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?
#1307
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
Does anyone know if I want to buy a Google phone for a friend as a gift, and buy the Google Fi Unlocked version (rather than just Google unlocked phone) does it tie it to my Google account? Would I be better off buying just the Google unlocked phone from the google shop and then buying a Fi SIM after so they could tie it to their phone?
#1308
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,017
I just meant my settings are the same (all the choices on the phone are toggled to the same choices). And work everywhere seamlessly easily, except where I was having trouble, like Spain.
It's been working great last few months, not even requiring reboot of phone when going from country to country. Italy, Greece, Czech Republic... all seamless and speedy fast. Lovely.
It's been working great last few months, not even requiring reboot of phone when going from country to country. Italy, Greece, Czech Republic... all seamless and speedy fast. Lovely.
#1309
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
Looking for some advice. Giving son a college graduation gift trip to Europe for a month (Ireland, Italy, France) and want an easy SIM card/service that will be seamless for him. He’s got an unlocked iPhone 11 currently on our ATT plan. Could I get him a Google Fi sim and either the unlimited plus or flex plan for a month then cancel? What would you all recommend? Do they prorate any wandering into the next month before canceling? I want to avoid him having to deal with foreign sims etc. we have had great luck and bad luck in the past with such experiences.
#1310
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Looking for some advice. Giving son a college graduation gift trip to Europe for a month (Ireland, Italy, France) and want an easy SIM card/service that will be seamless for him. He’s got an unlocked iPhone 11 currently on our ATT plan. Could I get him a Google Fi sim and either the unlimited plus or flex plan for a month then cancel? What would you all recommend? Do they prorate any wandering into the next month before canceling? I want to avoid him having to deal with foreign sims etc. we have had great luck and bad luck in the past with such experiences.
If 30 days is enough time, a Europe-wide eSIM from Airalo is cheaper: https://www.airalo.com/europe-esim and depending on data usage may be cheaper even if you have to buy two of them. Data only, but given Fi's 20c/min for calls he really should use VoIP either way.
Either of those is easier than messing around with trying to buy a SIM on the ground, and the UK providers whose SIMs show up on American Amazon, eBay, etc. are cutting off free European roaming so that's no longer a good option.
Last edited by der_saeufer; Apr 17, 2022 at 6:25 pm
#1311
#1312
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
If you're using Fi, you can force wifi calling on your Fi number by putting your phone in airplane mode, or you can use the VoIP app of your choice.
#1313
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 389
because you lose the option of using Fi’s ‘data only’ SIM cards.
A deal breaker for me. Guess I’m stuck paying the old (higher) rate.
#1314
If you're using a data-only product like Airalo, 3HK's roaming eSIM, etc., since you don't have a real number VoIP is your only option and you just use the app of your choice like Google Voice, MagicJack, whatever.
If you're using Fi, you can force wifi calling on your Fi number by putting your phone in airplane mode, or you can use the VoIP app of your choice.
If you're using Fi, you can force wifi calling on your Fi number by putting your phone in airplane mode, or you can use the VoIP app of your choice.
#1315
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Thank you for that. I do have Google Voice (but have only used it once, for a USA to USA call). If I'm in Europe with the Airalo eSIM, then can I just use Google Voice to call intra-Europe or to USA? And if the answer is yes, then why would I want Fi (which I don't have). Thanks for the education.
You might want Fi if you travel a lot between different countries and don't want to buy eSIMs, if you go places where eSIMs aren't easily available, etc. but for someone taking one trip to Europe it's easier and cheaper just to buy a cheap eSIM--doubly so if you've already got Google Voice.
I used to have a Fi account that I kept suspended and would reactivate for trips to places our Belgian or French SIMs didn't roam, but once we had eSIM compatible phones it didn't make sense anymore--why pay $20 plus $10/GB in the U.S. when you can buy 5GB for 30 days on an eSIM for $16?
