Recently, there were few posts about data plan not working outside US. I am going to travel internationally for 3 weeks. I have flexible plan and is with google fi for 2+ years now. Do I have to tell support about my international trip or are there any steps I should take so I get coverage while traveling.
In Fi app, service outside US is set to true.
PSA - Google FI doesn’t allow International Roaming unless a Unlimited Plan has been active for a undetermined period in the USA.
Does Flexible plan include first gig?
Is Fi trying to push all flexible plan users to the unlimited plans?
International Data with Flex Plan
No. The flex plan ($20 + $10/gb data) will charge you $10/gb of data internationally, which is the same if you use the $10/gb of data domestically.
More on reddit.comDoes Google Fi Wireless work with an iPhone?
While you can use just about any phone with Google Fi, iPhones are tricky. Google Fi is optimized for Google Pixel phones and select other Android models certified as "Designed for Fi," meaning that they'll have certain benefits that non-"Designed for Fi" phones will not.
This is significant in terms of coverage, as "Designed for Fi" phones will have access to the full range of Google Fi's network sources, including T-Mobile cell towers, US Cellular towers, and a range of hotspots, but iPhones and non-"Designed for Fi" phones will be restricted to just T-Mobile coverage.
Is Google Fi Wireless actually unlimited?
"Unlimited" data is mostly just a reference to a fixed price per month for access to a certain amount of high-speed data. With each of the two unlimited data plans offered by Google Fi, you can use high-speed data up to a certain data cap before your data speeds will slow down due to deprioritization.
This doesn't affect how much data you can use, it just affects the speed. With the Simply Unlimited plan, your data speeds will be capped after you use 35GB of high-speed data, and with the Unlimited Plus plan your data speeds will be capped after 50GB.
What networks does Google Fi Wireless use?
Google Fi Wireless uses T-Mobile's network to provide its base coverage and an extended "network of networks" that includes US Cellular to provide further coverage for certain phones.
If your phone is compatible, it will switch between network providers automatically depending on which service will provide the best coverage in your area. This is only available for phones "Designed for Fi," however, which includes Google Pixel phones as well as many Android models.
Videos
Like the title said. Activated 2 Unlimited Plan lines today in the USA (worked fine locally) and got on a plane to South America. Upon arrival, cannot connect to any network. Google FI support clarifies via chat this is intentional as I have not been an active customer in the USA for a long enough period to be entitled to the full product.
If anyone from the Google FI team reads this and wishes to remind me that this is entirely within your T&C I would recommend you make this clear to customers signing up. Perhaps you can say “Roaming in 200 countries - but not in the first 3 months”.
Support states per the FI policy it will not clarify how long the USA service needs to be active before global data is available - They literally told me to reach out to them prior to my next international trip the day before I leave to ask if their algorithm magically approved me for using their full product.
Edit: leaving this post up. tried to clarify to potential folks interested in signing up for this service to understand this unique product with global roaming to understand this will not be available to you for the first few months. Buyer beware. If you plan any travel within the first few months of signing up for Google Fi, reach out to their support prior to departure to ask if it will work when you arrive at your destination.
If I get the $20 plan for myself and use any data at all will it add $10 for a gig? Or is it after I use a gig?