Database Users

$10 monthly fee

So yesterday I got the email from sprint,followed the link and it took me to a "comming soon" page....WTF. So I call sprint, rep asked someone else in the room and said aug. 20. Then I figured I Might as well confirm contract pricing and stuff. She said that the $10/mo. Fee allows higher speed/wider bandwidth connection even on 3g network locations. Can evo owners confirm or deny this?
She also seemed to hint that we might get some sort of pre-notification/pre-order email if your on that list or whatever, I think its all just some sort of bass aackwords social media campain to keep us talking about it...........epic 4g..epic 4g..epic 4g..epic 4g,can I have my phone now?
Evo 4g still is only at select locations "due to unprecidented demand" WTF. Sprint you better pull your head out of your bass and hook an "early adoptor" up.

ummm, what?

radar5 said:
ummm, what?
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That's what I would've said.
Anyway does anyone know if the Epic 4g is gonna cost that $10 extra a month? It's not really all that big of a deal but I still wanna know.

I'd bet 10$ it will. Its here to stay on 4g phones.

Yes its going to cost the extra 10.

I can assure you that they are no faster on 3g than we are. 3g is '3g' is "3g" is EVDO RevA. The technologies don't allow for one device to be different than than other one. The towers don't give an EVO a priority over a Hero, its just not how things work. If the EVO does get a better speed test its because it can process the data faster, so if a website feels like it loads faster - it probably does - but its all in rendering not in the network.
And yes, the $10.00 fee will be there. I am not sure what everyones big deal is with it. It gives you the ability to hit 4G if you can, its a lot easier for sprint to tell you that you can connect to 4G regardless of where you live than for them to keep track of 4G users and non 4G users.
Given I do think they need a 3g super phone for those of you who are complaining.

All about the fee...
Try out explainthefee dot com

Kcarpenter said:
I can assure you that they are no faster on 3g than we are. 3g is '3g' is "3g" is EVDO RevA. The technologies don't allow for one device to be different than than other one. The towers don't give an EVO a priority over a Hero, its just not how things work. If the EVO does get a better speed test its because it can process the data faster, so if a website feels like it loads faster - it probably does - but its all in rendering not in the network.
And yes, the $10.00 fee will be there. I am not sure what everyones big deal is with it. It gives you the ability to hit 4G if you can, its a lot easier for sprint to tell you that you can connect to 4G regardless of where you live than for them to keep track of 4G users and non 4G users.
Given I do think they need a 3g super phone for those of you who are complaining.
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Ok so I kind of accepted what she said ( I don't argue with children or uninformed people),but I asked "sooo the fee makes me somekind of priority user?" She replied "yes" I said "ummm ok". Please understand that I'm not saying she was right or truthful. Also when I went into the sprint store to ask about coverage in my little 3 stoplight town they had multiple overlapping signal strength maps on their terminal (3 I think). They were telling me yes your in 3g coverage area, yes your in area for cell modem, hotspot at home etc. Its my understanding all of these devices operate on the same network, but at differant speeds usually, isn't a cell modem plan more than adding data coverage and also faster? IDK maybe cell modem users do have priority.
The reason makes sense to me is because I use to move pretty often and I had a blackberry pearl that I bought when it first came out specifically for use as usb tether modem. Whenever the local high school let out for the day my connection would take a dump, so I would call T-mobile and explain my problem," is there anything you can do, this is a really important work project? They'd say hold on ill try to boost your network priority. I did this 2-3 times a week and it seemed to work, every time I called in I got the same response,T-mo RIM support had their own dept. Back in the day and they were actually quite good. This took place from 4-2 years ago.

Disclaimer
I am not a lawyer, don't play one on tv, and didn't sleep in a holiday inn express lastnight.

harrybozack said:
Try out explainthefee dot com
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You could just choose not to have Sprint. You always have that choice. They aren't adding the fee to current subscribers without possibly using the service. Unlike the other carriers with similar products, the user experience IS very different. I don't know if its your website, or a website you're just fond of. But if you really want to make Sprint pay for their $10 fee, then don't use them. Even with the $10 fee, they still sold out on the Evo, maybe its because their service isn't half-bad for what you do pay for.
Would you complain to the BBB about AT&T just announcing tiered data plans? No, because there is nothing you can do about it. Want an Iphone 4, pay for your extra data you'll use. VZW will go this way soon enough.

They are charging $10 extra a month on all of their 4G phones now. They charge evo $10 extra for the chance to use 4G if you can find it.

