iPhone support added to Google Fi wireless internet access program

Google has expanded the range of smartphones that can use the low-cost carrier Google Fi, formerly known as Project Fi, with the service opening itself up for use on iPhones for the first time, albeit with support offered in "beta."

As part of the rebranding effort, Google Fi now includes support for a wide variety of smartphones from a number of manufacturers, rather than the limited range previously offered. As part of this, the iPhone is also formally supported by the Google-operated MVNO for the first time.

While previously it was possible to get an iPhone onto Google Fi by changing various data settings after installing the SIM, as well as the ability to use a data-only SIM in an iPad, Google's change now specifically allows newer iPhones to work straight away. Notably the device checker advises the iPhone 5S and newer models will work with the service, including the iPhone SE, but the iPhone 5C and older devices are incompatible.

Google warns Fi for iOS is in beta, meaning that not every feature of the service will be available from the outset. While it will work with iMessage straight away, some MMS settings need to be adjusted for it to work properly with non-iPhones.

Visual Voicemail will not work, however traditional voicemail will, as well as Google Fi's text message transcripts. Features including 4G LTE connectivity and no roaming fees in more than 170 countries are still offered, but international tethering is not yet supported on iOS.

There is also a new Google Fi iOS app, which is used to activate the service, check usage and bills, and to manage the account and other settings.

Google Fi costs $20 per month for unlimited talk and text, with each extra line priced at $15 apiece. Data is provided at $10 per gigabyte up until 6 gigabytes in a month, with any extra data usage on top provided at no cost due to the carrier's Bill Protection cap.

16 Comments

epicurus 29 comments · 6 Years

About 5 years ago

the prices seem great, but only if your phones are paid off and and wanna bring them, upgrading the phones and prices are the same elsewhere but can’t buy iphones through google fi

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

There’s the cost of the service, but then data is $10/GB... that seems a bit hefty.

Maybe I’ll wait for a phone that can take advantage of Elon Musk’s SpaceX run Starlink satellite service once it goes online. Once it becomes available, expect it to be a major disruptive force in cell services and cable/satellite TV with it’s extremely low-latency, high-bandwidth service.

tedp88 20 comments · 7 Years

SpamSandwich said:

There’s the cost of the service, but then data is $10/GB... that seems a bit hefty.

up to 6GB only. You get data after that but the pricing is capped at $60.

So 2 lines w/ "unlimited" data - runs you $95 mo. That's pretty competitive. If they threw in Google services like Music or YouTube or Play credits, it would probably get more people.

No visual voicemail and not auto switching to another carrier (it will be TMO only) is the drawback for iOS folks.

****
NM - I was wrong about this. The data cap scales based on # of lines. https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6201699/?hl=en&authuser=2

2 lines = 10GB billing cap. $135 mo.

seanismorris 1624 comments · 8 Years

FYI: After 15GB they throttle data.

For me, the deal breaker was no IPad LTE support...

zimmie 651 comments · 9 Years

SpamSandwich said:

... satellite service ... with it’s extremely low-latency, high-bandwidth service.

I have a great deal on a bridge which I think might interest you.

Starlink as it is currently planned has two constellations arranged like concentric shells. The low-altitude constellation is planned to be at 210 miles, so the absolute minimum round-trip distance you will ever see is 840 miles (210 up, 210 down, then the reply has 210 up, 210 down). The high-altitude constellation is going to be at 750 miles. If you have to go through a high-altitude relay, your minimum round-trip distance now goes to 3000 miles. Plus, you'll have to contend for timeslots with every other user seen by the satellite serving you, since radio waves are a shared medium. This will not be low-latency.