Sep 3, 2017, 5:37 am
Last edit by: Zorak
Which countries are supported?
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
Not listed, *did* have service
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
- Ukraine (Aug 2018) - no service, all providers listed as "forbidden". Post #660
- Alaska (Jul 2018) -- had voice service, but inconsistent/spotty data (try forcing Sprint)
- Peru (Sep 2016) post 341, 360
- Grand Cayman Island (Jan 2018) post 547
Not listed, *did* have service
Belize (Jan 2018) post 547Belize now appears on the "supported" international list
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
Google Fi: Anyone care to post their experience?
Jun 19, 2015, 1:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, *wood Gold
Posts: 39
Google Fi: Anyone care to post their experience?
Just received my invite for Google Fi and interested in seeing how people like it so far. Interested in seeing how the system is working and if the call transitions have been reliable.
Jun 20, 2015, 2:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 205
I requested an invite on the 1st day that I could and have yet to receive it.
I already have a Nexus 6 but some early adopters (like me) have been screwed by random signal loss that plagues some of these phones and it is annoying. If you have not purchased the phone yet, I advise you to do some research about it as it has affected quite a few Nexus 6 users and there is much speculation as to the root cause. I had no problems until 6 days after my trial period was over. I have limped along with it since then but my opinion of the Nexus line is not what it used to be.
I'm probably going to try the service and see if that helps with the signal loss but I'll probably dump the phone for whatever I can get for it and switch to something else if I dislike the Fi service or wait until a phone without these issues is supported for the Fi service.
I already have a Nexus 6 but some early adopters (like me) have been screwed by random signal loss that plagues some of these phones and it is annoying. If you have not purchased the phone yet, I advise you to do some research about it as it has affected quite a few Nexus 6 users and there is much speculation as to the root cause. I had no problems until 6 days after my trial period was over. I have limped along with it since then but my opinion of the Nexus line is not what it used to be.
I'm probably going to try the service and see if that helps with the signal loss but I'll probably dump the phone for whatever I can get for it and switch to something else if I dislike the Fi service or wait until a phone without these issues is supported for the Fi service.
Jun 21, 2015, 8:33 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I am waiting on my invite, but am surprised that you are locked out of their forum until you are subscribed.
I requested an invite on the 1st day that I could and have yet to receive it.
I already have a Nexus 6 but some early adopters (like me) have been screwed by random signal loss that plagues some of these phones and it is annoying. If you have not purchased the phone yet, I advise you to do some research about it as it has affected quite a few Nexus 6 users and there is much speculation as to the root cause. I had no problems until 6 days after my trial period was over. I have limped along with it since then but my opinion of the Nexus line is not what it used to be.
I'm probably going to try the service and see if that helps with the signal loss but I'll probably dump the phone for whatever I can get for it and switch to something else if I dislike the Fi service or wait until a phone without these issues is supported for the Fi service.
I already have a Nexus 6 but some early adopters (like me) have been screwed by random signal loss that plagues some of these phones and it is annoying. If you have not purchased the phone yet, I advise you to do some research about it as it has affected quite a few Nexus 6 users and there is much speculation as to the root cause. I had no problems until 6 days after my trial period was over. I have limped along with it since then but my opinion of the Nexus line is not what it used to be.
I'm probably going to try the service and see if that helps with the signal loss but I'll probably dump the phone for whatever I can get for it and switch to something else if I dislike the Fi service or wait until a phone without these issues is supported for the Fi service.
Jun 25, 2015, 7:00 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 220
Ordered
I got my invite last night. I signed up this morning. Should have the Nexus 6 tomorrow. I am a heavy Google Voice user, so some of the things regarding it are not entirely clear to me, but I noticed that if I didn't "port" my GV # into it, it made it appear as if I might lose that number, which I definitely do not want to do. So, I ported it in. It looks like if I cancel Fi, I can keep my GV # though.
Still not crazy about the lack of a MicroSD card or removable battery, but I like to experiment and this will be my backup phone, so why not?
Still not crazy about the lack of a MicroSD card or removable battery, but I like to experiment and this will be my backup phone, so why not?
Jun 25, 2015, 10:25 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
You can always keep an old Google number and port in a new one. It cost $25. When people get their account set up, I had a couple of questions including:
*Does it support short codes for SMS?