Ok so I went to explainthefee.com read the transcript and some other stuff. My guess is that some mid level exec. business school graduate got his hot little hands on a evo, flexed its muscles and decided that they "could/should" charge more. Keep in mind 2 things, firstly these guys running the companies don't understand/care about "fringe users like us" their personal phones are not rooted/overclocked/themed they have no idea!,they may have never bothered using youtube etc. On a smaller screeen device. Secondly the new CEO of sprint turned the company around and wanted to offer the lowest priced plans available with the most everything. They want it both ways and that's why they can't answer a simple question "what am I paying for".
I guess the 10$ is for..........Ummm well were not going to restructure our entire rate plan menu because of one device are we? I mean we signed a contract for 1.5m rate plan pamplets, and those little signs in all the stores.........etc.
I say after the epic is released we start a serious email/bbb campain they don't seem to have any firm ground to stand on. They will raise all rate plans $10 or more and allow us our legacy plans without the $10 fee.
Remember AFTER epic release............... Say 10 days?

Indeed, as far as I know, what they're doing is essentially unheard of in the US. I wasn't into phones as much back in 2002 or so when 3G first got started, but I do know that nowadays you don't have to pay an extra surcharge for EDGE over GPRS, or HSPA over EDGE (apologies for the GSM examples). You pay for Internet on other carriers, plain and simple. It would be slightly easier to take if they at least gave you the choice to not use their 4G Internet, especially since it might not be available where you live anyway, and they may have no plans to make it available.

BTW Thank You harrybozack for explainthefee.com
All future epic owners and sprint customers should be aware of
explainthefee.com and their efforts.
explainthefee.com
Epic4g...epic4g...epic4g...epic4g...epic4g...epic4g...epic4g...epic 4g...epic 4g...epic 4g...epic 4g......
Can I purchase my phone now?

gophergun said:
Indeed, as far as I know, what they're doing is essentially unheard of in the US. I wasn't into phones as much back in 2002 or so when 3G first got started, but I do know that nowadays you don't have to pay an extra surcharge for EDGE over GPRS, or HSPA over EDGE (apologies for the GSM examples). You pay for Internet on other carriers, plain and simple. It would be slightly easier to take if they at least gave you the choice to not use their 4G Internet, especially since it might not be available where you live anyway, and they may have no plans to make it available.
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You do realize that when the iPhone 3G came out, they jacked up the cost of the internet plans on AT&T right? I THINK it was $20 for the 1st gen, and $30 for the 3G.

reply
entropism said:
You do realize that when the iPhone 3G came out, they jacked up the cost of the internet plans on AT&T right? I THINK it was $20 for the 1st gen, and $30 for the 3G.
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Firstly we are Android users, and as such I don't drink from the kool-aid cup of at&t/steve jobs/apple. Secondly at&t aplies their rates evenly on all users. Would I pay more per month
For a i4 vs i3gs?
And in conclusion what product or service is being provided for $10/mo. Or $120/yr Or in my case $240/yr? Am I renting a big screen/fast processor/whatever, in addition to paying for the device and service?

I'm sorry but I'm so tired of reading about the $10 fee, (Did a lot of lurking on the EVO forums before it released)
The $10 sucks, but it does allow you to access 4G in various locations around the country. Out of the 5 or 6 Cities I'm visiting in the next year, 4G is everywhere but Wichita so I won't be missing out.
Even then, paying $79.99 for a plan is still cheaper than what you would pay with AT&T and Verizon.
If you're too upset to pay the fee, it's not that hard to switch to another company that offers a comparable high level android phone and not have to pay that $10. Maybe if you and enough like minded people don't sign up for the 4G phones, it'll make a difference to Sprint.
I just get so tired of seeing these same old complaints from people and then they turn around and get the phone anyway!

So let me explain the fee:
With Comcast/Charter you have different levels of speed you are able to get - you pay more for faster speed. They cannot guarantee that you will get 25 mb/s but - you pay for it any way...theres your explanation. You don't want the fee, don't buy the hardware.
I don't understand the drama.

kgold708 said:
Ok so I kind of accepted what she said ( I don't argue with children or uninformed people),but I asked "sooo the fee makes me somekind of priority user?" She replied "yes" I said "ummm ok". Please understand that I'm not saying she was right or truthful. Also when I went into the sprint store to ask about coverage in my little 3 stoplight town they had multiple overlapping signal strength maps on their terminal (3 I think). They were telling me yes your in 3g coverage area, yes your in area for cell modem, hotspot at home etc. Its my understanding all of these devices operate on the same network, but at differant speeds usually, isn't a cell modem plan more than adding data coverage and also faster? IDK maybe cell modem users do have priority.
The reason makes sense to me is because I use to move pretty often and I had a blackberry pearl that I bought when it first came out specifically for use as usb tether modem. Whenever the local high school let out for the day my connection would take a dump, so I would call T-mobile and explain my problem," is there anything you can do, this is a really important work project? They'd say hold on ill try to boost your network priority. I did this 2-3 times a week and it seemed to work, every time I called in I got the same response,T-mo RIM support had their own dept. Back in the day and they were actually quite good. This took place from 4-2 years ago.
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There is a priority on the network, and it would probably allow you to drop less calls. I think priority 0 is reserved for emergency departments use - but speed would not be affected by it. Just how often you can poll the tower and how likely you are to be bumped off in high traffic.

