ROW2Aisle

You could use the Project Fi SIM on an unlocked iPhone (I do) if the SIM has already been activated on a Project Fi approved unassigned phone. On an iPhone you don't get the automatic switch between CDMA (Sprint) and GSM (T-Mobile) depending upon which signal is stronger. I have two Project Fi numbers, each activated on separate Google phones, and then the SIM of one of the phones is used in the unlocked iPhone as my SO's primary phone as she prefers the iPhone to the Nexus 6P and prefers FaceTime over other similar apps.

You can also get any number of free Data Only SIMs to use in tablets and other devices that accept SIMs. The Data Only SIM shares the data of the primary number it is connected to.

Pookynubbers

ive read up on using it in an iPhone. I think I would actually do that activating it on an approved device first. On the data only sim - is that the same plan cost as voice/data plans on Fi?

Yoshi212

The Data Only sim has no additional "line" charge. It feeds off the same Data the fi Phone uses at the $10/GB rate. For example someone had 1 phone that used 0.65 GB during a billing cycle and one tablet with the data only sim that used another 1.1 GB it would be $20+ $10/GB (1.75) = $40 with $2.50 credited to the following billing cycle for the unused portion of the 2 GBs of purchased data.

czhang

Had a trip to HK, Shenzhen/Guangzhou, and Macau where I would only be in each place a day or two. I had just upgraded my previous phone to a Pixel 2 and decided to try out Fi during the trip with a new number, while keeping my AT&T SIM in the phone with my regular number.

International coverage during the trip was great - no need to get a local SIM in 3 different countries. In HK and Macau roaming coverage was through Three with mostly HSPA+ signal, and in the mainland through China Unicom with LTE signal. Certainly more cost-effective than AT&T's $10/day pass to use your domestic plan abroad, or their roaming packages for $60/300MB.

Within the US I've found the coverage to be OK but not as great as AT&T. At ORD the phone decided that roaming on Verizon 3G (via the US Cellular network) was the best option... Cost-wise, if you are not open to using Fi as your main carrier YMMV depending on how often you roam and how much data you need while abroad. As other posters have mentioned, theoretically you can pause service up to 3 months at a time so would be equivalent to paying $80/year for having the option to use Fi.

All things considered, I am seriously considering making the switch permanently and moving my number over from AT&T.

eeflyer

On a recent trip to Japan and South Korea, Fi worked well. In SK, it switched between the local carriers but had consistent speed/coverage. However in Japan, some devices defaulted to Docomo while others preferred Softbank. The devices on Softbank had better performance while the ones on the former seemed to stutter. Forcing the devices to Softbank resolved the issues.

BigFlyer

Two tings to add.

You can suspend the FI service for months at a time and pay nothing.

With the Pixel 2, you can use Fi with an esim - you essentially download a virtual SIM to the phone. You can put a real SIM in the SIM slot, and swith back and forth in settings.

lhrsfo

I switched to a Pixel 2 to take advantage of Fi, coming from an iPhone. I'm still getting used to Android but I have to say I'm impressed so far. There are niggles but these are mostly just muscle memory trying to do things the iPhone way rather than the Android way.

Pookynubbers

So for the data only SIM - does that mean I can just use that SIM while I'm traveling - meaning I don't need a reoccuring monthly charge?

Yoshi212

The Data Only Sim is only useable when the primary service is active.

bocastephen

The concept looks really attractive especially if I can trick it into working on my factory unlocked Iphone 7+ - but at $10/GB that is really pricey! Right now I pay $40/mo for ATT Prepaid including 6GB in the US/Canada/Mexico and unlimited calls/texts in/to/between the US/Canada/Mexico. While I would love to keep one SIM to use when in Japan and Taiwan, I'm not going to pay an extra $30 a month for the convenience.

Pookynubbers

LordHamster

I thought it was pricy also, till I looked at my actual data usage.

95% of my domestic life is spent on wifi. On average I use less than 2GB domestic. Internationally is where I really need full speed LTE, and there $10/GB is actually not a bad deal at all.

s0ssos

It is actually quite pricey in many places in Asia. For Taiwan, you can get a super-expensive unlimited high-speed (faster than most US home internet connections) for $30 for a month (tourist sim). In Japan I just used a wifi hotspot (cause data-only has no benefit over that). And in other parts of Asia obviously it would be even cheaper.

mike_la_jolla

I'd love to see your list of issues if you have time. Maybe a different thread? I'm a computer engineer by training and we as a group tend towards Android rather than the caged garden (prison) that is iOS. I'm curious what issues you have had.

boerne

I am platform agnostic, but tend toward android. I have a work paid phone on Sprint and a personal Moto X4 on project Fi. The Moto X4 has been really great for international travel and "affordable" as an option. Before the X4 was released I was on a Nexus 6. So in my travels to Russia, several northern european countries including Iceland, Spain, and Portugal, Fi data was MUCH better than T mobile (ipad mini data sim), or my Sprint phone LG V20 with "international" data. To quote Apple, it just works. The only glitch I had was in Copenhagen. I have done the "run around and buy a local sim" thing, and I am glad I am past that. I will ultimately give up the Sprint work phone and probably the T mo, but unless something dramatic happens, I will keep the Fi. And I got a great number that I dont want to give up.