Many years ago, I became a beta tester for Google Fi (then known as “Project Fi”). It was Google’s attempt to become a phone carrier. It was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that (uniquely) used the infrastructure of several carriers — through primarily T-Mobile — to provide cellular phone service to folks who were tired of being abused by the likes of T-Mo, AT&T, and Verizon. (Fi could also use Sprint and US Cellular networks, but Sprint has been acquired by T-Mo and I don’t know if US Cellular even exists anymore — they certainly aren’t a presence on the island). (addendum 2026-03-02T16:34-10:00: US Cellular has also been acquired by T-Mo.)
For my part, I got my first mobile phone from Cingular Wireless, which became SBC, which became AT&T. Or something like that. In any case, I was with AT&T when I acquired my first iPhone (3G) which, if I recall correctly, required a 2-year AT&T unlimited data contract (that forbade tethering). At the time I was offered the Fi beta test situation, I was paying over $200/month for AT&T service. My bill immediately dropped to about $30. In addition, I got lots of care and handholding from Google, and they sent us all presents from time to time. Once it was a set including an external battery, a silicone case, and a headphone splitter. Another time it was a set of Lego-like bricks in Fi colors that could be made into a phone stand. It was all kind of cool.
It wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows, of course. There was the usual pressure to allow Google access to all your contacts. I’m sure they slurped up metadata on your calls. I had to switch from the iPhone to a Google Nexus 6. The Nexus 6 was Google’s flagship phone at the time, yet went end-of-life an astonishingly short time after I purchased it. (Google has since greatly lengthened the guaranteed support lifetime of their devices.) Running Android on a Google-branded phone was, by itself, a significant privacy compromise.
Fi quickly opened the doors to all users and eventually rebranded from “Project Fi” to “Google Fi.” They offered full iPhone support. According to many online reports, their customer service went absolutely to hell, but I didn’t need much in the way of support and I was happy. Things went downhill, though, when I moved to the island.
First, they were absolutely unable to change my service address to my new home. This is bad, as it’s what tells 9-1-1 operators where to send help if you’re unable to speak. There also was no service at or anywhere near my house, in spite of T-Mobile’s coverage maps showing that things were just fine here. In fact, T-Mo coverage is pretty miserable all around the island outside of urban areas.
A few months ago, I switched to Consumer Cellular, an MVNO on AT&T’s network. They’re surprisingly easy to work with, the service is reasonably priced, and they recognized my address. They don’t like that I’m using a de-Googled phone running GrapheneOS, so their visual voicemail doesn’t work and MMS text messages are unreliable. The hugely improved coverage, though, is worth it.
Shortly after I made the switch, Google announced that they’re going to start processing all calls with their “AI-Enhanced Audio”. It’s supposed to make the audio better, but I am not at all comfortable with having the audio from all my calls potentially used to train a large language model (LLM), as such models are notorious for leaking the content of their training material. Google does not have a stellar record when it comes to not slurping up data for their own use, even when averse to their customers’ interests.
Seems I got out just in time.
—2p