1: I'm ok with paying $10 extra for decreased latancy/higher network priority. Not ok with "enhanced user experience" BS
2: I am going to sign a contract for @$3840-4000, 2 devices 2yr contract, that $10 fee is $480. If I pay over $500 (after tax) for something, don't you think I should know what it is?
3: Sprint fanboys/employees,how about next time they charge $20/mo (Android 3.0 provides an enhanced-enhanced experience).

Wifi Calling uses plan minutes?

So I installed one of the two 2.2 builds out, and Wifi Calling works. It says that is uses the plan minutes. Is this correct? If so, what good is wifi calling?

jzero88 said:
So I installed one of the two 2.2 builds out, and Wifi Calling works. It says that is uses the plan minutes. Is this correct? If so, what good is wifi calling?
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It's for if you are in an area that has no cell reception but you have WiFi, yes it uses minutes.

Ok thanks for the info. That sucks, wish you could use wifi calling like VOIP

jzero88 said:
Ok thanks for the info. That sucks, wish you could use wifi calling like VOIP
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If that were the case, you'd never use any minutes ever. LOL
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Skype works on the 2.2 builds.... it's still an annoyingly crappy app, but it works.

Lol...that will never be released by any cell carrier. Tmobile just wants to make sure you have the ability to use as many of your mins as possible.

cappysw10 said:
If that were the case, you'd never use any minutes ever. LOL
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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This is how the uma wifi calling on my blackberry worked. I don't see the problem with it. You're still paying for a minute plan, and someone's paying for the internet you're using to make calls. There's rarely a time where I'm in an area that can get high speed internet service but not cell service. I do see the usefulness though, but it's not quite as cool of a feature when it uses your minutes.

lol. I also thought that wifi calling won't be using any of your minutes.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

And I was going I to cancel my cell plan and only pay for data

Personally I love it and was really hoping it would come to the Vibrant. The reception at my house is spotty, so this will help immensely. I'm glad that it's a free add on, and they're minutes I would have been using anyway so no big deal.

Ahhh, I thought it didn't use your minutes aswell. I thought it was just like the blackberry uma... oh well.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

sano614 said:
Ahhh, I thought it didn't use your minutes aswell. I thought it was just like the blackberry uma... oh well.
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UMA on my blackberry always used minutes.
If you have a T-mobile USA plan and you are in Europe connected via Wifi, are your plan minutes counted as if you are in the USA or are you charged international minutes?

FreydNot said:
UMA on my blackberry always used minutes.
If you have a T-mobile USA plan and you are in Europe connected via Wifi, are your plan minutes counted as if you are in the USA or are you charged international minutes?
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Last time I have read about it, it was free. People stopped talking about it, since T-mobile did not support the feature anymore.

FreydNot said:
UMA on my blackberry always used minutes.
If you have a T-mobile USA plan and you are in Europe connected via Wifi, are your plan minutes counted as if you are in the USA or are you charged international minutes?
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Last time I have read about it, it was free. People stopped talking about it, since T-mobile did not support the feature anymore.
Nevermind!
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1618892-Overseas-UMA-calls-now-being-billed-as-roaming?daysprune=365

Im excited about the feature cause I have no cell signal at work (at all)
Will it work for ATT users though?

T-Mobile used to give you the option of paying an extra $9.99 per month for unlimited Wi-fi calling. They took that away so wifi (or UMA) calling uses your minutes. It is still helpful to me for overseas or certain areas that have spotty T-mobile coverage. I travel a lot and it comes up. Which is one reason I've held onto my old blackberry for when I travel. Now that the Vibrant is getting this feature I can finally ditch that thing.

maybe I am blessed But
i use and pay for a no contract unlimited plan, Since then my recurring costs are a constant 75 month. That really is not that much, unless you are really really broke. I use this phone for EVERYTHING and 75 month. I do like the wifi hookup I have used my phone in reverse to call (call on my computer using tethering) and that works very well. But I just did it to make sure i could, BTW I called out of the country........ and still 75 month

mhseraph said:
Im excited about the feature cause I have no cell signal at work (at all)
Will it work for ATT users though?
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Do you have to have it enabled during? Like If I'm at work and I have bad cell reception, should I just turn it on? I guess I'm asking is there some automatic way to switch back and forth?
[Edit]
Looks like if you leave it on, under connection prefs you choose "Cellular Preferred" which calls will route through wifi if there is no cell service...

