f066efee   
   XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, comp.mobile.android   
   From: elfinarc6@gmail.com   
      
   Percival P. Cassidy  wrote:   
   > On 09/18/2016 09:42 PM, I wrote:   
   >   
   >>>> Here, for the record, is my T-Mobile's current data charges for my plan:   
   >>>> TABLET:   
   >>>> - $0 for 200MB/month   
   >>>> - $10 for 2GB/month   
   >>>> - $20 for 6GB/month   
   >>>> PHONE:   
   >>>> - $100 for 4 phones unlim talk/text & 2.5GB/month per phone   
   >>>> (They gave me a "special promo" from 9/22 to 2/19 of 4GB/month per   
   >>>> phone)   
   >>>> - $15 for 6GB/month   
   >>>> - $30 for 10GB/month   
   >>>> - $45 for unlimited data   
   >>>   
   >>> I forgot that you can add and cancel the T-Mobile data plans at any time,   
   >>> so, effectively, you can use them whenever you think you'll *need* data.   
   >>>   
   >>> So that makes T-Mobile far *cheaper* than Google Fi for data (half the   
   >>> price).   
   >>>   
   >>> Given that, I must ask: Is there *any* compelling reason to use Google   
   >>> Fi?   
   >>   
   >> I've lost track: maybe you have an old plan that is no longer available.   
   >> What I see on the T-Mobile Web site is a limited-time offer of a $20/mo.   
   >> tablet-specific *add-on to an existing voice plan*.   
   >>   
   >> Our current two phones on the only postpaid T-Mobile plan I see on their   
   >> Web site would cost $120/mo., including far more data than I can imagine   
   >> us ever using. The cheapest prepaid family plan would cost $80/mo.,   
   >> including more than twice as much data as we are currently using. Our   
   >> Project Fi service is costing less than $60/mo. because we get   
   >> rebates/credits for the data we don't use.   
   >>   
   >> And yes, an *extra* 1GB even on some expensive Verizon plans that   
   >> already include data is less than the $10 each 1GB costs on Project Fi.   
   >> But what is the *total* cost? How much is one already paying for the   
   >> first xGB of data with Verizon before one gets those extra GB for less   
   >> than $10/mo. each? (And the last time I checked out Verizon plans, I saw   
   >> that each smart phone incurred an extra $20/mo. charge on top of the   
   >> other charges.)   
   >>   
   >> And I have already agreed that Project Fi is not advantageous for   
   >> everyone -- not even if comparing new plans rather than including old   
   >> "grandfathered" plans -- especially if you have people using a lot of   
   >> data. E.g., there is no built-in overall cap and no slow-down after xGB:   
   >> if you had a teenager using multiple GB of data, you could end up with a   
   >> huge bill. But there *may be* Project Fi group plans in the works with a   
   >> "rationing" feature.   
   >   
   > The Project Fi group plan was announced yesterday: $20/mo. for the first   
   > line, $15/mo. for each of up to five more. Still the same minimum   
   > $10/GB/mo. per line but with rebates for unused data. The plan "owner"   
   > and "managers" can cut off users who go over their data allowance.   
   >   
   > Took ten minutes or less to switch my wife from her own separate plan to   
   > our new group plan. Total $55/mo. for the two lines, but with rebates   
   > for the unused data we should end up at $45/mo. or less.   
   >   
   I love the Project Fi concept and would be on it if it supported iPhones   
   and had either Verizon or AT&T as one of the providers.  But even with   
   Android they only support a small number of Google branded phones.  Leaves   
   out Samsung and all the other Android phone providers.  Pretty much tells   
   me that Google doesn't plan on it being a huge MVNO or they think the few   
   models they have to sell will be enough.  Should be interesting to see how   
   it all jells out going forward.   
      
   --   
   Elfin   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)