Save on Data with Google’s Project Fi

© Google | Project Fi

Androids are the most popular smartphones in the world, especially in less developed areas of the world where network coverage is spotty. Wireless providers garnered an unscrupulous reputation among consumers thanks to data throttling and expensive international rates, so Google has been developing their own service called Project Fi, aiming to provide a more reliable network at a cheaper rate.

Instead of using cell towers, Project Fi operates your Android primarily on WiFi. This is preferable for most people since hotspots are pretty much ubiquitous in developed cities and are quickly being adopted in rural areas. If WiFi is unavailable, your phone will switch to either Sprint or T-Mobile’s 4G network depending on signal strength. The switch is seamless and indicated by the familiar network symbols on the top of the screen. All information is encrypted to ensure maximum privacy.

This all sounds great, but if the price isn’t right, it’s not even worth it. Thankfully, Google is providing their service at a much cheaper rate than the major carriers at just $20 a month for unlimited calls, domestic and international texting and WiFi tethering, plus $10 a month for each GB of data you use. While this might sound expensive, Project Fi is made to maximize WiFi usage, and Google will actually give you a refund for unused data. Furthermore, the data plan covers you in more than 120 countries.

The only downside at the moment is the hardware. Project Fi is restricted to a couple Android phones, the Nexus 5X and 6P. Learn more about the service and coverage at fi.google.com.