How would this work out in another country? If I travel to say Europe or Australia and have a WiFi connection can I call from my US number to other US numbers? Can I receive calls to my US number?

NWolf said:
How would this work out in another country? If I travel to say Europe or Australia and have a WiFi connection can I call from my US number to other US numbers? Can I receive calls to my US number?
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Yes. Basically wifi essentially becomes an US T-Mobile tower.
Wi-Fi calling/UMA is one of those features that make or break a phone for me. I have ZERO T-Mobile service at home. My current main phone (BB8700) has UMA so I get perfect reception in my house, top floor or basement.

I am LOVING the wifi calling!

That OTA update came just in the nick of time. I pushed it myself after I read about how to do it and still hadn't received the update. I left for Manila on Friday the 12th and have been loving the wifi calling here!! It has been a life saver in terms of paying for international calling. There is zero lag and the call sounds just as good as if I were on the network in the states. I can't really imagine a use for it while in the country since it still takes minutes, but I guess if you are in an area without TMobile but yet still has a wifi connection with a fast enough speed to carry the call, then it could be useful. I just don't know where that place is... All I can tell you is that it has been working amazingly well in the Philippians and I have been able to make and receive calls without interruption all week. My colleagues who have needed to pack an extra phone with international calling abilities have been absolutely green with envy as I'm still able to do business easily in the office without needing to be on a landline or paying extra to use my cell phone in the hotel. What a great innovation!!! Even texting has worked just as if I were still in the states. Everybody I call and text have had a hard time remembering that I'm out of the country since it is still not totally normal to be receiving calls and texts from the same US number even though I'm abroad.
Anyway, I thought I'd share. I tried it while I was in the states, but didn't know if the clarity or quality of the call was influenced by being near the TMobile network anyway. I can tell you for sure that it is a great thing with no downside. You do need more than just a wifi signal though. If the signal isn't strong enough then the phone won't register to the TMobile network and it won't work. Oddly enough, when it says the signal isn't strong enough to make calls, they still come in just fine. Maybe just a couple bugs to work out, but this has definitely made me glad I went with TMobile and not Sprint when I was shopping for a new Android.

Are you sure you're not still paying for international calling? I thought T-Mo was going to charge you.
As for "getting an international phone", the G2 probably could have been unlocked (barring S-OFF issues) to work with the GSM there just fine.
I just took my G1 to Australia after getting the unlock code from T-Mo, and it worked great there, 3G with an Australian SIM.

dancingwombat said:
Are you sure you're not still paying for international calling? I thought T-Mo was going to charge you.
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I remember someone on this forum confirming that if you use Wi-Fi calling, your phone is treated as though it's roaming in the states, which makes it extremely useful for those who commute internationally, like the OP.

Does wifi calling/texting count as data charge (becouse if it does, I'll be able to text for free anywhere there is wifi)
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

WiFi Calling feature uses plan minutes and plan txt messages... there are no extra charges unless you go over your limit

I was unaware it used plan minutes. Sounds pointless now unless I have bad signal in the house

greengoldmello said:
I was unaware it used plan minutes. Sounds pointless now unless I have bad signal in the house
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As soon as you turn it on, it says it uses plan minutes.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Yeah, unless you just don't get a good signal in your house, there isn't much point to the wifi calling since it still uses your plan minutes. From here it works just like I'm in my office at home. I can call and text local numbers without having to dial any other weird country codes or anything. And people at home don't even need to know I'm out of the country since they just call my number and my phone rings just like normal.
Typically I have just used skype to call for free computer to computer since using it to call a phone number costs money. But now I can use the wifi and that is so much better! However, my hotel doesn't allow the phone to register with Tmobile, so some servers are going to put the kabosh on using this type of thing. I'm just wondering if it would work from the plane when I'm flying domestically and have the wifi available to me... FCC regulations prohibit using a phone during flight even if you are connected to wifi, so it doesn't really matter I guess.

Delta105RUS said:
Does wifi calling/texting count as data charge (becouse if it does, I'll be able to text for free anywhere there is wifi)
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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The texting still counts as texting and not as a data charge. So it basically just uses whatever you already have on your plan. If you are out of text messages or minutes, then you will get charged for going over just like usual. I've got an unlimited plan for all that, so it isn't something I really keep track of.

dancingwombat said:
Are you sure you're not still paying for international calling? I thought T-Mo was going to charge you.
As for "getting an international phone", the G2 probably could have been unlocked (barring S-OFF issues) to work with the GSM there just fine.
I just took my G1 to Australia after getting the unlock code from T-Mo, and it worked great there, 3G with an Australian SIM.
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I'm sure it could have been, but that is why I'm glad the wifi calling update came when it did. It saved me the trouble of needing to do it. Anytime I've been away from the office where I haven't had a wifi signal to attach to has been times when I don't really want to talk on the phone anyway. Especially here... I really don't want people seeing me with a G2 in my hand when it is a pretty lusted after phone here. Everything is uber cheap here, but I was at a less than legitimate item mall yesterday and they had a G2 in the same case as an iPad. I can get a 32GB ipad for less than a G2 here.

