{"id":13104,"date":"2015-07-16T05:00:31","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T12:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=13104"},"modified":"2020-12-24T03:24:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T11:24:14","slug":"project-fi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/project-fi\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Fi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google is already Internet Service Provider and pay-TV operator. Now, it\u2019s sta\"projectfi\"rting its adventure as mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Frankly, it was about time to be able to Google a phone call. The long-awaited cell phone service \u2013 Project Fi<\/strong><\/a> is finally here.<\/p>\n

For now, the product can be considered an experiment; Even more so considering that it will be available only to people using Google\u2019s flagship phone, the Nexus 6. This choice doesn\u2019t only limit its reach, but also doesn\u2019t make Google a serious competitor to Verizon, AT&T, and other wireless service providers.<\/p>\n

The service offers the same basic functionality as traditional wireless carriers: voice, text, and Internet access \u2013 but at a lower price than many of the plans out there. It can be called an attempt to combine cellular calls and VoIP calls (like those offered by Skype) into one phone number and service.<\/p>\n

\u201cWherever you\u2019re connected to Wi-Fi \u2014 whether that\u2019s at home, your favorite coffee shop or your Batcave \u2014 you can talk and text like you normally do,\u201d wrote Nick Fox, Google\u2019s vice president of communications products, in\u00a0a blog post<\/a>. \u201cIf you leave an area of Wi-Fi coverage, your call will seamlessly transition from Wi-Fi to cell networks so your conversation doesn\u2019t skip a beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Project Fi is designed to be able to switch between different high-speed wireless networks operated by Sprint and T-Mobile, choosing the stronger one in any given area. Moreover, phones on Project Fi will switch from cellular networks to Wi-Fi networks when available to place calls or access the Internet without using the customer\u2019s data plans. The service will also bounce around between devices<\/a>, allowing users to talk and text on smartphones, tablets and laptops.<\/p>\n

Google won\u2019t be building its own cell phone towers for this product. Instead, it will rent access to the networks of the two mentioned carriers, and then resell the service to consumers using its own branding.<\/p>\n