WHY WE CHOOSE NEXUS PHONES AND GOOGLE FI FOR OUR TRIP

Before we left town Bud and I changed our cell phone carrier (Verizon) and began using our phone services through Google. We switched to Nexus phones and the Project Fi carrier because of the great international plan that they provide. We have been using our phones just as we use them at home. The following is my attempt to explain the service and how it works and why we like it………

Project Fi is Google doing their own cellular service.

The benefits are that you get exactly what you pay for. You pay in advance for what you anticipate that you will use. I paid the $20 base amount (unlimited calls and texts) and then added 6 gbs of data that equals $60 ($10 a gb). So every month I have estimated I will have a $80 cell phone bill for unlimited texts and calls and 6 gb of data. If I go under that amount Google refunds that amount to my account. If I go over my estimate, then I am charged the price of the amount used. They charge me the actual price – no rounding up or down. If I use 5.5gb then I am charged $55. If I use 7.4gb then I am charged $74. There are no penalty prices or inflated prices. There are no unused data left over each month.

The other reason I like Project Fi so much is that it works great internationally. As long as you are in one of the 120+ supported countries then you pay the same for your data as you are charged at home. International phone calls are only .20 a minute. Calling internationally over wifi is free. So far – I have not seen any other charges – just my normal charges as if I was back home. Another good thing is that you can broadcast your own wifi hotspot to connect your computer (or other devices) and there is no extra charge other than the data you use at your normal price.

The obstacles are that you only have 3 phones to choose from – Nexus 6p, Nexus 6 and Nexus 5x. You also have to buy these phones outright or through Google. I bought Bud’s on Ebay – brand new for $350 (Nexus 6) and I bought my phone through Google for $650 (Nexus 6P). Mine was much more because I bought the newest version just as it came out. Google does offer financing for their phones. The downside is you pay for your phone upfront.  The upside is you have no contract and the phone is unlocked so if you choose to go to another carrier at any time with no penalty and there is no problem taking your phone with you.

Project Fi leases towers from T-mobile and Sprint (just like a MVOP). We have had good luck with staying connected. However, if we don’t have a data connection we can always find a wifi spot and connect there.

We are now 3 weeks into our trip (Brazil) and all seems to be going great with our phone use and charges. I have been using my phone probably more than I did at home. We use google maps daily to get us around. I am texting my family daily and calling every few days. I will update you if I find out differently. In the mean time I am attaching some links that I think you may find useful about Project Fi.

Beth

http://www.cnet.com/news/is-googles-project-fi-right-for-me/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCSArCoGQPY

https://fi.google.com/about/experience/