Got the update.

Can't be specific about changes obviously...as per soak instructions...but I can say for sure a certain feature we've all been missing has been restored to us. PM me if you want details.
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app

So.... It comes with root?

lol to beat me to it! :highfive:

Haha..I wish..but no
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

Yay finally we get Lollipop

Again..I wish... But no
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app

Unlocked bands?

Most likely VoLTE...

Longer battery?!

It's VoLTE. Or, simultaneous Voice and Data as was missing from the device at launch with the promise to be fixed with an update by the end of the year.
I'm curious, though, if it counts towards your data allowance to use VoLTE. Does anyone know?

It doesn't count against your data plan according to the Verizon FAQ

swboland said:
It's VoLTE. Or, simultaneous Voice and Data as was missing from the device at launch with the promise to be fixed with an update by the end of the year.
I'm curious, though, if it counts towards your data allowance to use VoLTE. Does anyone know?
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Voice no, video yes.

It's disappointing that the update is (apparently) only/mainly VoLTE, and not Android 5.0. Since carrier certification is a relatively slow, painful process, I think this is a sign that the Lollipop update is more than a couple months away.
I was initially excited about VoLTE, but I wasn't impressed with it when I used it briefly on my Droid Maxx. First, it wasn't reliable- I had dropped calls, and calls that never even rang my phone. Second, it killed my battery. It was rough- really rough- on it. I think both are related to the relatively weak LTE signal I have at home. To deal with the signal problems I have a Verizon network extender, but it looked like my phone was preferring the weak LTE signal over the strong signal from the network extender.
I wish Verizon would have just sucked it up and supported Wifi calling with Advanced Calling 1.0. I don't understand why they dislike Wifi calling so much. They're going to eventually support it, but the company's statements suggest they aren't happy about it. Who knows how much support there will be for it, though. Verizon apparently plans to release a LTE network extender at some point, which is only useful in certain niche situations if Wifi calling is broadly supported on VZW devices.

reggie14 said:
It's disappointing that the update is (apparently) only/mainly VoLTE, and not Android 5.0. Since carrier certification is a relatively slow, painful process, I think this is a sign that the Lollipop update is more than a couple months away.
I was initially excited about VoLTE, but I wasn't impressed with it when I used it briefly on my Droid Maxx. First, it wasn't reliable- I had dropped calls, and calls that never even rang my phone. Second, it killed my battery. It was rough- really rough- on it. I think both are related to the relatively weak LTE signal I have at home. To deal with the signal problems I have a Verizon network extender, but it looked like my phone was preferring the weak LTE signal over the strong signal from the network extender.
I wish Verizon would have just sucked it up and supported Wifi calling with Advanced Calling 1.0. I don't understand why they dislike Wifi calling so much. They're going to eventually support it, but the company's statements suggest they aren't happy about it. Who knows how much support there will be for it, though. Verizon apparently plans to release a LTE network extender at some point, which is only useful in certain niche situations if Wifi calling is broadly supported on VZW devices.
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Wifi calling is for carriers that need someone else's network to supplement their own shortcomings.
That is why they don't implement it.

adrynalyne said:
Wifi calling is for carriers that need someone else's network to supplement their own shortcomings.
That is why they don't implement it.
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So is it just a messaging problem? Verizon doesn't want to support wifi calling because it's an implicit admission that they don't have great coverage everywhere?
Generally, I agree VZW coverage is pretty good. But, it's not great at my house, and its terrible at my workplace. VZW already implicitly acknowledges that they don't have great coverage everywhere by selling network extenders. They're continuing that by coming out with LTE network extenders (someday).
It just seems like its a cheaper, better option to support wifi calling, rather than forcing people (with coverage problems) to shell out $200-300 for a network extender.

adrynalyne said:
Wifi calling is for carriers that need someone else's network to supplement their own shortcomings.
That is why they don't implement it.
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I still think every carrier should support this. I'm in IT, and constantly find myself in data centers, or even meeting rooms deep into a building that you couldn't even make an E-911 call from... It really wouldn't be that difficult. When TMob had UMA back in '08 and I had a BB, I used it extensively. It was never because TMobile didn't have enough coverage.. Carriers basically make money when you use their network. Yes, most people have unlimited plans these days, but they build their network around the use it has. So why wouldn't they want you to be using your phone, minutes, texts, etc? On the other hand, why wouldn't they want to offload congestion to networks they don't have to maintain or pay for? There just aren't any down sides to have WiFi calling/text/mms.

