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?
Apr 27, 2019, 12:27 am
#1006
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Just got back from Italy where I found I had rather bad/slow data in the Florence area. Was worse than some third world countries I have roamed in.
Apr 27, 2019, 11:30 am
#1007
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
There is a 1/2 price sale on the Pixel 3's. Requires activation. April 22 only.
Jun 20, 2019, 3:10 am
#1010
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Vigur island Iceland, 5 bars LTE. 6 mbs down, oddly enough through a server in Wichita Kansas
Last edited by boerne; Jun 20, 2019 at 3:55 am Reason: Added data
Jun 20, 2019, 7:43 am
#1011
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: 52,570
Recently traveled to Ireland (rural, northwest), Madrid, and Lisbon. Had pretty decent data speeds almost everywhere. Didn't measure it, but was always able to get maps and run Google's AR walking directions.
Upon return from the trip, we switched from Google Fi to a regular T-Mobile 4-line plan. My international non-business travel needs for the next six months are lower, and it just wasn't worth paying such a high premium for Fi. One thing I have immediately noticed is that my data speeds and call quality are higher at home on T-Mo than they were on Fi, even though I'm pretty sure Fi was running over the same network (?). For a domestic unlimited plan, T-Mobile seems like the best option going, as all of the other resellers and Sprint have lots of caveats, extra fees, really low throttles, or other "gotchas". And T-Mo gave us one kinda-free-ish iPhone XR in exchange for an old Sprint iPhone 6s that I never could get them to unlock anyway.
Fi was great for the kinda-free-ish Pixel 3's in the Black Friday deal, but is too expensive for regular U.S. use even if you're reasonably diligent about finding Wifi throughout the day. Definitely a good thing to have during periods of extensive travel.
Upon return from the trip, we switched from Google Fi to a regular T-Mobile 4-line plan. My international non-business travel needs for the next six months are lower, and it just wasn't worth paying such a high premium for Fi. One thing I have immediately noticed is that my data speeds and call quality are higher at home on T-Mo than they were on Fi, even though I'm pretty sure Fi was running over the same network (?). For a domestic unlimited plan, T-Mobile seems like the best option going, as all of the other resellers and Sprint have lots of caveats, extra fees, really low throttles, or other "gotchas". And T-Mo gave us one kinda-free-ish iPhone XR in exchange for an old Sprint iPhone 6s that I never could get them to unlock anyway.
Fi was great for the kinda-free-ish Pixel 3's in the Black Friday deal, but is too expensive for regular U.S. use even if you're reasonably diligent about finding Wifi throughout the day. Definitely a good thing to have during periods of extensive travel.
Jun 20, 2019, 8:49 am
#1012
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
If you're using a non-Fi phone then it'll use T-mobile only.
Jun 20, 2019, 10:30 am
#1013
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: 52,570
Bit ironic that the very devices so closely associated with and designed in part for Fi are directed to run on an inferior network, likely performing worse than other devices.
Jun 20, 2019, 11:20 am
#1015
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,923
There are codes you can "dial" to force a network switch, and associated helper apps (eg Signal Spy, FiSwitch).
Jun 20, 2019, 2:33 pm
#1016
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
Recently traveled to Ireland (rural, northwest), Madrid, and Lisbon. Had pretty decent data speeds almost everywhere. Didn't measure it, but was always able to get maps and run Google's AR walking directions.
Upon return from the trip, we switched from Google Fi to a regular T-Mobile 4-line plan. My international non-business travel needs for the next six months are lower, and it just wasn't worth paying such a high premium for Fi. One thing I have immediately noticed is that my data speeds and call quality are higher at home on T-Mo than they were on Fi, even though I'm pretty sure Fi was running over the same network (?). For a domestic unlimited plan, T-Mobile seems like the best option going, as all of the other resellers and Sprint have lots of caveats, extra fees, really low throttles, or other "gotchas". And T-Mo gave us one kinda-free-ish iPhone XR in exchange for an old Sprint iPhone 6s that I never could get them to unlock anyway.
Fi was great for the kinda-free-ish Pixel 3's in the Black Friday deal, but is too expensive for regular U.S. use even if you're reasonably diligent about finding Wifi throughout the day. Definitely a good thing to have during periods of extensive travel.
Upon return from the trip, we switched from Google Fi to a regular T-Mobile 4-line plan. My international non-business travel needs for the next six months are lower, and it just wasn't worth paying such a high premium for Fi. One thing I have immediately noticed is that my data speeds and call quality are higher at home on T-Mo than they were on Fi, even though I'm pretty sure Fi was running over the same network (?). For a domestic unlimited plan, T-Mobile seems like the best option going, as all of the other resellers and Sprint have lots of caveats, extra fees, really low throttles, or other "gotchas". And T-Mo gave us one kinda-free-ish iPhone XR in exchange for an old Sprint iPhone 6s that I never could get them to unlock anyway.
Fi was great for the kinda-free-ish Pixel 3's in the Black Friday deal, but is too expensive for regular U.S. use even if you're reasonably diligent about finding Wifi throughout the day. Definitely a good thing to have during periods of extensive travel.
Jun 21, 2019, 12:44 am
#1017
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Akureyri Iceland 5 bars LTE 11 down, no VPN still routes through Wichita
2 people on our plan, $51 last month. WiFi switching is pretty seamless
2 people on our plan, $51 last month. WiFi switching is pretty seamless
Jun 21, 2019, 6:54 am
#1018
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
surprise, i tried to sign up for venmo which required SMS authentication... venmo refused my standalone googlevoice number, but also my google fi number!
i know there exists some sort of database or tag on certain numbers, because while GV works most of the time, certain 2FA authentication services rejects GV (or the message does not go through). im surprised for it to happen with the FI number.
i know there exists some sort of database or tag on certain numbers, because while GV works most of the time, certain 2FA authentication services rejects GV (or the message does not go through). im surprised for it to happen with the FI number.
Jun 21, 2019, 7:39 am
#1019
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: 52,570
If you don't use a lot of data domestically, Fi is not that bad. I use about 1GB a month.. so my bill is like $30. I also have Tmobile One Plus for my family... I think on average is about $30 per line. So I kept my Fi line.. and a bunch of free data SIMs. When we travel internationally, I can put data sims on all the their iPhones. And now everyone got fast LTE internet for total of $60 max per month. The data sims are also great when friends came visit from oversea. Here is a sim.. data on me.. LOL.
Is a data-only eSIM a thing? I have Pixel 3's that now have a physical T-Mobile SIM in them. But if I wanted to, could I sign up for data-only via Fi just for my international trips? T-Mobile includes free 2G data almost everywhere in the world, but even their buy-up speeds aren't that great. I'd pay $10/gig to get LTE as long as I can turn it on and off when I want.
Jun 21, 2019, 12:34 pm
#1020
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
AIS Sim2Fly has an international roaming eSIM geared towards data roaming. 3HK does, too, and allows you to consume data usage by day non-consecutively. Both seem to have good data offerings in Asia.
Fi has a more coverage but there isn't a data only e-sim. Fi service requires a voice + sms line which does support eSIM so you could just use that. Min monthly cost is about $22 depending on taxes and fees without data use.
Fi has a more coverage but there isn't a data only e-sim. Fi service requires a voice + sms line which does support eSIM so you could just use that. Min monthly cost is about $22 depending on taxes and fees without data use.