Project Fi and Google Voice

[88 FLUX]

As a Nexus 6 user and a Google Voice user, Project Fi is very tempting. Although I am already getting the simultaneous calls on multiple devices. Does anyone want to make any bold predictions as to whether Project Fi is the future of the Google Voice initiative? "Google Voice v2.0"? Or do you think we'll see the two remain separate in the long run?

EDIT: Before anyone chimes in and reminds me of the many other Project Fi benefits that I didn't mention such as WiFi hand-off, multi-carrier use (a HUGE deal), etc., I simply didn't mention them to focus on the Google Voice comparison.

 

[Dubbayoo]

Since I have a Moto X and a Nexus 6 Verizon doesn't recognize anyway I'd be tempted to put the X back on Verizon and try FI with the Nexus....especially if I could just swap the sim card to go back.

 

[ottscay]

I got a Nexus 6 last week and I'm already on prepaid (T-mo) so I put in for an invite. Guess we'll see!

 

[cdd543]

As a Nexus 6 user and a Google Voice user, Project Fi is very tempting. Although I am already getting the simultaneous calls on multiple devices. Does anyone want to make any bold predictions as to whether Project Fi is the future of the Google Voice initiative? "Google Voice v2.0"? Or do you think we'll see the two remain separate in the long run?

EDIT: Before anyone chimes in and reminds me of the many other Project Fi benefits that I didn't mention such as WiFi hand-off, multi-carrier use (a HUGE deal), etc., I simply didn't mention them to focus on the Google Voice comparison.

Yeah I wondered the same thing--as someone who has ported my mobile in and out of google voice a couple times--I'm somewhat leary. Is customer service going to be a web forum--automated port process like GV had....many questions.

 

[88 FLUX]

Yeah I wondered the same thing--as someone who has ported my mobile in and out of google voice a couple times--I'm somewhat leary. Is customer service going to be a web forum--automated port process like GV had....many questions.

True. Although I've never had a need to reach customer service for them yet and my Google Apps account includes phone support.

Another thing I just thought of. I wonder if Fi will support group messaging through MMS? It's the one last major holdup over on Google Voice but if the two services are going to function similarly in regards to Hangouts integration, I wonder if this means we'll get group messaging on Google Voice soon.

 

[Seryozha]

Another thing I just thought of. I wonder if Fi will support group messaging through MMS? It's the one last major holdup over on Google Voice but if the two services are going to function similarly in regards to Hangouts integration, I wonder if this means we'll get group messaging on Google Voice soon.

The FYI says it would provide support for Group MMS.
https://fi.google.com/about/faq/#talk-and-text-1

 

[skeelo15]

It sounds like they'll have real people answering the phones for customer service. Here's a quote from their site:

"If you need help, our support team is in the US and available all day, every day. Give us a call, and don't be surprised when you connect right away to a Fi Expert without pressing 0."

It's like they are taking a Ting and Republic Wireless approach to billing and customer service.

 

[LateralOctober]

So.. Since the service is also based on wifi hotspots, and I can't find this anywhere on their site, does wifi usage also go against your data cap? I would hope not, but it's not mentioned that I can find and that worries me.

 

[Crashdamage]

So.. Since the service is also based on wifi hotspots, and I can't find this anywhere on their site, does wifi usage also go against your data cap? I would hope not, but it's not mentioned that I can find and that worries me.

Since Google is calling Fi unlimited calling and texting I don't see how it could count against the data. Wouldn't make any sense. WiFi never counts as mobile data anyway, 'cause it's not.

Android since v1.0. Linux user since 2001.

 

[macman68]

Their FAQ states "you are not charged for the data you use when connected to open or home Wi-Fi. We only charge $10 per GB for the cellular data you use". To me that implies that only the cellular data is subject to any usage charge, and thus, any usage cap.

 

[LateralOctober]

Their FAQ states "you are not charged for the data you use when connected to open or home Wi-Fi. We only charge $10 per GB for the cellular data you use". To me that implies that only the cellular data is subject to any usage charge, and thus, any usage cap.

