You were using an AT&T sim card right (I saw the AT&T icon on top)? I actually have a bunch of those... maybe I will give it a try just for fun!

It was a Three SIM card (UK) per this thread (post 50):

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...l#post31291824

It does connect to AT&T in the US.

Tried with AT&T sim, and I get to choose LTE-3G on the AT&T physical sim. Switch back to Google Fi (esim) and no such option. Oh well.

Can someone privately send me the Air Canada 800 number we are talking about?

I want to try a couple of things.

My experience
 

Have unlocked iPhone, normally use world sim, or local sims, a pain, and not cheap, but cheaper than using my verizon sim, so this trip, I thought I would experiment with google fi. My wife’s phone, no problems, worked right from the get go, my phone, for some reason, took a few days to work, google was looking into it, but once it started working. Has been the best phone experience to date. Just dial numbers, no codes, just works. Data fine everywhere. Was in Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes, Porto, Pinhao, Lisbon, so far with zero issues. Going to continue to use when I get home, might just switch my verizon number over

I was interested in this when it first came out, even though I am on iPhone.

But my sense is that since Google Fi came out, the prepaid data SIM offerings in a lot of countries have gotten a lot more competitive.

$10 a gigabyte is on the high side of what you pay now.

So if you're interested in using a volume of data, Google Fi is not a good value any more.

If you're just using some Google Maps, reading email, light browsing, little or no tethering, it would be fine.

I agree there may be cheaper options for data while international. Have you checked out Google Fi's new unlimited data plan?

I find the convenience of not searching for and configuring (in some cases) a local sim card, to be useful. And worth the extra money.


Pretty sweet to have a voice and data signal up and working before even leaving the plane. Plus the 'data only' add-on sims keep family happy.

Thats not bad. I’m paying $70 a month for two lines.

How are the roaming partners though? I would prefer to use the best roaming partners in each country though.

Also is it unlimited data and LTE speed tethering on iPhones both domestically and abroad?

I am using a 'designed for Google Fi' phone, a Pixel 2, which comes unlocked. Fi's web site does a fairly good job of spelling out which model phones get which Fi features.

Example, the iphone does not auto-switch between Sprint and T Mobile, while the Google phones do. Things like that, but I think the data costs are the same whichever phone you use.


The Google Pixel line is in the same class as iphone but Fi also sells the Moto G7 which looks very worthy for much less money. Seems its only $100 if you sign up with Google Fi

Thinking about getting one as a back up. https://fi.google.com/about/phones/moto-g7/

Well there won't be much switching once the merger goes through.

TMob supposedly has a lot of midband spectrum which may help them produce better coverage for 5G.

I can see Google partnering with Dish once the latter has more of a network. Plus there's still US Cellular (though I imagine most people will never end up in their service area).

I can force switch to US Cellular with an app (FiSwitch). I don't know who is their roaming partner in SoCal, but it got better signal at my old work place (at Huntington Beach) than both T-mobile and Sprint.

My experience
 

I use the Pixel 3 and Husband uses the Moto G7. They seem to have similar reception. Obviously the Pixel has more capacity and features. The auto switching is great. I'm rarely aware when there's a switch-over. $100 for the Moto is a good deal.

Got my Pixel 4 XL today. I'll post some first impressions tomorrow. I would note for those of you getting these things in the next few days, the setup routine for moving data from my old Pixel XL phone to the new XL4 failed *miserably*.

I Agree. How much is your time worth? Is it worth an hour of your time to run around and get a local sim, then put it in your phone and get it to sync, and fix the APN to save a few bucks? if so do that. If you want to hit the ground and go, then Fi may be a better choice. Its really all about your time and convenience. I have done both and I prefer the Fi network. Also that Pixel 3 sharing a hotel/plane/cruise wifi is huge. See upthread. Will wait on Pixel 4 until some additional reviews come in.