New Google Fi

The New Google Fi Is the Perfect Excuse to Dump Your Crumby Mobile Carrier

After years in beta, Google's wireless service is launching for real and even coming to iPhones.

By Eric Limer
GOOGLE

Today, Google announced "Google Fi," the grown-up version of its experiment in being a wireless service provider. It's compatible with all sorts of phones, including iPhones, and if you've got one, you owe it to yourself to check it out.


Back in 2015, Google announced the beta version of this program, "Project Fi." Like the plan you would buy from Sprint or Verizon or T-Mobile, it would give you phone service, text, and internet capabilities. Unlike most plans, it started at $20 for unlimited talk and text and cost $10 per gigabyte of data (with a $60 max for data, so no bills larger than $80), all with no contract. Even better, it worked internationally with no extra charge. The catch? You needed one of a few specific (Android) phones. But not anymore.

With the official release of the now rebranded "Google Fi," a whole host of new phones are eligible for the service, most notably iPhones. To check it out, you simply have to download Google's Fi app (iOS, Android) which acts as the hub for the plan, handling payment information and also showing data about how much data you've used.

In addition to the good pricing and lack of contracts, Google Fi offers some other benefits, though they're dependent on the phone you have. Google's Pixel line and the Moto G6 (which come with multiple internal radios for connecting to different flavors of wireless signals) can use Fi to switch between different provider's networks, depending on what option is strongest at the time.

One thing to consider, however, if you're (rightfully) contemplating a switch, is what coverage is available in your area. Google Fi makes use of T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular networks, so in further reaches of the U.S. where AT&T or Verizon reign supreme, Google Fi's triple threat might still not cut the mustard. Fi does intelligently make use of available Wi-Fi connections to fill in the gaps which, while handy at home or the office, will not help you if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.

But if that's not a problem, Google Fi is a screamingly good deal and one you should definitely consider.