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Google cuts Pixel 3 prices in half for Project Fi birthday
It's the fourth anniversary of Project Fi, and to celebrate, Google is offering half off of Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones for today only. There is one catch: The offer is only available to new and existing Google Fi customers, and applies once you connect to the network. If you're in that category, there are some serious savings to be had.
Google Fi wireless service finally works with iPhones
If you're an iPhone users looking to change mobile carriers, you have one more option to add to your list. Google is finally expanding its Project Fi wireless service to support Apple's flagship phones, along with a wide variety of Android devices. The opening up of the previously gated program also comes with a name change. The tech giant is dropping "Project" from the title and simplifying things to Google Fi.
How to use your existing phone overseas
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What you need to know before going with a smaller wireless carrier
Let's face it: picking a carrier worth pledging your smartphone allegiance to can be a hassle, and plans offered by massive companies aren't right for everyone. These days, you can get cheap, reliable and surprisingly feature-rich wireless service without worrying about a bill from Verizon or AT&T every 30 days. You'll just have to start looking more closely at MVNOs, short for mobile virtual network operators.
LG's G7 and V35 are available for pre-order on Project Fi
You no longer have to spring for a Pixel if you want a high-end smartphone on Project Fi. In the wake of an announcement late last month, Google's wireless service has made LG's G7 ThinQ and V35 ThinQ available for pre-order. The pricing for the devices remains unchanged at a respective $749 and $899, but there's now a sweeter incentive to buy them: you'll get a $100 Fi bill credit if you buy either device no later than July 7th. They're still more expensive than the Pixel 2 line as of this writing (Google is offering a $150 bill credit for those devices as well), but it might be tempting if you want a fast phone on Fi and aren't willing to wait a few months.
Google's Project Fi lets you add younger kids to your family plan
Google added family plans to Project Fi a long time ago, but it wasn't really built for the younger children in your family. The company is fixing that today -- you can now add kids under 13 to your Fi group plan through a Google account controlled using Family Link. You can track and set alerts for your little ones' data usage, and use Family Link to set time and app limits.
Project Fi now works with LG's newest phones and Moto's affordable G6
In spite of recent additions, Google's Project Fi hasn't had great device choices. You've hadto buy a Pixel if you want a high-end phone, and the most affordable modern option has been the mid-tier Moto X4. No more -- Project Fi now supports three more third-party phones that fill in some huge gaps in the experimental carrier's roster. You can now use LG's G7 ThinQ and just-unveiled V35 ThinQ, for starters. They're not cheap at $749 and $899 respectively, but they do give you a viable choice if you feel the Pixel 2 is long in the tooth (or just prefer LG's self-branded designs).
The original Pixel is no longer available through the Google Store
Google's Pixel 2 came out last October to fairly positive reviews, bringing a better camera and more powerful processor to the company's flagship hardware (though it did lose a headphone jack — thanks, Obama). Now, just a year and a half since the original Pixel launched, it appears that Google is no longer selling its first handset at the Google Store.
Google's Project Fi now covers 170 countries with international data
Project Fi's same-as-at-home international data is now decidedly more useful -- including before you've even left. The Google-run carrier has expanded its travel coverage from "over 135" countries to 170, including nations like Belize, Monaco, Nigeria and Tunisia. You'll still pay $10 per 1GB up to 6GB (with another 9GB free), with unlimited texting and calls at 20 cents per minute. The additions may not make or break your vacation plans, but they could reduce doubts about whether or not it's safe to document your vacation on Instagram.
Android Messages adds Smart Replies for Project Fi users
In 2015, Google debuted a new feature in its Inbox app: Smart Replies, which offered a trio of context-aware options for users to quickly reply with a few taps. That spread to other services in the company's suite, from Gmail last year to news last week that it might be added to Gboard. Now it's coming to the Android Messages app -- but only for Project Fi subscribers, at least for now.
Google's Project Fi now offers unlimited data (with a catch)
Google's Project Fi can make sense if you only use a smattering of data and want to save money, but it hasn't been an especially good deal if you consume gigabytes like they're going out of style. Thankfully, there's now an unlimited option... of sorts. Google has introduced a Bill Protection feature that caps your data bill at $60 if you use over 6GB in a given month. In other words, $60 (plus your base bill) gives you as much data as you need. It's not quite an unlimited plan in the strictest sense, though -- it's more of a bridge between Fi's original approach and what incumbent US carriers offer.
