Google has begun inviting people to sign up for its exciting Project Fi mobile network proposition in the United States.
The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service was announced a couple of weeks ago promising to give consumers pay-for-what-you-use data, international roaming and cheap international calling; in stark contrast to the restrictive offerings from the major providers.
Google promised to bring people on board with its Nexus 6-centric plans gradually and that appears to be starting today with the first invites arriving in inboxes. The evidence comes from Reddit user ‘idreamincode’ who received one. That particular Project Fi fancier has posted screenshots (via 9to5Google) of the straightforward sign up process.
Users must decide whether they’d like to keep their old number (including Google Voice) or choose use a new one, while also confirming there’s coverage in the area.
Customers will then be asked to pick a data amount ($10 per GB) to go alongside the $20 a month texts and talk package.
Of course users will receive credit for the data (which includes tethering) they don’t use and can roll it over into the next month. If they run out they’ll be able to buy more at the same rate.
New customers will then be able to buy a Nexus 6, if they don’t already have one, by paying up front or paying over 24 months at 0 per cent interest.
One potential stickler is for current Google Voice users seeking to port their regular phone number over. Unless signing up with your Google Voice number, the information suggests Google will immediately release it for use by others. That doesn’t seem like the biggest deal in the world, but might be a sore point for some potential customers.
Read more: What is Project Fi? How Google is planning to change the wireless industry
Google has said it’ll only be releasing a few invites at a time, so if you’re in the U.S., have registered interest and haven’t heard anything yet, try to be patient.
Google has also approved one million ‘fast and reliable’ hotspots and will automatically connect users when in range.
All-in-all Project Fi sounds like a sweet deal for U.S. mobile users seeking to shake up the status quo. It’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out over the next few months.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