*Do they charge for international MMS? Do they have full support?
*Does it support short codes for SMS?
*Do they charge for international MMS? Do they have full support?
Jun 26, 2015, 5:44 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
Update: invitation received Nexus 6 & Fi welcome kit ordered
Like some others in this thread, I received my invitation last night and ordered a Nexus 6 & a welcome kit for arrival next week.
I am looking forward to porting my service from T Mobile (which has worked well) to project Fi and with any luck will have it active in time for my next international travel. As a very light user of cellular data I expect my bill to be cut in half from $60 to $30 or less a month.
I am looking forward to porting my service from T Mobile (which has worked well) to project Fi and with any luck will have it active in time for my next international travel. As a very light user of cellular data I expect my bill to be cut in half from $60 to $30 or less a month.
Jun 26, 2015, 6:50 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 205
Like some others in this thread, I received my invitation last night and ordered a Nexus 6 & a welcome kit for arrival next week.
I am looking forward to porting my service from T Mobile (which has worked well) to project Fi and with any luck will have it active in time for my next international travel. As a very light user of cellular data I expect my bill to be cut in half from $60 to $30 or less a month.
I am looking forward to porting my service from T Mobile (which has worked well) to project Fi and with any luck will have it active in time for my next international travel. As a very light user of cellular data I expect my bill to be cut in half from $60 to $30 or less a month.
I ended up with T-Mo prepaid which was ~$29/month taking into account that I bought refill cards at the supermarket with my AMEX BCP. The plan is unlimited calls and texts plus 5gig of LTE data. However, I'm only allowed to tether 100MB vs. no restrictions on the postpaid account.
With the G-Fi plan, I could pay less if I make a concerted attempt to utilize Wi-Fi more but 800MB of data is nothing so I suspect that T-Mo will average out cheaper but without the access to Sprint towers and the international coverage options. It will be a 12 month trial run. It was a no-brainer leaving simple choice for prepaid but not so easy from prepaid to Google.
Jun 26, 2015, 7:30 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
One question I have to wonder about is whether Google has its own roaming agreements or whether it is riding on TMobile's. If it is using TMobile's roaming agreements, then the international service will be on par. (Their roaming plan is far more similar to TMobile's plan than Sprint's which is why I am assuming that it is using TMobile's).
Jun 26, 2015, 7:32 am
#11
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,637
I checked my invite status on Wednesday: 3-4 weeks. I got my invite yesterday (Thursday). About six hours later I got an email advising me that I could now check my invite status. Clearly they're pumping this stuff out quickly!
Jun 26, 2015, 9:13 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
Jun 26, 2015, 9:31 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, *wood Gold
Posts: 39
I received my phone on Tuesday and have been giving it a workout in the Washington, DC and Baltimore areas. Call quality has been extremely good and I haven't dropped a single call to this point. During my commute home on 66 every evening I have two spots where calls would drop on AT&T. No drops to this point.
Overall the Nexus 6 is a pretty good phone and I've been impressed with the battery life. Couldn't make it through a full day on my Note 3 and the Nexus 6 lasts me all day with back-up. Camera seems to be ok on the back side and a bit lackluster when shooting in dimly lit spots.
I will be testing in SE Virginia on the later part of next week and will provide a quick update. Should be a great opportunity to see how the Sprint portion goes as T-Mobile has no coverage in the area I'm going.
Overall the Nexus 6 is a pretty good phone and I've been impressed with the battery life. Couldn't make it through a full day on my Note 3 and the Nexus 6 lasts me all day with back-up. Camera seems to be ok on the back side and a bit lackluster when shooting in dimly lit spots.
I will be testing in SE Virginia on the later part of next week and will provide a quick update. Should be a great opportunity to see how the Sprint portion goes as T-Mobile has no coverage in the area I'm going.
Jun 27, 2015, 1:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 11
Just got mine yesterday too. Only made two calls so far and it works great..
Been spending most of my time setting up the various apps and stuff.
I'll be trying out the international roaming feature in a few weeks. I'll report back then. My wife will be on T-Mobile free international roaming plan, so I'll be able to compare.
Jeff
Been spending most of my time setting up the various apps and stuff.
I'll be trying out the international roaming feature in a few weeks. I'll report back then. My wife will be on T-Mobile free international roaming plan, so I'll be able to compare.
Jeff
