Does anyone use Google Fi currently and can speak to the quality of the service? How does it perform while traveling, does it become spotty if you leave a major metro area, do you experience dropped calls, any data throttling?
The plans are a bit expensive and I don't like how when you run out of unlimted data it becomes unusabley throttled for even basic browsing.
This new plan is a complete disappointment because I was often torn between the $20 + $10/GB (too expensive per GB IMO) and the $70 for 22GB 'unlimited'. Now they offer $60 for 22GB but no tethering. I'd rather have the old unlimited still and I was tired of guessing which months I'd have little data use so I could switch to a cheaper plan. Many times I guessed wrong and paid $80. Other months I picked unlimited and used only 1.5GB.
I like Fi. I like how easy it is to manage via the app. Changing plans is easy, e-sim is great. I think i'm switching to visible or mint though after a few years of Fi. $10/GB doesn't make sense and $70 unlimited is just a bit too uncompetitive despite Fi being a nice provider otherwise.
T-Mobile's network has gotten quite good, but there will be areas where Verizon or AT&T are better (and there are areas where T-Mobile is better). T-Mobile is still integrating the Sprint network, but when they're done in around 12-18 months they'll have significantly more towers than competitors. They likely will still be working on expanding into some more rural areas, but within their footprint they should be very strong. T-Mobile will also have more spectrum which means more reliable service since there's more capacity.
Google Fi is upfront about data throttling. At 22GB, you'll drop down to 256kbps. The plan is really a 22GB plan that doesn't have overage charges.
I feel like I'm always the one with service in a group when we're out in the boonies, though Verizon folks definitely have their moments.
Dropped calls happen sometimes, I guess, I wouldn't say it's worse than cell service in general. One big annoyance is that my phone defaults to calling over wifi, so leaving home after starting a call basically requires hanging up and recalling. I think you can turn this off.
Data always seems fast, but I never hit their billing cap.
MMS fails silently sometimes. This includes group texts.
That being said I ended up switching off of it to visible to save money (I hardly use data, don’t care that’s it’s much slower). I will say, the extrication was fucking terrible. They kept charging me after canceling, I would complain, chat was slow awful and unresponsive. They kept fucking up for months, and would authorize new charges when trying to fix it. I started issuing charge backs instead. It’s resolved now but damn, keep that in mind, you’re still dealing with Google support (or lack thereof)
The biggest pain was not being able to modify my account in any way without being in the US.
However I'm looking to leave because Google's terrible handling of Hangouts which many used for SMS messaging. Hangouts also allowed phones calls on computers, a feature I will miss.
No idea on other parts, I doesn't make much phone calls.
So expect your coverage to be of those.
as expected, slight delay when you switch countries (and thus carriers). it also gets a little confused at the borders of Switzerland/Germany.