Last edited by der_saeufer; Apr 20, 2022 at 10:25 am
#1316
On a serious note, while using an Airalo eSIM (or hotel Wi-Fi) in Europe, can I receive texts on Google Voice from USA? from Europe? Can I receive voice calls from USA? from Europe?
For the purpose of this conversation, that's me. In a year or two, maybe Australia (but don't tell me anything about telephony in Australia, because it will change by then and it will confuse me now).
Thanks again for posting about Airalo.
#1317
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Let me check my calendar... Yup, I'm still living two or three decades ago. In other words, none of those apps--yet. Someday, I'll be dragged into 2010.
On a serious note, while using an Airalo eSIM (or hotel Wi-Fi) in Europe, can I receive texts on Google Voice from USA? from Europe? Can I receive voice calls from USA? from Europe?
On a serious note, while using an Airalo eSIM (or hotel Wi-Fi) in Europe, can I receive texts on Google Voice from USA? from Europe? Can I receive voice calls from USA? from Europe?
You can send and receive SMS to/from the US for free. You can not send SMS to anywhere but the United States--not even other countries in the +1 dialing area. You should theoretically be able to receive SMS from anywhere for free, but no one in Europe wants to pay their carrier € 1 per message to text you and they'll wonder why you don't have Whatsapp. And you wouldn't be able to reply anyway.
Last edited by der_saeufer; Apr 20, 2022 at 8:50 pm
#1318
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 592
It was mentioned by the OP that an unlocked iPhone 11 was to be used for the trip. In conjunction with an esim data service like Airalo, free calling to and from the US is possible with the simulated WiFi available with IMS. That stands for Internet Protocol Multi Media Subsystem and lets your voice line use your data line as a simulated WiFi service. The setup and use is fairly simple and a web search should provide ample instructions for configuration. This works well and quite reliable and stable. My experience with text messaging outside of the US is that it is still not a chargeable feature and works well everywhere. I am not familiar with fees charged by Euro carriers noted.
#1319
You can make voice calls to US/Canada for free and to other places for cheap. You can receive voice calls from anywhere for free.
You can send and receive SMS to/from the US for free. You can not send SMS to anywhere but the United States--not even other countries in the +1 dialing area. You should theoretically be able to receive SMS from anywhere for free, but no one in Europe wants to pay their carrier € 1 per message to text you and they'll wonder why you don't have Whatsapp. And you wouldn't be able to reply anyway.
You can send and receive SMS to/from the US for free. You can not send SMS to anywhere but the United States--not even other countries in the +1 dialing area. You should theoretically be able to receive SMS from anywhere for free, but no one in Europe wants to pay their carrier € 1 per message to text you and they'll wonder why you don't have Whatsapp. And you wouldn't be able to reply anyway.
It was mentioned by the OP that an unlocked iPhone 11 was to be used for the trip. In conjunction with an esim data service like Airalo, free calling to and from the US is possible with the simulated WiFi available with IMS. That stands for Internet Protocol Multi Media Subsystem and lets your voice line use your data line as a simulated WiFi service. The setup and use is fairly simple and a web search should provide ample instructions for configuration. This works well and quite reliable and stable. My experience with text messaging outside of the US is that it is still not a chargeable feature and works well everywhere. I am not familiar with fees charged by Euro carriers noted.
#1320
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 592
IMS service uses data and there is no charge to or from a US cellular number and another US cellular number. This requires some sort of internet access of course, but the data required is only around 1Mb per minute or so. I think GV has a small charge for international to and from US cellular calls, but that may be wrong.
Calls to foreign numbers from your US cellular number will be billed at your carrier rate while roaming. On T-Mobile that is $.25 a minute for 210 listed countries. The same as if just using the cellular connection.
Calls to foreign numbers from your US cellular number will be billed at your carrier rate while roaming. On T-Mobile that is $.25 a minute for 210 listed countries. The same as if just using the cellular connection.