The long and drawn out death of carrier 3G services in the US is drawing to its dramatic end, with T-Mobile flipping the off switch on its legacy system in July. Google Fi, being a T-Mobile MVNO, will be affected even if it happens, and the company has detailed how customers will be affected.
For a brief reference dump, while you can make calls via VoLTE using 4G on most carriers, not all devices have that functionality, as the device needs both software features to do so and usually Must be approved by the carrier to make VoLTE calls. their network. Some older devices make do by falling back to 2G or 3G for calls, but spectrum refirming on the part of carriers to reuse those old frequencies for 4G and 5G use is killing that legacy solution.
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Google’s June update for currently supported Pixel models delivered VoLTE roaming “to multiple US and global carriers,” according to the company’s documentation, ensuring that calls even after the recent Pixel 3G network shutdown. will be able to do. This will eventually include the Pixel 3a, which is set to receive its final update “by July”. Many Google Fi customers use the Pixel, which means those with more recent models should be unaffected.
These details were already known, but now Google is giving more details about how Google Fi customers on other phones will be affected by the T-Mobile 3G shutdown in July, and the company has told us about specific models of Pixel phones. Some additional details have been provided. Exactly how will they be affected.
What if I have an older Pixel?
Google has clearly stated that customers still using Pixel 1 or Pixel 2 will be affected by this shutdown. Since older devices that did not receive the VoLTE roaming update in June 2022 will not have connectivity while roaming in the US. The Google Fi support docs don’t mention it, but these devices Doing Support VoLTE in other circumstances.
In some circumstances the Pixel 1 and 2 will have problems over Fi after shutdown.
Google has confirmed to Android Police that Fi customers using the Pixel 1 or 2 will still be able to make calls using VoLTE when they’re on the T-Mobile home network and not roaming, and that they’re on non-VoLTE Make calls even when on a US cellular home network — In the US, Fi uses these two networks, switching between them as needed on supported devices.
However, there are still times when Fi subscribers end up roaming on other regional networks in domestic capacity. For example, T-Mobile’s roaming partner network means you can be on T-Mobile but some locations are served by Viaro, Komnet Wireless, and other smaller regional carriers (there are a surprising number of them). We have been told that if any of these roaming partner networks do not support 2G or 3G, customers may lose voice calling services, including 911 calls, or data connectivity.
In short, if you stick to a Pixel 1 or Pixel 2 on Google Fi, you can might Stay clear in some areas and maintain your ability to make and receive calls, but you may notice a decrease in call functionality or all connectivity in other areas.
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The Pixel 3 series also seems to be affected to some extent, and Google claims that the ability to make phone calls while roaming may be reduced.
Given that these older Pixel devices are no longer receiving security patch updates, those affected are likely to upgrade to more recent and better supported hardware – if not for better calls, then for their own safety and security. .
What if I have a non-VoLTE phone?
Non-VoLTE devices will have no ability to make voice calls, including emergency calls. However, Google indicates that these devices may still be able to make and receive calls via Wi-Fi — a feature of Google Fi and many other carriers.
If you’re not sure whether your phone supports VoLTE, you can check with the Google Fi compatibility tool. Disappointingly, the tool doesn’t actually indicate whether a device supports VoLTE roaming, which is also important, but it’s a good ballpark indicator. Affected customers may also be contacted by Google regarding the issue if they haven’t already.
What if I’m usually on 3G with Google Fi?
The cell signal is what it is, and the towers are where they are, which means you may not have a choice about what your phone connects to. If you’re on Google Fi and you notice that your phone only connects to 3G in the areas where you live or work, you may lose service.
Google has a coverage checker that can tell you whether your area should be served by 4G or 5G over Google Fi, so it’s easy to see. If you now find yourself outside of a service area, your only real option is to change carriers.
upgrade option
Those glued to Fi and affected by 3G shutdowns really only have one option: buy a new phone. A while back, Google offered affected people a $100 credit to upgrade to a newer model, but that offer has since expired – and actually got Better, Google tells Android Police that it is now offering customers with a non-VoLTE phone a $200 credit at Fi stores when they upgrade to a new device via Google Fi. Even more astonishingly, I have been told that it can be combined with other proposals, which it usually does not. But even without the credit, buying the phone with Google Fi offers a better deal than most carriers offer.
The Pixel 5a is my pick for best sub-$500 phone period, and the extra discount on Fi makes it an incredible deal.
For $15 per month, you can upgrade to the Pixel 5a on a subscription basis And Get another upgrade in two more years, which is a huge deal and saves about $100 compared to buying it outright, and that’s the option I recommend. The Pixel 5a is one of my favorite mid-range phones, and although it will soon be replaced by the Pixel 6a, it’s a great deal.
If you want something cool, Google offers a Pixel Pass subscription that not only gets you a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, but also YouTube Premium, YouTube Music Premium, Google One cloud storage, Google Play Pass, And Loss, theft, or damage insurance for $45 per month, and it also earns you a $5 per month deductible on your Google Fi bill. If you want to have all the bells and whistles in both your phone and service without paying upfront, this is probably the way to go.
The Galaxy A13 5G on Google Fi is also a great deal on a budget.
If you’re on a more extreme budget, you can get the Samsung A03s for $160 plus $50 in Fi bill credit or the Samsung A13 5G for $200 – $50 off. The Samsung Galaxy A13 5G is great for the price, and one of our favorite budget smartphones right now.
Other big discounts on Fi right now include a $400 discount on the Galaxy S Flip3 – a really fun phone that I guess isn’t for everyone, and which is expected to be replaced by a new model soon. The S22 series, including the Galaxy S22 Ultra, is also $300 off Google Fi, and nearly every phone sold by the carrier either has a discount of a few bucks or includes a month or two of bill credit.
Updates: Our coverage originally stated that Google was offering a $200 discount on a new phone for customers who upgraded from a non-VoLTE device. It is actually a service credit that is applied to your monthly bill. Details about the promo have been updated.