Google's Project Fi international data service goes down (updated)
We hope you weren't depending on Project Fi to stay in touch while abroad this weekend. Subscribers to Google's wireless carrier have reported that international data hasn't been working in many places around the world, including Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, India and Japan. Some users have reported temporary success by switching into and out of airplane mode or rebooting their phones, but it hasn't lasted for longer than 2 minutes.
Project Fi Moto X4 won't ship until late October
If you were looking forward to getting a Project Fi Moto X4, you may want to steel yourself before checking your inbox. Google has sent out emails notifying people who pre-ordered the device on Fi that a production delay has affected its estimated shipping date. The device will now ship between October 18th and October 25th -- and a lot of people aren't happy about it.
Google's Pixel 2 phones don't need SIM cards
Google added a lot to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but one of its more intriguing upgrades comes from what it's taking away: the need for a SIM card. Both devices still have a nano-SIM slot (contrary to a few rumors), but they also use eSIMs like that on the Apple Watch Series 3. So long as your carrier supports it, you just have to download a virtual SIM during the setup process to activate service. Needless to say, that's a welcome change if you're tired of the usual SIM swapping ritual needed for upgrading handsets.
Motorola's Moto X4 now works on Google Project Fi
Google's efforts to disrupt the mobile carrier network have certainly proven popular for people who can feasibly use it, but it's no secret that the rollout of Project Fi has been restricted by the narrow choice of handsets available. Now, the search giant has confirmed rumors that the hyped Motorola Moto X4, with Android One, will be the first non-Google phone to join the club.
Google's Project Fi helps you pay your share of the phone bill
It's not much fun to split up a wireless family plan, especially if you're not splitting it evenly. How much do your kids owe if they're only paying some of their bill? What about that roommate who always uses too much data and drives the bill higher? Google wants to fix that. It's adding a Group Repay feature to Project Fi that lets group plan owners not only determine who owes what, but collect on that share in short order. You set the criteria for what members owe, such as a fixed amount or extra data use. After that, fellow Fi members just have to wait for reminders before they contribute their share.
Google tests LTE phone calls on Project Fi
As nice as Google's Project Fi service is for the data-hungry crowd, it's not so hot for voice -- switching to Fi frequently means giving up pristine-sounding LTE voice calls with some of your friends. You might not have to make that sacrifice for much longer, thankfully. Google tells subscribers that it's testing voice over LTE with a "subset" of its customer base. This is likely only going to function when you're on T-Mobile's network (it's the only one of Fi's three partners with VoLTE as of this writing). However, you'll definitely know when it kicks in between the improved quality, faster mid-call data speeds and a quicker connection time.
Google goes after Pixel resellers by locking their accounts
Google has taken severe measures against Pixel buyers who violated its terms of service. Around 200 people purchased the phones via Project Fi and shipped them directly to a reseller in sales tax-free state New Hampshire, according to bargain-hunting site Dan's Deals. The phones were then resold to others, and the small profit split with the buyers. However, Google's terms dictate that buyers may not "commercially resell" any device and it locked their accounts, denying access to photos, emails and other personal data.
Google's Project Fi now has family plans
If you don't use a ton of data, Google's Project Fi (a cell phone service that jumps between Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular, depending on signal strength) is one of the better deals in wireless. Now, Google's making it a bit easier and cheaper to use if you have a family: the company is rolling out group plans starting today. If you're a Project Fi user, you can add up to six total people to your plan. Each additional user costs $15 per month for unlimited talk and text, down from the $20 Project Fi charges when starting up service on your own. Data stays at the same $10 per GB rate that Fi has always offered.
Google links Project Fi-approved WiFi hotspots to Nexus phones
The WiFi Assistant feature from Google's Project Fi wireless network turned out to be one of Nicole's favorite parts of the service, and now more people will have access to it. Google announced today that it's bringing the ability to "automatically and securely connect" to over a million hotspots to Nexus owners in the US, Canada, Mexico and Nordic countries. WiFi Assistant identifies open, unprotected hotspots with good connections, and if you don't want your network on the list then you may want to take a look at these instructions (or, just make sure it has any password protection at all).
