Project Fi’s original technical innovation was the ability to switch between Sprint and T-Mobile for the best possible service. US Cellular was added later, but Google Fi has now dropped the carrier as an official network.
Expand Expanding Close
The Pixel 7 is now four months old and starting to get eclipsed by the next generation of flagships. Google Fi is now discounting the Pixel 7 Pro to $449 via 24 monthly bill credits.
Expand Expanding Close
An iPhone 12 or 13 on Google Fi is currently limited to 4G LTE data, but that might be changing as the iOS 16.4 beta appears to add support for 5G service.
Expand Expanding Close
As of Monday evening (PT), the T-Mobile network in the US is suffering an outage that’s impacting MVNO customers, including those on Google Fi.
Expand Expanding Close
One of Google Fi’s original appeals was to frequent international travelers, and it’s now running a feedback survey geared at those users.
Expand Expanding Close
Earlier this month T-Mobile disclosed a security breach that also affected Google Fi, and in the case of one customer it also seemed to lead to several hacked accounts and a hijacked phone number. As it turns out, the same thing also happened to several Mint Mobile customers who temporarily lost their phone numbers around the same time period.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Fi has been one of the biggest proponents of eSIM, but with the state of eSIM on Android still being a bit messy, even that push was limited. But now, finally, Google Fi has added support for eSIM on select Samsung phones.
Expand Expanding Close
Last night Google Fi disclosed a data breach to customers that, for at least one person, turned out to be a far more serious situation involving their phone number being moved to another device and seeing accounts hacked in real-time.
Expand Expanding Close
T-Mobile was recently hit by yet another data breach, and it appears that Google Fi was impacted by that breach as the carrier has notified customers via email.
Expand Expanding Close
For some, the 5G rollout hasn’t necessarily resulted in faster speeds or even a more consistent experience. In a possible acknowledgment of that, Google Fi now lets Pixel owners set their Preferred network type to LTE.
Expand Expanding Close
Following the Google Store, Google Fi’s Black Friday takes $300 off the Pixel 7 Pro for both new (number port in required) and existing MVNO subscribers.
Expand Expanding Close
“Unlimited Plus” is Google Fi’s top tier and the MVNO is now adding one year of free YouTube Premium as a subscription perk.
Expand Expanding Close
Besides detailing a new Virtual Carrier Network approach, Google Fi today also announced another way to get free service until the end of 2022 by buying a Pixel 6a, 7, or 7 Pro at Best Buy.
Expand Expanding Close
Besides beginning to roll out passkey support on Android and Chrome, Google — for Cybersecurity Awareness Month — announced today that Fi now uses a Virtual Carrier Network (VCN) to keep cellular data anonymous on Pixel devices.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Maps reviews can sometimes earn you perks, and currently, some Local Guides are being offered Google Fi service free of charge.
Expand Expanding Close
Following a similar offer to attract former subscribers, Google Fi is letting those on Unlimited Plus add free lines at “no additional cost for the rest of 2022.”
Expand Expanding Close
In a bid to get ex-subscribers to rejoin, Google Fi is offering free cellular service “for the rest of 2022.”
Expand Expanding Close
Rather surprisingly, the Pixel 6 is no longer available for purchase from the Google Fi store, while the MVNO variant is not consistently in stock at the US Google Store.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Fi is rolling out a trio of updates today that are focused on the MVNO’s international experience when traveling, starting with Wi-Fi calling for iPhone subscribers.
Expand Expanding Close
Some Google Fi customers cannot get RCS to connect on their Pixel phones after installing Android 13. That said, this does not appear to be a widespread issue.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Fi, the company’s competitor to Mint and Visible, is preparing for the upcoming launch of the Pixel Watch, making it the first smartwatch supported by the carrier.
Expand Expanding Close
Best Buy has sold Google Fi SIM cards since 2019, and a monthlong promo sees new in-store or online activations come with a $100 bill credit.
Expand Expanding Close
In addition to releasing a Pixel update that enables VoLTE roaming this month, Google Fi — as an MVNO — is explaining “how the T-Mobile 3G shutdown affects your service.”
Expand Expanding Close
Back in September of 2020, Google’s internal Area 120 incubator introduced Orion Wifi to let public venues sell Wi-Fi capacity to cellular carriers. Google Fi is now using this approach to expand coverage and calling it the “W+ network.”
Expand Expanding Close
