Google’s Project Fi Promises Seamless Switching Between Cellular and Wireless Service

Today’s technology is turning quickly towards smartphones. Millions of people can access the Internet at the touch of a finger. In areas where signals are at their strongest, Internet connections are steady and reasonably fast. However, staying in high connectivity areas just isn’t always possible, and tethering through data plans is severely wanting in speed, making Wi-Fi unbeatable.

All of that is about to change with Google’s announcement of Project Fi, which promises a way to harness a wireless connection experience wherever you are. Here are a few things we can expect to see from Project Fi in the very near future.

Finds the Best Networks For You

One major selling point of Project Fi is Google’s determination to find you the best network wherever you are. Unlike your traditional network plan, which connects you to your carrier’s data networks, Fi will find 4G LTE networks and connect your phone to them. In areas where a network connection can’t be found, it will connect you to one of Google’s trusted, high-speed Wi-Fi hotspots.

Obviously, there will be some times and places when a strong connection isn’t possible. The project is so new the limits haven’t yet been defined. However, Google does claim that Project Fi is the best mobile network service to date, and guarantees a secure, encrypted network no matter the connection.

A Simple Interface

An extremely appealing part of Project Fi is the simplicity of the plan. There is currently just one plan, and it comes with 24-hour support. It is to be available in more than 120 countries, and it’s incredibly easy to use. When you leave one area of Wi-Fi connection, Fi will smoothly transfer your connection to the next available network. You don’t have to do anything, and you won’t notice the transfer.

You Pay for What You Use

A major complaint regarding data usage today is that certain major carriers require their users to pay for a set amount of data, and if they don’t use all of it, it expires at the end of the month. People are essentially paying through the nose for Internet data they aren’t using. Fi solves this problem by letting you pay only for what you use.

The basic talk and text plan costs you just $20 per month and each GB of data costs $10. Then if you don’t use all of your data, they’ll refund you the money. For example, if you’re paying for 2GB of data, but only use one, they’ll refund you the full $10 difference.

Fi is currently the only major carrier to completely refund the money for your unused data, but it’s not without competition. Other major carriers, such as T-Mobile and AT&T, offer rollover data as well. However, they won’t go so far as to refund you what you didn’t use.

Compatible Mobile Carriers

The Fi service will be carried on Sprint and T-Mobile networks and switch seamlessly between those networks and various Wi-Fi hotspots. However, there is one catch to this plan that otherwise seems too good to be true: It will only work on the new Nexus 6 phone, which retails at $650.

Some might say that’s a bargain for the service you get, and once Fi gets going, the phone may very well pay for itself with the money you save by switching plans. Depending on your needs, this could ultimately be the plan for you.