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freehe
freehe
3/10/2016 7:45:41 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
It is a great option but I don't think it is the best option. I think AT&T's approach of moving customers to a strong signal is a much better approach. If Google is only charging customers $20 per month to use Project Fi, how much does it really cost Google to offer it to customers on a per customer basis.

I would be concerned about security risks. Google promises to encrypt your data but if you use your phone like a laptop or customer you should ramp up security protection measures on your cell phone prior to signing up for Project Fi.

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mpouraryan
mpouraryan
3/10/2016 11:24:51 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
Although a noble effort (and google should be given an "A" for it) it is still kind of far from perfect-and I would argue that the traditional Telco's will not be standing idly by.  

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
3/8/2016 7:59:39 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
WiFi hotspots are only good for certain use cases... they're not going to have the same kind of coverage as cell towers (unless WiFi occupies some other part of the radio spectrum someday). I'm all for expanding WiFi hotspots, but... how about allocating better spectrum to more wireless carriers?

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Ariella
Ariella
3/8/2016 7:44:22 PM
User Rank
Author
Re: Fantastic Idea
Interesting development. When I was in Manhattan on Sunday, I noticed signs all over the place for the city's expanded free WiFi offerings. I wonder if cities do take off in that direction if it would make people less concerned about features that allow their phones other options for connecting to the web.

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
3/8/2016 3:10:50 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
> "Google has found a way to save me from myself!"

I'm not entirely sure that Fi would save you from yourself... if you have slow WiFi, you'd still be able to switch to T-Mo or Sprint data... and get charged for that data. There's no "unlimited" data with Fi, is there? It's just pay as you go (plus a refund for unused data). 

 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
3/8/2016 3:07:04 PM
User Rank
Platinum
bonded wireless lines?
I'm still wondering if Google might be able to "bond" together Sprint and T-mo wireless lines to get speeds that no other carrier can offer. I assume there's probably some technical reason why it can't be done, but people used to have bonded DSL lines to try to get better broadband....

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
3/8/2016 3:05:05 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: My Pipe Dreams
> "I don't know why I was hoping for iPhone support but I was."

Well, it works on "newer iPads" so maybe there's a way to fool it into thinking an iPad is an iPhone? Not sure how it checks... Or if you don't mind hauling around an iPad everywhere (iPad mini?), you might be able to tether an iPhone to an iPad on Fi all the time...? 

I assume the reason for this limited use is that there's a cap on Google's deal with T-mo and Sprint -- and Google doesn't want to have a sudden surge of usage that it didn't anticipate.

Maybe someday Alphabet will buy T-mobile... 

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dlr5288
dlr5288
3/8/2016 12:49:19 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
Yes me too!

I also think this is a very impressive idea. I too use a lot of data and sometimes when I get frustrated with the slow wifi, I turn it off. Then before I know it I realize it's been off all day. I go through way too much, so it's great that Google has come up with this. Also I don't have any of the devices that it is given on, but I hope Google can expand their program.

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jbtombes
jbtombes
3/8/2016 11:06:40 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Fantastic Idea
Another way approach is Apple's WiFi Assist, which moves a user from a weak WiFi signal to a stronger cellular one. But there's lots of interest in turning that default feature off given concern about blowing through data without realizing it.

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elizabethv
elizabethv
3/8/2016 8:56:18 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Fantastic Idea
As someone who uses a lot of data, I love the idea behind this. Especially since more often than not, I seem to accidently switch off the possibility of using WiFi, then forget to turn it on, or don't realize it's off. Then I end up munching through data at an absurd rate until I get a notification. And data is expensive. Google has found a way to save me from myself! The saddest part of this program is that I don't have any of the phones the program is on, and I have no plans to purchase one either. So hopefully this technology will be so successful, we will eventually find it on most phones. 

I fear the reason this may not happen as the preference phone carriers might have for clients to use, and eat up data. Do you think other cell phone carriers might try to block this type of technology in their phones? 

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