Google's Project Fi wireless service, one of the most capable phone plans around, just got a huge facelift. Gone is the Project Fi branding and in its place is a new name and new look. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to "Google Fi."
Google Fi ditches the old yellow and green color scheme in favor of a combo of Google's iconic green, blue, red, and yellow hues and now has plenty of the fancy Google Sans font everywhere you look. The website has been completely redesigned, as has the mobile app.
As for the service itself, everything looks to be mostly unchanged. The service still starts at $20/month for unlimited calls and texts and $15/month for each additional person you add to an account. Data costs $10 per each GB that you use, but once you hit 6GB (or more if you're on a family plan), Bill Protection kicks in and you aren't charged for additional data use until your next bill.
You can buy phones that are "designed for Fi" right from the Google Fi website, including the Pixel 3 + 3 XL, Pixel 2 XL, Moto G6, LG V35, LG G7, and Moto X4 with Android One. That's nothing new, but what is is the ability to finally bring over any other Android phone and iPhones. You can use the compatibility checker to see if your handset will work, but just keep in mind that phones that aren't officially sold through Google Fi won't have access to every available feature.
You'll still get access to 4G LTE speeds, unlimited calls + texts, and no roaming fees in 170+ destinations. What you won't get, unfortunately, is the ability to switch back and forth between multiple networks, automatic connections to public Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi calling, and access to Google Fi's VPN service. If you're on an iPhone, regular SMS texting requires you to update your settings in order to work and visual voicemails won't appear in the Phone app.
It's great to see Google Fi finally expanding to so many more devices, but the heap of limitations does sour the deal quite a bit.
In celebration of all of these changes, Google Fi is offering a mix of gift cards from Airbnb, Delta Air Lines, Hotels.com, and Southwest Airlines. The dollar amount you get in gift cards is exactly what you pay for your phone, so if you buy a $799 Pixel 3, you'll get $799 in gift cards. This deal is only available for today only (November 28), so you'll need to act fast.
If you've been holding off on Project Fi/Google Fi, will the new look and bring-your-own-phone support intrigue you to give it a shot? Let us know in the comments below!