dbornack said:
I still think every carrier should support this. I'm in IT, and constantly find myself in data centers, or even meeting rooms deep into a building that you couldn't even make an E-911 call from... It really wouldn't be that difficult. When TMob had UMA back in '08 and I had a BB, I used it extensively. It was never because TMobile didn't have enough coverage.. Carriers basically make money when you use their network. Yes, most people have unlimited plans these days, but they build their network around the use it has. So why wouldn't they want you to be using your phone, minutes, texts, etc? On the other hand, why wouldn't they want to offload congestion to networks they don't have to maintain or pay for? There just aren't any down sides to have WiFi calling/text/mms.
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You can make calls through Hangouts if that helps ya.

allenrb2 said:
It doesn't count against your data plan according to the Verizon FAQ
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Any chance anyone who has the update can see if it fixes the shutter lag?

phoenixus said:
Any chance anyone who has the update can see if it fixes the shutter lag?
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There is a definite improvement, IMO

adrynalyne said:
You can make calls through Hangouts if that helps ya.
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Can you? I mean, I knew you could, but it rides WiFi, and doesn't do the Google Voice thing where you still need cell service?

Project Fi Users

Any Project Fi user? How is it working out?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

It's dope.

Yup. Very happy.

Totally satisfied!

It's awesome!

More than anything I'm happy with the bill. I think mine was $43.xx last month, I'm signed up for 5GB at $70 total. Spent the last year on AT&T Post Paid with a MiFi also on the account at 115ish a month for 15GB. Prior to that I was on AT&T Straight Talk for years.
To be honest, the service is so-so. T-Mobile is T-Mobile, the building penetration sucks, its as mediocre as it was when I got off it in 2011. Sprint does provide better building penetration but the service is slower. I'm often frustrated with Fi's lack of attempt at switching from T-Mo to Sprint or vice-versa. I have Fi-Spy installed and can easily plug in the dialer codes to switch, but why it doesn't do this more proactively is beyond me. Even with the auto switch dialer coder plugged in and a reboot, it rarely switches quickly once a drop in signal is experienced with the carrier in use. The nerd in me thinks its cool to plug in the dialer codes, the normal me is beginning to find it inconvenient. Speeds aren't spectacular, I think that's possibly a function of being in South Louisiana. The carriers invest here last most likely because of the overall poverty of the populous and the gamble that the they can just wait till the network is destroyed by a hurricane and rebuild it with insurance money.
My gut feeling is I'll wait to see if the 6.0.1 release (whenever I finally get it) will make T-Mo work better with the possibility of Band 12. If its not better soon I'll probably switch back to AT&T Straight Talk. AT&T just works everywhere I have been in the US for the last 4 or 5 years. I never have the negative experience I hear people complain about on big blue. The Straight Talk option makes the cost negligible. Although the good ole days of Straight Talk "discount" service cards being sold online for 30ish dollars seems to be gone.
Cellular service is a commodity, while I impress myself with the nerd factor of an aggregated cellular carrier like Google Fi, I just lack the patience to endure the carriers its running on. Struggling with bad or slow service is no longer acceptable with the flexibility of porting numbers to other carriers. $40ish dollars is cheap, but for 50 I could be on Straight Talk on AT&T and not worry about any of the semantics.
...but I did like the Lego kit Google sent me!

