Google Brings Project Fi Data Service to iPads, Nexus and Galaxy Tablets

Google has unrelieved its Project Fi service quite a while back in order to offer a carrier like option and benefits to its users. Project Fi gained popularity for its ‘pay what you use’ mantra, which was available to only few devices. Now Google has brought its efficient Project Fi to a larger group of devices which at the moment is limited to five tablets but Google has maintained any tablet equipped with radio compatible T-Mobile’s network will work with it efficiently. The first four supported tablets include the iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, Galaxy Tab S, Nexus 7 and Nexus 9.

What is Project Fi? 

If you are wondering what is Project Fi then it can be stated as a prepaid phone carrier offering from Google. It works by providing mobile data service on two mobile networks which any phone can switch automatically as per the use. It even makes use of WiFi for making calls, sending texts whenever it is available. Project Fi is essentially a prepaid carrier wherein consumers are to pay up front for the service, which is quite opposite to traditional carrier, which bills consumers after using the service. Project Fi works with a special SIM card and it requires a little software on user’s phone, which will help in authenticating both T Mobile and Sprint carriers.

How to get the Project Fi? 

Project Fi customers can order a data only SIM card by going to their account page. In the Project Fi there is no charge levied on the card and data usage is billed on the standard rate of service which is $10 per GB during the billing cycle.

It is worth mentioning that the data usage for the tablet simply shares the same billing account as standard voice, text and data plane in Project Fi. It even allows users to see the data usage for tablets each month separately from the data usage on phone. And the best feature about Project Fi is that just like the phone service if you don’t use full data allotment on tablet then you won’t be paying for it. Google happens to credit Project Fi accounts monthly, which in essence means you, are only paying for what you use.

Benefits of opting for the Project Fi

Some of the Project Fi users love the data only SIM offering. User can use their phone with Project Fi SIM to tether a tablet over WiFi. In case the battery dies, the tablet will cease to have any mobile broadband connection. People who have to travel a lot appreciate this new SIM card as it provides data in more than 120 countries all round the globe.

There is a small limitation in Project Fi data service, which is Google, only allows 9 data specific SIM cars on each FI account. It won’t be an issue unless you are carrying 10 devices with yourself. Google has brought the Project Fi service both the popular mobile platform of Android and iOS and you make most of it on your tablet with style.

Google’s Project Fi

One of the most exciting information that was revealed on Wednesday has to be from Google. The confirmed announced their plan for launching their wireless service called Project Fi. The information highlighted that this service will be leveraging the obtainable Wi-Fi networks and only switch to another carrier’s network like Sprint on T-mobile in the absence of Wi-Fi accessibility.

Looking at the current approach towards the mobile communications, market experts have named the same as “Wi-Fi first”. Although this is an approach, which is being followed by many companies like FreedomPop, Republic and even scratch Wireless. Recently Freewheel was launched by the Cablevision Company with the sole aim of providing only the Wi-Fi service.

Impact on the Wireless Industry: 

This announcement from the web giant has comes as a boon for the wireless industry, for the Wi-Fi First industry and not to forge the customers who are associated with the company. As if now it has been reported that typically a customer has to pay around $10-20/GB for data usage however we all know that the conventional cell phone service cost around $140 per month for every subscriber and according to the study conducted by Validas in 2013, every smartphone user ends up wasting nearly $28 worth of unused data each month. Contrary to all charges we do not, want the cell phone service is not supposed to be costly.

Reports released by Cisco in 2014 indicated that the company saw nearly half of their total mobile data traffic indicating the usage of Wi-Fi. With the increasing, number of updated and options for Wi-Fi, the company can certainly expect the numbers to go up high to nearly 90 percent. With the 1GB of mobile data costing around $10 to the customers, most of them have shifted to Wi-Fi and thereby saving nearly $700 billion every year.

If the system will get implemented properly, so it’s clear that the Wi-Fi model will have a capability to fill all the gaps and regulate the cellular networks and also end up hurting the business of both Verizon and AT&T around the world.

Google has been able will help the customer saves, so that they can trillions of their money through the Wi-Fi First model. The new project of Google will be able to increase the adoption of this new model through few of the critical steps whereas; the first step is to ensure that all Android devices have built in Wi-Fi First intelligence at outset. This is to ensure that the phones rely on the Wi-Fi system and incase of unavailability switch to the cellular services.

The second step is to ensure constant Wi-Fi connectivity. Although it is available everywhere not every customer uses the same for taking the maximum advantage. Google is aiming to make the entire experience seamless and more towards mainstream. We know that Wi-Fi is a critical part of every industry and given the excellent track record of Google, the has potential of taking down both Verizon and AT&T.