Google Fi Rolls Out eSIM support for Existing iOS Subscribers

I'm still amazed at how much the US gets charged for cell service. Even Google Fi's plans are expensive compared to what we get this side of the pond.

Meet Google Fi, a different kind of business we'll close down in a few years.

Free international data roaming with both these Google Fi packages?

Am I missing something? Because in that case, it's not a bad deal.

Any catches to this that might be worth highlighting?

If you're a frequent international traveler, Fi is amazing. There's absolutely no additional charge for "roaming". I've used it in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, it works great everywhere. You can also get a data-only SIM for your iPad - unlike other carriers, you don't pay "more" to add an iPad, it's just charged as part of your regular data use.

With the other US carriers, you either pay a premium for international roaming, or you can get a local SIM in your destination country, but you can't iMessage using your US-based phone number if you're using a local SIM.

5 lines/$175 for essentially unlimited data (100gb full speed Data with 30gb tethering plus free hbo ). That’s $35/line. Att best plan currently. Remember most post paid customers in USA have access to family plans with employee discounts (last survey says 88% of att customers) have employee discount and or family plans

so would Europeans Consider $35/line for 100gb full speed Data plus tethering expensive? To cover a country as large as USA and Alaska and Hawaii and Puerto Rico?

the people who complain plans are expensive are those on single lines and two lines

but 4-5 lines in USA is pretty affordable.

That's the issue though, you need 5 lines....whereas in Europe you can get that plan on a single line.

It's like saying "when I bundle cable + home phone + internet + security system I can get my internet for $xx". At the end of the day, I may not need cable + home phone + security system, I only need internet. I don't need 5 lines.

I'm still amazed at how much the US gets charged for cell service. Even Google Fi's plans are expensive compared to what we get this side of the pond.

In Feb. while in India, I purchased a SIM card & 1 month of 1.5GB of daily 1.5GB data for 300 Rupees ($4 USD).

I'm still amazed at how much the US gets charged for cell service. Even Google Fi's plans are expensive compared to what we get this side of the pond.

I think it’s partially because of the cost to build and maintain the infrastructure. The US has a much lower population density compared to many (if not most) European countries, making it more expensive per costumer served. According to Wolfram Alpha, the US has ~5x the population of the UK but ~40x the area. I’m not saying that’s the only reason or that people in the US aren’t being ripped off, but that probably helps explaining this discrepancy a bit.

This would be true if it were true...

But, all low-density areas are NOT built out here. Your theory relies on that!
You cannot get coverage here, in the boonies- not the desert, not the woods.
If/when you can, it’s gonna be 2g & barely support talk.
There are huge swaths of this country that haven't even seen LTE.
I assure you... the price hike here isn’t just to cover genuine expenses from Verizon & AT&T.
It’s to even greater line their pockets, because the American people historically have had no alternative (that may change soon, as we finally got a 3rd viable competitor via the TMUS/S merger).

A fair point :) As I’m not from the US, I’m not really informed on the quality of service. in my country the regulator defines a minimum level of service quality which the operators have to comply with or they are (supposedly) heavily fined. As a result you get 3G pretty much everywhere (only on very remote areas you drop to 2G) and 4G in most of the country, to the point the operator you chose is mostly based on who gives you the best plan and not necessarily on who has the best coverage on your specific area. Downside being it takes ages for them to roll out new technologies or features (no 5G yet and VoLTE was only launched last year). I thought the FCC or some other Federal organ had similar requirements. Hoepfuly it gets better for you guys in the future!

Well, Brazil is larger than USA (if not included Alaska) and the mobile plans are a lot cheaper than those sold in USA. 4G speeds are ok (around ~20 MB) and coverage is good.

I believe communication prices tend to follow +/- the income level of each country. But in the US at least, even considering the higher income level, they are definitely paying above average.