Sep 3, 2017, 5:37 am
Last edit by: Zorak
Which countries are supported?
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
Not listed, *did* have service
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
- Ukraine (Aug 2018) - no service, all providers listed as "forbidden". Post #660
- Alaska (Jul 2018) -- had voice service, but inconsistent/spotty data (try forcing Sprint)
- Peru (Sep 2016) post 341, 360
- Grand Cayman Island (Jan 2018) post 547
Not listed, *did* have service
Belize (Jan 2018) post 547Belize now appears on the "supported" international list
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
Google Fi: Anyone care to post their experience?
Jul 16, 2024 | 12:52 pm
#1546
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,099
The main "workaround" is mostly just filling in the APN data during setup. It's not really a workaround but more Google doesn't want to pay Apple to distribute a carrier bundle as I understand it.
The only thing that doesn't work natively or seamlessly is Visual Voicemail (have to dial or use the app)
Jul 16, 2024 | 2:40 pm
#1547
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SEA, SFO, PRG
Programs: UA 1k, Delta Gold
Posts: 78
Simply Unlimited is 5GB of hotspot data per line. It will hard stop after exceeding it. As opposed to non-hotspot data, that will just slow down to 256kb after 35GB.
Jul 16, 2024 | 5:26 pm
#1548
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,142
Jul 17, 2024 | 11:34 am
#1549
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 9,886
Google Fi is great. I also have a pixel 4a5g so that probably enhances my experience vs using a non-google phone.
Love when I can access local networks as the plane lands.
Love that I don't have to worry about using Google Maps or Google Translate when traveling, or any other kind of intl data usage.
Used to have T-Mobile but then I learned that they are susceptible to hacking attempts via rogue retailers (yes, a criminal employee at a cell phone store kept changing my account and adding call forwarding to their #).
Love when I can access local networks as the plane lands.
Love that I don't have to worry about using Google Maps or Google Translate when traveling, or any other kind of intl data usage.
Used to have T-Mobile but then I learned that they are susceptible to hacking attempts via rogue retailers (yes, a criminal employee at a cell phone store kept changing my account and adding call forwarding to their #).
Jul 17, 2024 | 8:22 pm
#1550
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,940
We have found GoogleFi to be pretty much useless in Italy. Rome was the worst - it showed as connected but it simply did not work. Other parts of Italy worked better, but overall, it's fairly sporadic.
Jul 18, 2024 | 11:32 am
#1551
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 6,142
It’s unclear to me why it’s so bad bc Google Fi was grabbing a variety of TIM, Vodafone, and Windtre, all of which are Italy’s best/most ubiquitous cell service providers. In shops, the staff would routinely offer me the WiFi info, saying they don’t get cell service in the building. So maybe it’s just something about all the providers and not specifically google fi.
Jul 19, 2024 | 11:54 pm
#1552
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,004
FWIW, I'm in Turin and my T-Mobile iPhone is mostly roaming on Wintre, speeds are okay.
But I bought an Orange Europe eSIM for €40 which is suppose to include 100 GB of data for my iPad and it's also getting Windtre and hitting speeds over 350 Mbps down.
Blows away the Wifi in the place where I'm staying.
But I bought an Orange Europe eSIM for €40 which is suppose to include 100 GB of data for my iPad and it's also getting Windtre and hitting speeds over 350 Mbps down.
Blows away the Wifi in the place where I'm staying.
Jul 20, 2024 | 6:23 pm
#1553
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,099
It’s unclear to me why it’s so bad bc Google Fi was grabbing a variety of TIM, Vodafone, and Windtre, all of which are Italy’s best/most ubiquitous cell service providers. In shops, the staff would routinely offer me the WiFi info, saying they don’t get cell service in the building. So maybe it’s just something about all the providers and not specifically google fi.
FWIW, I'm in Turin and my T-Mobile iPhone is mostly roaming on Wintre, speeds are okay.