aygriffith said:
More than anything I'm happy with the bill. I think mine was $43.xx last month, I'm signed up for 5GB at $70 total. Spent the last year on AT&T Post Paid with a MiFi also on the account at 115ish a month for 15GB. Prior to that I was on AT&T Straight Talk for years.
To be honest, the service is so-so. T-Mobile is T-Mobile, the building penetration sucks, its as mediocre as it was when I got off it in 2011. Sprint does provide better building penetration but the service is slower. I'm often frustrated with Fi's lack of attempt at switching from T-Mo to Sprint or vice-versa. I have Fi-Spy installed and can easily plug in the dialer codes to switch, but why it doesn't do this more proactively is beyond me. Even with the auto switch dialer coder plugged in and a reboot, it rarely switches quickly once a drop in signal is experienced with the carrier in use. The nerd in me thinks its cool to plug in the dialer codes, the normal me is beginning to find it inconvenient. Speeds aren't spectacular, I think that's possibly a function of being in South Louisiana. The carriers invest here last most likely because of the overall poverty of the populous and the gamble that the they can just wait till the network is destroyed by a hurricane and rebuild it with insurance money.
My gut feeling is I'll wait to see if the 6.0.1 release (whenever I finally get it) will make T-Mo work better with the possibility of Band 12. If its not better soon I'll probably switch back to AT&T Straight Talk. AT&T just works everywhere I have been in the US for the last 4 or 5 years. I never have the negative experience I hear people complain about on big blue. The Straight Talk option makes the cost negligible. Although the good ole days of Straight Talk "discount" service cards being sold online for 30ish dollars seems to be gone.
Cellular service is a commodity, while I impress myself with the nerd factor of an aggregated cellular carrier like Google Fi, I just lack the patience to endure the carriers its running on. Struggling with bad or slow service is no longer acceptable with the flexibility of porting numbers to other carriers. $40ish dollars is cheap, but for 50 I could be on Straight Talk on AT&T and not worry about any of the semantics.
...but I did like the Lego kit Google sent me!
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Click to collapse
What about calling/texting over wifi? The initial reason I decided not to go with Project Fi was for the reasons you stated-- didn't love the carriers that support it. But the more I think about it, the more intrigued I am. I just switched from AT&T to Verizon and I am hardly using any cell data. I'm at wifi at home, wifi at work, and many places that I go. Project Fi is becoming more appealing for the ability of being able to call/text pretty much anywhere over wifi and not have to worry so much about how good the cell signal is. Plus the idea of auto connecting to open wifi hotspots and securing the connection over a VPN tunnel sounds pretty cool as well.
On another note, I don't have any first hand experience with Tmobile but 6.0.1 should help a lot with cell service in buildings if they have band 12 in your area. The geek in you should just flash the factory images instead of waiting for the OTA

I'm very satisfied with my experience so far. My only complaint, a small one at best, would be there is no way to prefer WiFi calling over cellular like with Tmobile.

It's been solid for me. Not just at home, but a number of the approved hotspots as well when I'm out. And I like that these connections are VPN'd.
coolcat67 said:
What about calling/texting over wifi?
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Data usage
I was thinking of going to Project Fi myself and got the invite already. However, I check my data status usage and it's about 4gb or more per month. And I am counting only the usage not being over wifi. I understand that Project Fi switch automatically over wifi if available so you won't use Data over the air as much. However, I'm with the family plan with 15GB and Data carry over next month on AT&T network. If I'm by myself, I would switch over to Project Fi in a heart beat but with family member, I can't. Just my 2 cents thought.

Solutions Etcetera said:
It's been solid for me. Not just at home, but a number of the approved hotspots as well when I'm out. And I like that these connections are VPN'd.
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Click to collapse
I have the exact opposite experience, I rarely get auto connected to hot-spots and when I do they're total garbage. Not just in Louisiana, but in large metros I've traveled to in since getting the service. I think only one held the VPN tunnel indicated by the key icon for long enough to do anything.
coolcat67 said:
What about calling/texting over wifi? The initial reason I decided not to go with Project Fi was for the reasons you stated-- didn't love the carriers that support it. But the more I think about it, the more intrigued I am. I just switched from AT&T to Verizon and I am hardly using any cell data. I'm at wifi at home, wifi at work, and many places that I go. Project Fi is becoming more appealing for the ability of being able to call/text pretty much anywhere over wifi and not have to worry so much about how good the cell signal is. Plus the idea of auto connecting to open wifi hotspots and securing the connection over a VPN tunnel sounds pretty cool as well.
On another note, I don't have any first hand experience with Tmobile but 6.0.1 should help a lot with cell service in buildings if they have band 12 in your area. The geek in you should just flash the factory images instead of waiting for the OTA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I do love about the service is the ability to use Hangouts on all my devices and in the web browser and text & MMS from it. I think if I went back to Straight Talk I'd probably leave the number with Google Voice which traditionally I've done the opposite and took the number to the carrier and just had a miscellaneous GV number.
I have had problems with call quality over data. Mainly at my house which is AT&T U-Verse, and to top it off Fi does not seem to realize it and will not switch off to cellular when the call quality dissipates. I've literally had to run out my front door into the middle of my street if I'm mid call so it will switch to cellular. Its either this or attempt to fumble the phone and turn off WiFi. My neighbors probably are suspicious of my mid street calls :laugh:. Again, this is a function of AT&T U-verse having 18mb down at my house. Might switch my internet to cable next month to help with the abysmal ISP speeds with U-verse.
Again, don't expect the phone to just start connecting to tons of VPN'ed Google Certified WiFi networks. You'll be disappointed. I was in large metros all up and down the east coast in Nov and again, this may have happened once in each large city. You're going to be looking for the same old Starbucks and misc WiFi networks to make calls if you're really hoping to find WiFi networks in the wild for calling. I have a free Boingo plan through Amex Plat and it helps give availability to more networks than I had access to before. But its not enough that I wouldn't be worried about cell service.
Fingers crossed on 6.0.1... back in the old days I would have downloaded the image the second it was out and flashed it. As I get older and find myself making more excuses for not getting stuff done I rarely want to spend non existent free time diving into roms or any of that. I just want the phone to work and the service to work. Its a long way from chopping up Blackberry OS installers with different features from different Telcos or my first Android phone being a Sprint Touch Pro 2 launching into Android from Windows Mobile. Getting old (or boring) I guess!

