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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
3/7/2016 8:45:29 PM
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Platinum
Just wish Google could include more carriers...
I'd switch to Google Fi if it were more like Tracfone's MVNO -- and it operated on top of Verizon and Sprint. If only Fi had either AT&T or Verizon's network.... 

But I assume that would never happen -- unless Google bought Tracfone (and there wasn't some clause in the contracts that would allow Verizon to back out of supporting Tracfone's service). 

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afwriter
afwriter
3/7/2016 10:07:23 PM
User Rank
Platinum
My Pipe Dreams
I don't know why I was hoping for iPhone support but I was.  I would also love to be able to access it from my Laptop, which I guess I could by creating a hotspot with my phone...If my phone were supported.  I may be a little bitter. 

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jbtombes
jbtombes
3/7/2016 10:11:21 PM
User Rank
Platinum
aka Beta?
Inivitation only - was that another way to say "Beta" testing? Also looks like another case of Google/Alphabet/Android being disruptive on costs. A VentureBeat review of the service even praised the billing statement. That's really disruptive. 

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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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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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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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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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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 3:10:50 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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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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