But I bought an Orange Europe eSIM for €40 which is suppose to include 100 GB of data for my iPad and it's also getting Windtre and hitting speeds over 350 Mbps down.
Blows away the Wifi in the place where I'm staying.
But I bought an Orange Europe eSIM for €40 which is suppose to include 100 GB of data for my iPad and it's also getting Windtre and hitting speeds over 350 Mbps down.
Blows away the Wifi in the place where I'm staying.
Meanwhile in South Korea, I was pulling down close to 700ish on my phone via Google Fi on a moving subway which is just nuts to me.
Jul 20, 2024 | 9:46 pm
#1555
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,099
I can't seem to find the fine print regarding this now, but as of a few years ago, T-Mobile's idea of "high speed data" was marketing it as 512kbps instead of 256kbps. This has been my experience with other family devices roaming on a T-Mobile international data pass add-on (the $30ish one)
The only cell provider with a truly uncapped data plan with no compromises equivalent to having a local cellular plan that I've found is Google Fi.
The only cell provider with a truly uncapped data plan with no compromises equivalent to having a local cellular plan that I've found is Google Fi.
Jul 20, 2024 | 9:57 pm
#1556
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,004
I am definitely getting more than 256kbps on my T-Mobile roaming.
Honestly, I think it's a mistake with my account, which isn't suppose to get high-speed roaming.
So I'm not fighting it but for me 5 GB is nothing. In a week of updating podcasts and apps, that goes away. I know wait for Wifi but hotel wifi is often so bad.
That's why I don't fret over spending $20-40 during a trip for high speed and a lot of data. It wasn't so long ago that prepaid data, you were happy with 5 GB or even 1 GB. Now, more and more the standard is over 50 GB over a month or a lot more.
Hell, I spent $30 on Wifi on my TATL flight rather than watch movies in United.
Honestly, I think it's a mistake with my account, which isn't suppose to get high-speed roaming.
So I'm not fighting it but for me 5 GB is nothing. In a week of updating podcasts and apps, that goes away. I know wait for Wifi but hotel wifi is often so bad.
That's why I don't fret over spending $20-40 during a trip for high speed and a lot of data. It wasn't so long ago that prepaid data, you were happy with 5 GB or even 1 GB. Now, more and more the standard is over 50 GB over a month or a lot more.
Hell, I spent $30 on Wifi on my TATL flight rather than watch movies in United.
Jul 21, 2024 | 6:07 am
#1557
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 623
I can't seem to find the fine print regarding this now, but as of a few years ago, T-Mobile's idea of "high speed data" was marketing it as 512kbps instead of 256kbps. This has been my experience with other family devices roaming on a T-Mobile international data pass add-on (the $30ish one)
The only cell provider with a truly uncapped data plan with no compromises equivalent to having a local cellular plan that I've found is Google Fi.
The only cell provider with a truly uncapped data plan with no compromises equivalent to having a local cellular plan that I've found is Google Fi.
If you can locate the 512k reference you recall, please post a link for us.
Jul 24, 2024 | 1:36 pm
#1558
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,054
Recent experiences.
London - amazingly barely could connect to LTE there, was mostly on 3g. Very slow.
In Czech Republic now and flying on LTE. Both worked at least so there is that.
London - amazingly barely could connect to LTE there, was mostly on 3g. Very slow.
In Czech Republic now and flying on LTE. Both worked at least so there is that.
Jul 24, 2024 | 6:58 pm
#1559
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: YVR ✈ SYD
Programs: House MD, How I Met Your Mother...
Posts: 106
Shame you can't roam with them in Europe anymore, like you used to be able to do.
Jul 30, 2024 | 5:49 am
#1560
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,658
I used Google Fi in Venice a couple of months ago and it was totally fine. I had the same networks people did in Rome, but a totally different experience. I can’t explain the difference. I was using an iPhone 15 and an iPad 11 Pro with M1 silicon. I had a Pixel 7 that was basically used as a hotspot as well.