Comment by simfree | Hacker News Reader

Comment by simfree | Hacker News Reader

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Being dependent on Google as a partner especially on a platform they are actively disinvesting from is a very risky idea. There is no domestic roaming, no network diversity, and their agreement with T-Mobile is worse than most of the other MVNOs.

27Mbps isn't even broadband, when the native carrier's network can deliver 400Mbps and their resellers are hovering around 200Mbps to 400Mbps yet a Pixel 8 on Fi is stuck with stuttery, slow data due to having a very low QCI on the LTE/5G network, only Google is to blame.

Fi's international roaming appears to be a cut down version of T-Mobile's roaming agreements, and they have been more aggressive in bricking lines roaming internationally as of late: https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleFi/comments/1e2juxu/internati...

Allen and Two Temps (deathstar) is no joy to work with, but I'd hesitate to jump in with what is clearly a legacy offering by Google. The pricing is not good, they are not adding new features to the platform, and it is not a corporate priority.

You are much better off using a vendor that is actively and solely focused on delivering the best wireless experience. Don't accept some companies forgotten overpriced afterthought as your carrier, they will happily hang up on you when a real issue arises just like they did to the redditor above.

I don't know what Allen and the Two Temps are, but what is your suggestion exactly? What's a better MVNO or carrier to move to?

I've been very happy with Fi, after having used Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint. But I'm also not dead set on them.

I don't really need anything faster than 10 or 20 Mbps anyway, and the Fi app and support team are super easy to work with, which is more important to me than super fast speed or priority. It looks like the reddit person was trying to use it as a permanent international plan, which isn't really what it's for. I do like being able to seamlessly and cheaply use my same plan when traveling for a few weeks though.

If Google ever sunsets Fi, that's fine, I'll just move to another carrier then. Doesn't seem like an urgent situation to me?

But if there are any better choices for about $80 to $110/mo for two lines, I'd be all ears! T-mobile seems more expensive, but if they have significantly better speeds and international roaming at the same price, that'd be worth considering?

If I remember right though, their customer service was horrible. That was a long time ago though. I'd much prefer a slower service with good support than a faster one with automatic or outsourced support.

Take a look at US Mobile's plans, their Customer Sevucd is responsive and you will pay significantly less for two unlimited lines and their roaming won't randomly brick on ya like Fi has been doing to their customer.

Deathstar is AT&T fyi

Thanks for the suggestion! That does look like a great value. Especially if they add AT&T roaming.

I was ready to jump ship and try them out, but looks like we gotta finish paying off a Fi phone for another year first. Too bad, but I'll try it next year then. Thanks.

Oh, you get to choose between AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, and you can jump between the three networks at whim with US Mobile.

Travelling to a remote area? Jump to AT&T. Similarly, want mmWave coverage at a stadium? Jump to T-Mobile. All without changing your cell plan!

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