Google Fi is now “Google Fi,” and it works with most phones, including the iPhone. The new name is part of a larger rebranding effort by Google that includes a new logo and website. Google Fi is a wireless service that offers affordable rates for people who want to use their own phone rather than using one of Google’s own devices. The service started as Project Fi in 2014, and it was acquired by Google in 2016. The new name reflects the fact that Google Fi now works with most phones, not just Android or iPhone devices. The service now has apps for both Android and iOS devices, as well as a web app. You can also use the service on computers using Chrome or Firefox browsers. The main difference between Google Fi and other wireless services is that you don’t have to sign up for a contract or pay an annual fee like you do with other providers. Instead, you pay for each month of service that you use. There are no contracts required for people who want to try out the service before they decide if they want to keep it. You can cancel your account at any time without penalty. The new name also reflects the fact that Google Fi now offers more than just wireless service: It also includes data storage and cloud backup services through its Google Drive product. You can use these services to store your photos, videos, and documents online so you never have to worry about losing them if your phone crashes or gets lost. ..
It’s been a long time coming, but Google is upgrading its Project Fi cellular service with a new name, more features, and compatibility with a lot more phones. Even the iPhone is along for the ride now.
The first big change here is the name—no longer considered a project, that part of the name has been dropped and replaced with “Google,” so the service will be called Google Fi moving forward. Makes sense.
The biggest change, however, is phone compatibility. Since its inception, Fi has only been compatible with specific phones, all of which ran Android. The number of compatible phones has grown over the years but always remained very small in comparison to the number of available phones on the market. That changes today, with Fi now open to “the majority” of phones—including iPhone.
If you’re familiar with Fi, you know that it uses multiple networks and Wi-Fi as part of its plan. That raises some questions about how exactly it will work on Apple devices because they simply don’t offer the same flexibility that Android devices do when it comes to network hopping and always-on VPN. Unfortunately, right now it’s not entirely clear how this will work with the iPhone—but the service is still in beta and there are some drawbacks. Google did a good job of highlighting these potential issues on its Fi compatibility page:
That said, Google mentions in the announcement post that “a few extra steps” are required to get set up on with Fi on an iPhone, but there’s a companion app to help with that. To get the full Fi experience, you’ll still need a Fi-specific phone (which can be purchased directly through Fi). Without having used the service on a non-Fi phone to confirm, that suggests Fi won’t be all that different from other MVNO providers like Cricket Wireless or Metro.
Finally, Google is giving away some goodies to anyone who buys a phone from Fi (with service). You can get back all the money you spend on a new phone—dollar for dollar—in travel vouchers, which you can use for flights, Airbnb locations, or hotels. If you don’t buy a new phone and buy a Fi plan for your current handset, you’ll get $200 of Fi service credit if you sign up today. That’s pretty solid.
via Google
