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?
#947
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
When on pause do calls go to hangouts?
I just read that someone said on reddit that when they paused their account they still got calls on hangouts. Does anyone know if this is common - and if so would that apply to texts (sms) as well? (Actually I don't even know how to get texts in hangouts since the chat function seems to require someone to accept an "invitation" even if they are already on hangouts?)
#948
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
I just read that someone said on reddit that when they paused their account they still got calls on hangouts. Does anyone know if this is common - and if so would that apply to texts (sms) as well? (Actually I don't even know how to get texts in hangouts since the chat function seems to require someone to accept an "invitation" even if they are already on hangouts?)
Hangouts is confusing. If you turn SMS integration on, you can use it to send SMS/MMS in addition to Hangouts messages. You can turn it on in Hangouts' settings for the account linked to your Fi number, just flip the "incoming messages" toggle and hit OK to the popup asking if you want to integrate SMS into hangouts. Then, when you hit the little + to compose a new message, one of your options will be "new SMS". Text conversations show up in the Hangouts inbox mixed in with your Hangouts messages (if any); you can tell them apart because the circular icon for the contact will have a little blue "SMS" on it.
#949
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
I got my $600 service credit for Black Friday Price Protection. I noticed that this is different than the $200 service credit from the phone. The $200 can only be used toward Fi service. The $600 applies to the phone's installments. So now my monthly bill will be $0 for the next 10/11 months! And I pay was the tax for the Pixel 3 XL and first 2 months Fi bill. Best deal ever!
#950
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Just tried calling my paused Fi line. I got a pleasant voice telling me that "we could not complete your call. please try again." I texted it and the SMS disappeared into the ether--it wasn't received nor was an error returned.
Hangouts is confusing. If you turn SMS integration on, you can use it to send SMS/MMS in addition to Hangouts messages. You can turn it on in Hangouts' settings for the account linked to your Fi number, just flip the "incoming messages" toggle and hit OK to the popup asking if you want to integrate SMS into hangouts. Then, when you hit the little + to compose a new message, one of your options will be "new SMS". Text conversations show up in the Hangouts inbox mixed in with your Hangouts messages (if any); you can tell them apart because the circular icon for the contact will have a little blue "SMS" on it.
Hangouts is confusing. If you turn SMS integration on, you can use it to send SMS/MMS in addition to Hangouts messages. You can turn it on in Hangouts' settings for the account linked to your Fi number, just flip the "incoming messages" toggle and hit OK to the popup asking if you want to integrate SMS into hangouts. Then, when you hit the little + to compose a new message, one of your options will be "new SMS". Text conversations show up in the Hangouts inbox mixed in with your Hangouts messages (if any); you can tell them apart because the circular icon for the contact will have a little blue "SMS" on it.
- Under “Google Fi calls and SMS,” check the box next to “Messages” and confirm
I don't get a lot of texts so I don't know if this actually works - but according to what I've read when I pause it should turn everything off - but a reddit post said it didn't for one person. I guess I'll find out when I pause it next week.
#951
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Thanks I find Hangouts confusing and thought that when I paused my Fi hangouts would be unusable b/c it is the same number. I found the place to turn on sms
I don't get a lot of texts so I don't know if this actually works - but according to what I've read when I pause it should turn everything off - but a reddit post said it didn't for one person. I guess I'll find out when I pause it next week.
- Under “Google Fi calls and SMS,” check the box next to “Messages” and confirm
I don't get a lot of texts so I don't know if this actually works - but according to what I've read when I pause it should turn everything off - but a reddit post said it didn't for one person. I guess I'll find out when I pause it next week.
#952
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Let us know if it does work... I have Hangouts integration enabled on my Fi account, and it definitely does not work while paused--you can "send" messages but they go nowhere, and messages sent to that number are not received nor is an error message returned to the sender. Given Fi's track record I wouldn't be at all suprised if they either didn't actually pause that user's service or somehow paused his/her billing without pausing the service itself.
Note I am not using a "made for Fi" phone so don't know if that matters.
#953
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
Sure - but so far the Hangouts integration for sms definitely doesn't work - I get and can send texts from Hangouts out my computer but TEXTS to me DO NOT APPEAR on my phone unless they are sent from my phone and texts I send or receive on hangouts on the phone don't appear on the computer - so no integration at all just two separate but parallel systems???????
Note I am not using a "made for Fi" phone so don't know if that matters.
Note I am not using a "made for Fi" phone so don't know if that matters.
#954
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
I too have the Pixel 3 XL and turned it on for a day. Texts went to my computer and if I had logged Hangouts into that account on my Pixel it probably would also have worked but texts didn't otherwise go to my phone which was a bit annoying to figure out. I'm back to the standard texting operation for now.
Sure - but so far the Hangouts integration for sms definitely doesn't work - I get and can send texts from Hangouts out my computer but TEXTS to me DO NOT APPEAR on my phone unless they are sent from my phone and texts I send or receive on hangouts on the phone don't appear on the computer - so no integration at all just two separate but parallel systems???????
Note I am not using a "made for Fi" phone so don't know if that matters.
Note I am not using a "made for Fi" phone so don't know if that matters.
#955
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
The description says if I send a text from phone or hangouts on my computer it should all sych eg if I send (or receive text) from my phone (thru messages) I should see the same thing on my phone text as I see on computer in hangouts - but I don't I see what I sent only on the format it was sent and not on the other.
#956
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 916
I signed up for Google Fi information ,but not an account about a month ago ,
Today I got an offer for a free month,
So if you are a little interested this might work for you to try it out ,
They did want you to port a working number....
I am still on the fence as I only want the international data ,
Today I got an offer for a free month,
So if you are a little interested this might work for you to try it out ,
They did want you to port a working number....
I am still on the fence as I only want the international data ,
#957
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Okay I think I have it figured out - I thought they meant texts would synch across everything - but it appears that it synches only in hangouts on the various devices. Since hangouts is not my default text app - the texts do not show up in messages (default app). They operate as separate entities - I thought text was text but I was wrong.
#958
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
Okay I think I have it figured out - I thought they meant texts would synch across everything - but it appears that it synches only in hangouts on the various devices. Since hangouts is not my default text app - the texts do not show up in messages (default app). They operate as separate entities - I thought text was text but I was wrong.
#959
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
One thing you will need to be aware is that if you use hangout as your default SMS app, Google stores everything... and I think forever. I had been using hangout as my default SMS app since 2 phones ago and when I was on AT&T. On the PC browser GMAIL chat app, I could see every single SMS conversions back years and years.
#960
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Yeah you have to have hangout as your default SMS message app on the phone with Fi service. I don't use hangout app on PC, but I check Gmail all the time and in Gmail, there is a Chat box in there and all your hangout messages will pop up there including Fi voicemail transcripts. I could also start a Chat and type in a phone number to send SMS and receivers will see it as if I send the txt from my phone.
Thanks for the info on chat - I thought I had to go to hangouts - neat shortcut