Project Fi now calls Google Fi and will work with iPhones and most Android devices.

Three years after its launch, Google now formalizes its cellular service. Project Fi is becoming something a little more ambitious and getting a new name: Google Fi. But the biggest news is that it will also support more phones – lots of phones – including the iPhone and "the majority of Android devices."

This is not the first time that Fi has been working with Apple devices; you could previously obtain a SIM card for iPad only containing data as secondary devices. And technically, a Fi SIM card has always worked on an iPhone, provided you have adjusted the data settings of the phone. But now, Google supports iPhones directly for new customers, even though it says the support is in beta and requires "a few extra steps for setup". A new iOS Google Fi app will be put in place to make the process easier.

Specifically, you will find that Visual Voicemail will not work anymore, but that iMessage will do it. iOS does not automatically pull good MMS and data connections, but only works with a few copy-and-paste settings.

For Android phones, the configuration should be much simpler. Although you use Fi rather than a more traditional operator, you should know that all customer support is provided online or over the phone. According to my experience, this has not been a big problem, but sometimes it is nice to have a store in which to get in for help in person.

Google Fi is an MVNO, which stands for "Mobile Virtual Network Operator". This means that your real service comes from big operators; Fi uses T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular as the spine. However, only a few phones (such as Pixels and others sold by Google) are able to switch dynamically between the networks of these operators. Others tend to use the T-Mobile network, at least in my experience.

Regardless of the network technically used, Google allows users of phones running Android 9 Pie to transfer their data via its own VPN. However, Google Fi is still struggling to keep pace with other operators, including support for the universal RCS profile for sending SMS and sharing numbers for LTE smart watches, for example.

But the real difference with Fi lies in the pricing model: it is much simpler than most networks offer. It's $ 20 for a phone line and $ 10 per gig of data you use – capped at $ 60 in a newer program, it's called "Bill Protection." The reason I like it, is that you can get a SIM card containing only data at no additional cost. per month beyond the data you use on it. I think this is one of the best wireless deals. But depending on your data habits, the same thing may not be true for you.

Until now, I doubted Google's commitment to the Project Fi service. It is not only that it has been called a "project", but also that Google has, say, a mixed record in the provision of communication services. Fi is derived from Google Voice in some respects, a service that has experienced periods of stagnant and sporadic support. And that does not mean Google Fiber, the broadband service that started with an aggressive deployment before weakening.

Expanded support helps to alleviate some of these concerns. And perhaps another sign to show that it's serious, Google is seeking to enter into subscription and sell contracts with a contract that basically pays for your phone, although it's only available today. November 28th. It applies to both new and existing customers:

For any phone you buy [from Google Fi]You will receive the same value in your choice of travel gift cards, which you can spend on flights with Delta and Southwest or for accommodations with Airbnb and hotels.com. If you prefer to set up Google Fi on your current phone, you'll get a $ 200 credit for the Fi service when you register today.