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?
Dec 6, 2018, 3:24 am
#736
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
...but I've got a cable and an old beater MacBook, so I'll try it later and report back
Dec 6, 2018, 9:07 am
#738
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
My Pixel 3 XL was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday but was rescheduled for delivery on Tuesday morning for Wednesday. Yesterday I worked from home and nothing showed. At 7pm it changed to delivery pending and was told delivery would be today, Thursday. The site showed today that delivery was pending again so I called in and was told that Friday, and definitely not today, was more likely as they are backed up.
Fi support was empathetic but FedEx isn't able to expedite the shipment. They did offer me a statement credit but that doesn't change the frustration of waiting & wasted work from home time.
Fi support was empathetic but FedEx isn't able to expedite the shipment. They did offer me a statement credit but that doesn't change the frustration of waiting & wasted work from home time.
Dec 6, 2018, 11:33 am
#739
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,517
My Pixel 3 XL was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday but was rescheduled for delivery on Tuesday morning for Wednesday. Yesterday I worked from home and nothing showed. At 7pm it changed to delivery pending and was told delivery would be today, Thursday. The site showed today that delivery was pending again so I called in and was told that Friday, and definitely not today, was more likely as they are backed up.
Fi support was empathetic but FedEx isn't able to expedite the shipment. They did offer me a statement credit but that doesn't change the frustration of waiting & wasted work from home time.
Fi support was empathetic but FedEx isn't able to expedite the shipment. They did offer me a statement credit but that doesn't change the frustration of waiting & wasted work from home time.
In my case, I blame this is on Fedex and not Google, though Google doesn't make it easy with the package options they use.
I'm lucky that I work from home anyway, but it's still inconvenient not being able to run out for lunch or a quick errand.
Dec 6, 2018, 6:26 pm
#740
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
Nope, no hint on my XS Fi app. Still the same boring data, and no visual voicemail, so no way to clear the 66 new voicemails I apparently have on my phone (but don't--it goes away with a phone restart).
Dec 6, 2018, 6:27 pm
#741
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
I was able to get to the Vacation Hold option on Fedex on my Pixel 3XL delivery today... didn't submit it though. Are you sure you can't do a Vacation Hold online? I think you need to create a Fedex account first, sign in, and opt in to all the terms in Delivery Management. Then you will get the option to do Vacation Hold to stop the delivery attempts. After that, they will still deliver to your home and need signature, but at least you could hold it until you are home.
However, I'm giving it a shot: I put a vacation hold on until one week from Saturday. If they attempt delivery on a Saturday, at least there's a chance someone will be around.
Attempts to phone and email Google have been completely unsuccessful. Over 26 hours since my email. No response.
What a sh*tty company to do business with. I realize this is a nice promotion but other phone companies do promotions too and aren't so difficult to transact basic business with.
Dec 7, 2018, 1:27 am
#742
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Exact same story as wifi--tethering enables fine on the Fi data SIM but the MacBook won't connect to it over USB. And, again, it works perfectly when I put the Belgian SIM back in, so it's a Fi thing.