I hadn't seen that in the faqs. Thanks for pointing it out!

 

[BargainingJew]

The FYI says it would provide support for Group MMS.
https://fi.google.com/about/faq/#talk-and-text-1

No it doesn't. It says group texting.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[88 FLUX]

No it doesn't. It says group texting.

Posted via the Android Central App

Group texting is performed using the MMS protocol.

 

[Zendroid1]

So no calls will ever be charged data? I'm a bit behind the curve on understanding all this but will calls be made using the traditional way? Open the dialer and make a call? Or will I have to go into Google Voice / hangouts and make calls? Then will I be charged any data ever for making calls if they have to be done in voice / hangouts?

 

[Crashdamage]

Calls will have nothing to do with your data. It's unlimited calling just like many plans offer now. International texts are free, international calls are cheap.

Make a call just like you do now. Google Voice and Hangouts are not necessary.

However, there's an opt-in feature that lets you use Fi with any device that supports Google Hangouts to make calls and send texts, including Android phones, tablets, iOS devices such as iPhones, iPads, Chromebooks, Windows or Mac computers.

Android since v1.0. Linux user since 2001.

 

[boulderskier]

I am wondering the same thing. It appears that the only featured added to Google Voice is international texting. Otherwise the features of the system appear identical. The way it uses Hangouts also makes think the future of Google Voice lies within Project Fi.

Hopefully we will learn more in the near future - possibly when some Google Voice users start using Project Fi.

 

[88 FLUX]

Google posted a video tutorial regarding using Project Fi to talk and text on multiple devices. Those of you who are fellow Google Voice users may notice that the setup and process are identical to the current Google Voice methods. Including the blue SMS icon in Hangouts. I would like to think that this is a good sign for us Google Voice users who were worried about the project getting shut down eventually.

https://youtu.be/EfP4Xhu0r4g

 

[worldspy99]

I put in an invite. If this thing works as advertised my cell phone bill would go down - 3 lines on TMO with 1GB data each. Also I would love to dump Vonage as well and save some money there as well.

 

[Rukbat]

Group texting is performed using the MMS protocol.

It can be. It can also use individual texts to each member of the group. Many SMS apps let you select which way to handle group texts.

As far as Fi and GV, one is a way to connect, the other is something you use when connected. Will using plastic water pipe cause your water to be Pepsi? That's about the relationship - how you deliver something versus what you're delivering.

 

[88 FLUX]

It can be. It can also use individual texts to each member of the group. Many SMS apps let you select which way to handle group texts.

As far as Fi and GV, one is a way to connect, the other is something you use when connected. Will using plastic water pipe cause your water to be Pepsi? That's about the relationship - how you deliver something versus what you're delivering.

I gotta disagree with you. When choosing to use individual texts to each member, it sends an individual SMS to each person and is no longer a group message. The SMS protocol only supports a single destination. So when a recipient gets an SMS, they have no way of knowing what other recipients got that same message. That breaks the group aspect of group messaging. A recipient replying to that message will only have their message sent to the original sender, not the group. In order to utilize true group messaging (as in a threaded chat with multiple recipients getting every message), MMS must be used because the headers can maintain multiple recipients. It is then up to the clients (phones and their associated messaging apps) to decipher which chat the message belongs in on the device based on those recipients. That's the one thing still missing from Google Voice.

I also have to disagree with you on your second point. Both Fi and GV are ways to connect as well as something you use when connected. Fi itself is not a carrier. It's an MVNO using existing carriers as its backbone. In this case, multiple carriers which happens to be rather revolutionary. The method of connecting is the same for both: Existing mobile carriers. Fi just happens to have a tighter integration since the phone number is used directly while GV's is hosted and calls convert into it in the cloud. If Google had bought/owned their own spectrum, your comparison would be valid. But in this case, both Fi and GV are the same underlying concept. One just has a much closer connection with the backbone than the other.