Works great here. Except MMS over hangouts looks like garbage. I would love to use hangouts over my other devices with my Project Fi number, but I send to many picture messages. Anyone else have MMS hangouts quality problems?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Ulver said:
Works great here. Except MMS over hangouts looks like garbage. I would love to use hangouts over my other devices with my Project Fi number, but I send to many picture messages. Anyone else have MMS hangouts quality problems?
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Are you referencing the picture quality of the photos sent? Does it look bad both in Hangouts and also in the receiver's MMS?

Its decent, but I can see why people leave back to Tmobile. I am on WIFI most of the day and yet I manage to use 1.5-2GB per month, I cant imaging using Fi without WIFI. There is no VoLTE an no proper Band 12 implementation. Support is not that great, most replies are copy/paste BS. The whole service is just not as reliable as Tmobile. I pay about $40 bucks for Fi......Tmobile would have been only $50 but everything works 100%, you get som free music and vid streaming, and data falls back to free Edge.
I am gonna stick for a while longer....They said some updates are coming to service in next few month but I call BS on this. Fi team seems to be lying alot about the service and misrepresents it in their advertisement.

aygriffith said:
Are you referencing the picture quality of the photos sent? Does it look bad both in Hangouts and also in the receiver's MMS?
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Click to collapse
For me it looks bad on my end and the receivers end via hangouts. I also tried sending pics via my Z3 and the pics look bad on both my wife's Nexus 6 and my Mom's iPhone.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

kolyan said:
The whole service is just not as reliable as Tmobile.
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Click to collapse
Weird... I have been on T-Mobile since the days of my RAZR v300 up until just recently. In fact, I still have it on my Moto X. Nothing about it is as good as Fi has been. Granted it is not for folks that are burning through a lot of data, but I have never gone over a Gig, so it's great for me.
Looking at the two phones side by side right now, the TM phone is on HSPA with 4 asu, and the Fi is LTE with 23 asu.

Solutions Etcetera said:
Weird... I have been on T-Mobile since the days of my RAZR v300 up until just recently. In fact, I still have it on my Moto X. Nothing about it is as good as Fi has been. Granted it is not for folks that are burning through a lot of data, but I have never gone over a Gig, so it's great for me.
Looking at the two phones side by side right now, the TM phone is on HSPA with 4 asu, and the Fi is LTE with 23 asu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Tmobile LTE and VoLTE everywhere pretty much and it switches to Sprint for no reason, I even get Sprint 3G in some places due to bugs. On top of it Tmobile band 12 is not implemented correctly so you end up missing calls and there is no VoLTE support at all. I am not even sure if Tmobile carrier aggression is working on Project Fi
I've been having issues on Project Fi since June, including some spotty roaming in Europe where Tmobile got 5 bars of LTE (capped to 128kbps). Then been dealing with carrier auto switching for over a month now....looks like it just started working with latest Fi app and Android 6.0.1. They also know about all the roaming issues and that Fi doesnt like to connect to roaming providers, thats why they seem to include manual switching in Fi app now so people dont end up with dead phones overseas
They are also kind of lying about equal coverage to Tmo and Sprint....its not equal, at least not yet, lying about 120+ countries where wifi-calling is supported....also bs, real list is around 90-95 countries (not a big deal, but they refuse to fix it)
I switched from Tmobile because I though I will get 100% Tmobile coverage + addition of Sprint with seamless switching (been very buggy) I also need that 256kbps roaming speeds since its double of what Tmobile is offering. Lower bill was just a bonus.....dont really care since its like 10-15 bucks difference

kolyan said:
I've been having issues on Project Fi since June
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Dunno what to tell you; have only been on it since 11/16, but so far it has been great on my 6P.

When I read these comments I wonder how many people were already T-Mobile or Sprint customers and used to so-so coverage and speeds already. Compared in AT&T and Verizon, you're getting what you pay for. Just calling a spade a spade as a long time AT&T customer and a really really long ago T-Mobile and Sprint customer.
It's exactly what they said it was, a beta service. If you want a cheap 5GB of LTE data that works everywhere, get a AT&T Straight Talk sim. If you really think you only use a gig and live in a large metro with a good economy (face it, T-Mobile and Sprint upgrade their carrier equipment metros with better economic conditions first) then you'll be in heaven.
Don't really care about the international, I just buy a sim locally whenever I go overseas. But for the price, if it works, it's a nice feature.
Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk