Visible from Verizon offers $40 unlimited for a single line down to $25 for 4+ lines - taxes and fees included, and each line gets separate billing so you can share with friends/strangers. Google advises that taxes and fees will be 10-20% on their plans so you can expect that $30 to really be $33-36. Visible's data is lower priority on Verizon's network so things might be slower if there's congestion, but you don't get throttled harshly at 22GB like Google Fi. There's a huge difference between getting deprioritized and getting 5-10Mbps during congestion and getting throttled down to 256kbps. One still feels like unlimited with the caveat that people paying more might be given some priority. The other simply isn't unlimited. It's a 22GB data plan where you don't get overages, you just get a nearly useless phone. Heck, with deprioritization, most of the time the network probably isn't that congested and you won't get any ill effects. Without the international roaming, what's the point of Google Fi? It seems like it's just a more expensive plan that isn't unlimited.

qzx_pierri 6y ago
It's for people that still trust Google in terms of long term reliability for whatever reason. They think Google won't randomly shut down the service, offering a bland support page for help porting their number to a new carrier (with a gift card thrown in possibly). As good as Fi sounds, I just can't see it lasting.
- xnx 6y ago
  Nothing is forever, but Google Fi has been available for 6 years now.
- mdasen 6y ago
  I think Google Fi will stick around because it really doesn't sound that good. I don't mean that it sounds bad or anything. It's just that a 22GB plan for $30/mo on a family plan isn't a deal. I can get $25 from Visible/Verizon and it's actually unlimited. I can get $30 (or $26 for 4 lines) from T-Mobile with 50GB of premium data and then unlimited deprioritized data rather than 256kbps throttled data. I can see it lasting simply because they are charging a lot of money for it.
adamcstephens 6y ago
I used Verizon Prepaid for a while, but ended up getting annoyed at the lower prioritization. Even in a somewhat busy shopping area my data would barely function, let alone any sort of large event. If Visible is anything like that, I wouldn’t probably recommend it. I ended up joining a friend’s Verizon postpaid family. It’s more expensive, but I’m willing to pay it for reliable service. I’m not sure I’ve ever used 22GB in a month, but throttling to 256k is awful.
- mdasen 6y ago
  Deprioritization can depend on your area. I have an always deprioritized plan (not with Verizon) and I don't notice anything. Maybe it seems slower sometimes? When I compare speed tests between myself and my partner who has premium data on the same network, it doesn't seem any different. Deprioritization can really vary. Verizon's network has the worst consistency when it comes to delivering more than 5Mbps. That should change in 2022 when Verizon gets new spectrum, but in the meantime they have the most customers and the least spectrum. 22GB is a lot of data, but people are using more and more. T-Mobile recently increased its deprioritization limit to 100GB on their main plan and 50GB on their Essentials plan (and now offers unlimited premium data on their more expensive Magenta MAX). I think more people have started to use more data as video-based social media becomes bigger and bigger.
Sodman 6y ago
OP here, first, the "only for 3+ users" part is definitely strange, I didn't even realize that there was a group discount when I posted this, I just opened the e-mail they sent me and thought it seemed good - so my apologies for the misleading post title. As for the "Why Google Fi" question... I have been a Google Fi user for about ~5 years now. First, as you said the international roaming is a big feature for me. I (used to) travel to Europe from the US quite a bit, and with Fi I never had to worry about anything. Just charged my standard plan and get a notification when my plane lands in a new country, otherwise business as usual. But the main "feature" for me is "not having to deal with the phone companies". My experience with T-Mobile & AT&T in the past has been awful. Long wait times calling customer service for functionality that should be available via a website. Sales people trying to upsell when you try to cancel plans etc. In contrast when the pandemic started I switched my Google fi plan from "unlimited" to "flexible" by hitting a single prominent button the Fi app and I was on the cheaper plan for my next billing cycle. Now my phone bill is like $25 / month because I'm mostly on WiFi at home in the pandemic, but if my data usage creeps back up in the future I know swapping plans is literally as easy as hitting a button. Finally, 22GB is not unlimited, true. I only use my phone on my daily commute but even if I spent 100% of my commute streaming videos on my phone I don't think I'd hit 22GB in a month. If you use more than 22GB mobile data, then Fi is probably not for you. However, unlike other other providers, at least they're completely transparent about it. It's literally in the second line-item of their plans page. Most carriers just say "Unlimited!*" and you have to dig deep into the ToS to find out what the "real" limits are. And if you find yourself somehow over 22GB and need* fast internet again, you can just pay for more if you need to get yourself out of a bind.

by mdasen 6y ago

qzx_pierri 6y ago

It's for people that still trust Google in terms of long term reliability for whatever reason. They think Google won't randomly shut down the service, offering a bland support page for help porting their number to a new carrier (with a gift card thrown in possibly). As good as Fi sounds, I just can't see it lasting.

xnx 6y ago
Nothing is forever, but Google Fi has been available for 6 years now.
mdasen 6y ago
I think Google Fi will stick around because it really doesn't sound that good. I don't mean that it sounds bad or anything. It's just that a 22GB plan for $30/mo on a family plan isn't a deal. I can get $25 from Visible/Verizon and it's actually unlimited. I can get $30 (or $26 for 4 lines) from T-Mobile with 50GB of premium data and then unlimited deprioritized data rather than 256kbps throttled data. I can see it lasting simply because they are charging a lot of money for it.

adamcstephens 6y ago

I used Verizon Prepaid for a while, but ended up getting annoyed at the lower prioritization. Even in a somewhat busy shopping area my data would barely function, let alone any sort of large event. If Visible is anything like that, I wouldn’t probably recommend it. I ended up joining a friend’s Verizon postpaid family. It’s more expensive, but I’m willing to pay it for reliable service. I’m not sure I’ve ever used 22GB in a month, but throttling to 256k is awful.

mdasen 6y ago
Deprioritization can depend on your area. I have an always deprioritized plan (not with Verizon) and I don't notice anything. Maybe it seems slower sometimes? When I compare speed tests between myself and my partner who has premium data on the same network, it doesn't seem any different. Deprioritization can really vary. Verizon's network has the worst consistency when it comes to delivering more than 5Mbps. That should change in 2022 when Verizon gets new spectrum, but in the meantime they have the most customers and the least spectrum. 22GB is a lot of data, but people are using more and more. T-Mobile recently increased its deprioritization limit to 100GB on their main plan and 50GB on their Essentials plan (and now offers unlimited premium data on their more expensive Magenta MAX). I think more people have started to use more data as video-based social media becomes bigger and bigger.

Sodman 6y ago

OP here, first, the "only for 3+ users" part is definitely strange, I didn't even realize that there was a group discount when I posted this, I just opened the e-mail they sent me and thought it seemed good - so my apologies for the misleading post title. As for the "Why Google Fi" question... I have been a Google Fi user for about ~5 years now. First, as you said the international roaming is a big feature for me. I (used to) travel to Europe from the US quite a bit, and with Fi I never had to worry about anything. Just charged my standard plan and get a notification when my plane lands in a new country, otherwise business as usual. But the main "feature" for me is "not having to deal with the phone companies". My experience with T-Mobile & AT&T in the past has been awful. Long wait times calling customer service for functionality that should be available via a website. Sales people trying to upsell when you try to cancel plans etc. In contrast when the pandemic started I switched my Google fi plan from "unlimited" to "flexible" by hitting a single prominent button the Fi app and I was on the cheaper plan for my next billing cycle. Now my phone bill is like $25 / month because I'm mostly on WiFi at home in the pandemic, but if my data usage creeps back up in the future I know swapping plans is literally as easy as hitting a button. Finally, 22GB is not unlimited, true. I only use my phone on my daily commute but even if I spent 100% of my commute streaming videos on my phone I don't think I'd hit 22GB in a month. If you use more than 22GB mobile data, then Fi is probably not for you. However, unlike other other providers, at least they're completely transparent about it. It's literally in the second line-item of their plans page. Most carriers just say "Unlimited!*" and you have to dig deep into the ToS to find out what the "real" limits are. And if you find yourself somehow over 22GB and need* fast internet again, you can just pay for more if you need to get yourself out of a bind.