Google launches Project Fi, its combo cellular and Wi-Fi network
Google launches Project Fi, its combo cellular and Wi-Fi
network
Service will start for Nexus 6 smartphones under invitation-only
early access program
By Matt Hamblen
Computerworld | Apr 22, 2015 11:36 AM PT
Google launched its own ambitious wireless network
primarily in the U.S. on Wednesday in partnership with Sprint and T-Mobile.
Calling it Project Fi, Google promised seamless wireless
connections, initially for Nexus 6 smartphone users, whether they are within
more than 1 million free and open Wi-Fi hotspots or within an LTE cellular
network operated by Sprint or T-Mobile.
In a blog, Google asked customers to sign up online to
join an Early Access Program for the service. The service will initially be
available on the Nexus 6 smartphone that Google builds with Motorola. Potential
customers must request an invitation from Google on a separate site to get
started.
Pricing was announced at $20 a month for talk, text,
Wi-Fi tethering and international coverage in 120 counties, plus a flat $10 per
gigabyte for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. One unusual feature is
that Google will give users credit for unused data in any given month.
Additional details were posted online.
In the blog, Nick Fox, vice president of Google
communications products, said Google has developed new technology that gives
users "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." Data will be secure through encryption once a
connection is made, he said.
In addition to allowing users to freely move from Wi-Fi
to cellular, Google said a user's phone number will live in the cloud so users
can talk or text with that number on "just about any phone, tablet or
laptop."
Fox said there are advantages to Google's involvement in
the network as well as with the device and its software. "By designing
across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways
for people to connect and communicate."
T-Mobile CEO John Legere blogged that Project Fi “is
going to make people think differently about wireless -- and I love that.”
Sprint issued a statement saying it was "proud to
enable Google's entry into the wireless industry as a service provider,"
adding that Sprint has empowered more than 100 successful MVNO's (Mobile
Virtual Network Operator) in the U.S.
Many analysts have questioned how Google will make it as
an MVNO, since some large projects have failed in the past decade. However,
others believe Google will have greater control over the entire mobile
experience for customers, which will only improve the company's ability to sell
search and advertising services.
In January, when Google's interest in a wireless service
first surfaced, MachNation analyst Dima Tokar argued that Google won't be a traditional
MVNO and will use its network to start offering Google-branded Internet of
Things services for homes and cars "to link all aspects of consumers'
lives."
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