Dec 7, 2018, 7:40 pm
#743
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Issues with android phone using google fi
After a short use of new google fi sim with a galaxy s8+
1 there is no icon for wifi calling available anymore
2 apparently when I get a call it rings both on my phone and hangouts (PC) at the same time (a little confusing but I've only received one call so far and I answered on hangouts not realizing I could have answered on my phone since they were next to each other)
3 no ability to set different ringtones for different numbers
4 voicemail - I have to call to retrieve messages BUT I cannot seem to be able to see a list of messages (typed) / CORRECTION I meant previous voicemails-
I don't know if I could access messages from hangouts if I am overseas to avoid a call charge
Still on a learning curve but it is interesting that a non google fi phone has a LOT of limitations that their phones don't have - AFAICT - no ability to see list of message phone numbers nor does the message identify the caller (as both sprint and tmo did from my contacts)
No ability to use their spam blocker
OTOH the calls have been clear so far....... well back to learning more
ADDED - voicemails are NOT identified by caller number or name
apparently I cannot imput my contacts into hangouts even tho they show up when I start typing the name and they are all on google contacts
FRUSTRATED BY OVER 1-2 HOUR WAITS TO TALK TO SUPPORT, NO ANSWER TO EMAILS FOR OVER A WEEK, INABILITY TO SEE CREDIT FOR PROMOTION (altho a 9 cent credit appeared from google voice
), but not the $200 credit promised)
1 there is no icon for wifi calling available anymore
2 apparently when I get a call it rings both on my phone and hangouts (PC) at the same time (a little confusing but I've only received one call so far and I answered on hangouts not realizing I could have answered on my phone since they were next to each other)
3 no ability to set different ringtones for different numbers
4 voicemail - I have to call to retrieve messages BUT I cannot seem to be able to see a list of messages (typed) / CORRECTION I meant previous voicemails-
I don't know if I could access messages from hangouts if I am overseas to avoid a call charge
Still on a learning curve but it is interesting that a non google fi phone has a LOT of limitations that their phones don't have - AFAICT - no ability to see list of message phone numbers nor does the message identify the caller (as both sprint and tmo did from my contacts)
No ability to use their spam blocker
OTOH the calls have been clear so far....... well back to learning more
ADDED - voicemails are NOT identified by caller number or name
apparently I cannot imput my contacts into hangouts even tho they show up when I start typing the name and they are all on google contacts
FRUSTRATED BY OVER 1-2 HOUR WAITS TO TALK TO SUPPORT, NO ANSWER TO EMAILS FOR OVER A WEEK, INABILITY TO SEE CREDIT FOR PROMOTION (altho a 9 cent credit appeared from google voice
), but not the $200 credit promised)
Last edited by estnet; Dec 8, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Dec 8, 2018, 11:12 am
#745
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Yes via chat.
To followup my delivery issues my package was delayed getting to Brooklyn by 3 days but the system & CS reps kept saying it would be delivered each day. Then Friday the driver claims to have made a delivery attempt but stated I live in a gated community with no access. I live in an apartment building with a directory and intercom built into the door. Now I found out the drive not only did that but also lost it. Now I'm waiting for them to make it official so I can get a new one sent to me. Needless to say I've been drinking a lot this past week.
To followup my delivery issues my package was delayed getting to Brooklyn by 3 days but the system & CS reps kept saying it would be delivered each day. Then Friday the driver claims to have made a delivery attempt but stated I live in a gated community with no access. I live in an apartment building with a directory and intercom built into the door. Now I found out the drive not only did that but also lost it. Now I'm waiting for them to make it official so I can get a new one sent to me. Needless to say I've been drinking a lot this past week.
Dec 8, 2018, 11:51 am
#746
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
Oh looks like Chat is back online. It wasn't for the previous week since the 28th of Nov. BTW, the Pixel 3 XL is really great. It is worth the wait. Of course my old phone is LG G4 which is like 4 years old so any new phone would be leaps and bounds better. The night sight camera is like magic though. It is better than what my eyes could see.
Dec 8, 2018, 1:00 pm
#747
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
nope - no response to emails and wait times saying 1 hour aren't answered in 2 or 3 (well that's when I gave up) AND the question I have is answered incorrectly in their online support!!!!
Dec 8, 2018, 7:44 pm
#748
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
So I got a Data Sim along with my new Pixel 3 account. I have a T-mobile tablet and it is locked to T-mobile. I know that because I had tried to put an AT&T sim in it. Since Google Fi uses T-mobile network on non-Fi device including tablet, I thought I would give it a try and it worked! I wonder if normal Fi phone sim would work on any locked T-mobile phones also?
Dec 10, 2018, 7:06 pm
#749
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
It took me almost an hour on hold this morning but I got an operator who quickly and easily submitted the proper info to get a replacement Pixel 3 XL sent out after FedEx acknowledged the package is lost. By 3pm I had a shipping confirmation with 2-day, sadly still with FedEx, at no additional charge. The hold time thing is too much but the actual agent was great.
Dec 11, 2018, 8:17 am
#750
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
My emails to Google were never answered.
I'm back on hold with them today - at this point, I just want my delivery canceled and the money charged to my credit card refunded.
This entire experience is a joke. I guess "free"(ish) phones were too good to be true.
I'm back on hold with them today - at this point, I just want my delivery canceled and the money charged to my credit card refunded.
This entire experience is a joke. I guess "free"(ish) phones were too good to be true.