MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – With Sprint and T-Mobile as its partners, Google today announced the launch of Project Fi, a new program that will help consumers (at least ones with Nexus 6 handsets) get and stay online like never before.
In a blog post, Google vice-president of communications products Nick Fox said the company has “developed new technology that gives you better coverage by intelligently connecting you to the fastest available network at your location whether it's Wi-Fi or one of our two partner LTE networks.
“Project Fi automatically connects you to more than a million free, open Wi-Fi hotspots we've verified as fast and reliable. Once you're connected, we help secure your data through encryption. When you're not on Wi-Fi, we move you between whichever of our partner networks is delivering the fastest speed, so you get 4G LTE in more places.”
Project Fi customers will even be able to make calls on Wi-Fi, leave their hotspot and not drop the call as the connection moves to LTE. Check the map for coverage areas (dark green is 4G LTE)
As for the rates, there is one plan at one price. “For $20 a month you get all the basics (talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage in 120+ countries), and then it's a flat $10 per GB for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. 1GB is $10/month, 2GB is $20/month, 3GB is $30/month, and so on. Since it's hard to predict your data usage, you'll get credit for the full value of your unused data. Let's say you go with 3GB for $30 and only use 1.4GB one month. You'll get $16 back, so you only pay for what you use,” wrote Fox.
Right now, users have to be invited and it’s only for American wireless customers.
