I too received the email and customer service was unhelpful. Tough getting hung out to dry given all my important online accounts have 2 factor authentication. They are effectively forcing me to switch to T Mobile.
Hi. This is my story. I have Google Fi since Sep 2019. I live in Venezuela, so what I do is my Google Fi number is registered in Hang out. I can receive call and SMS and for Data, I have a local SIM. It’s cheaper and only spend $20 in my monthly statement. My device is an IPhone
I've been in Central America and just got the Google Fi email. But in my situation, once they turned off my account, my phone will not ring for incoming call and my voicemail on GF is deactivated. I can use my same number on WhatsApp and Skype. But whenany website that needs a securing check to log back in, SMS and phone calls will not go through. Ouch. I called and they said I had to be in the military. That was it. Not I'm looking for a new carrier or local country carrier to port my number over
I also travel a lot and not sure if I'll be able to get back to US before they'll cut off my international data. Thanks for the heads up. Great review!
Interesting (and very useful) information. I had assumed the rule was also based on your data use. In other words, you figure they probably lose money on every international gig of data you use. Their business model assumes most people travel infrequently enough that those occasional losses from overseas data wash out. So keeping your monthly data use low when overseas would help you stay under the radar, even if you were out of the U.S. for long stretches. But this suggests that they aren't being nearly that strict about this. If you all got the same letter at roughly the same time, and presumably used significantly different amounts of data over those 11 months, it suggests exactly what you say, that they are just basically tracking the intervals between when you ping a U.S. tower as their only enforcement mechanism on that rule and they don't really care how much data you use while overseas. I should get back to the U.S. frequently enough that I will not be anywhere near the 11 month limit. I will, however, probably spend just about half of 2020 overseas. I was a little worried about where the line was, but this sounds like I'll be just fine. I guess I am about to find out. One other data point you may want to share: were you all signed up for unlimited data or were some of you doing the pay by the gig plan? In other words, does it not matter what plan you are on before they come down on you for being gone too long?
Pay by the gig plan. Also, I have friends that are usually on wifi and dont use much data - they didn't get their service shut down. So it might be wise to monitor how much data you're using.
I have same problem without the notification. And, the phone line was also cut off. So, during COVID19 lockdown in Spain, I have no service at all, but I'm still being charged for service plan basics. I set up my plan with explicit plan of moving overseas, and Google support never shared the information you just did. I need service for when I return to the USA, but Google cut me off while in Spain during Covid19 lockdown. Then, the international support number is turned off, chat is buggy and limited, and e-mail can't learn from plain speak writing.
If you download whatsapp....you should be able to call them through that app when you are on wifi. I was able to talk them into turning my service back on...hopefully you can do the same.
International roamers: this is just a data plan. This is not a cell phone service. Google Fi charges 20 cents per minute for calls while you're abroad, and 20 cents per minute FOR INCOMING calls, like it's 1992. As a data plan, sure it's fine. But it's not a phone service. and Wi-Fi calling not available on IPhone.
I just received this notice today! I wonder since I have a shared plan with my business partner who lives in the US but he never uses it, maybe we can somehow get our account back up. I'm not an American however & travelling abroad and live between latin america and asia and haven't been in the US since 2019 pre pandemic. I always live abroad and probably visit the US once every 1-3 years otherwise. Really reliant on my Google Fi since around 2017, so I hope I can get it back up! Good info in any case, got a new sub!
Holy cow. Had no idea this was a thing. This really throws a wrench in my plan. I don't plan on returning every 3-6 months. What is a good option then?
Best thing to do now is to get either FI or Tmobile (I have tmobile now) and have them just for cellular in your eSim spot. When youre overseas you buy a local data card for data. You'll have your US phone number still but be drawing data locally. With t-mobile I get 3G everywhere in the world if i need it for google maps or something and if I want 4G I can pay $5 for a day pass.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure if the phones I would have have eSims. I've only seen physical sims in them. But.. I guess we'll cross that bridge when it comes. Looking forward. I appreciate the help and tips.
I love google fi and I live in Guam. They caught up with me after being outside the USA for 5 months, sent me the same notice that my international data was being cancelled for same reason and left my phone/sms services working. So I've kept my goolge fi number and another phone/# on Guam Docomo, real cheap plan with 5gb permonth as I can use WIFI for everything else. I'm in process of moving my FI sim onto my new DUAL sim Moto G6. BTW, G6 is a real gem of a phone and I just paid $117 for a Moto G6 unlocked phone dual sim. WOW! I like my Moto G6 phones better than all the Samsungs I owned over 6 years before.
T-Mobile has the same stipulation. If you're gone out of CONUS for 90 consecutive days they can and will blacklist you. The only way to reverse it is by being back stateside for 90 days. I work 9-10 months overseas so that wasn't an option for me.
Thanks for this review. It’s been awhile since you made it but apparently it’s still accurate. I’m about to retire and start traveling. I got a Pixel and put Google Fi on the eSIM. That will allow me to use either physical or eSIM bought locally. Then I can set my Pixel to use the local service for data. Calls and texts will stay with Google Fi so I can get those pesky authentication texts from my bank, brokerage, etc. I’ll be stopping by the states every 6 months or so. Hopefully I won’t have problems! Unrelated question but since I’m also retired military I’ll ask. Are you using Tricare and, if so, how has the experience been while traveling?
I do have Tricare...and I use it when I go back to the US once a year. I haven't used it overseas because medical visits are usually sooo cheap...there is no reason to claim. Wish I had a better answer but never had to use it, knock on wood!
can you turn off the data roaming while abroad and turn it back on once you are back in the states? While traveling abroad, if I use a local data plan would that work?
Yea, thats a deal breaker for me, it should not be a problem as long as I'm paying my fee, but since the "policy" says otherwise I will stick to T-Mobile.
have you tried to have 2 sim cards one in the United States and one with you?. is receiving calls from the united state and making wifi calling to the United States free of charge like T-mobile or not? currently, I use T-mobile for use it abroad.
If you have a google phone you don't need any sim card. The phone works anywhere in the world. In the US it uses t-mobile, sprint and us cellular cell towers. If you have an iphone or non-google phone you just need a google sim, No need for another sim - it works anywhere in the world. Anytime you are on wifi...you calls are made on wifi.
@@30AndAWakeUpI have 3 t-mobile sim cards for me and my wife and for the internet in the house. we use it here in the United State and abroad. sometimes, we go abroad for more than six months. the first time we went abroad we got a message from the t-mobile saying you been abroad for a long time and they limit some of the features I do not remember exactly what it was. the second time we went abroad I gave our baby sitter the third sim to use it when we abroad. We were abroad for almost 9 months and was no problem cause all the sims under my name. if I did the same with google it would be work I guess. if I issue three google numbers under my name and one I give to the baby sitter. I think it would be work cause all the phone under my name and also it would be cheaper than the t-mobile. what do you think about it?. Yesterday I ordered a number and a pixel 3 phone. I am planning to travel abroad for six months or more. this time I do not need the internet abroad all what I need is the number but if it works I guess I would do it.
T mobile gave me a warning like this one time too, as I use the T-Mobile Military One unlimited plan. I was in Japan for almost 3 years and never had it shut down thankfully 😅
I'm driving to Mexico in couple weeks from USA to live for 6 months maybe longer. I currently have Sprint. I just bought a Pixel 4 and was thinking about switching to Google Fi. I'm thinking I need the unlimited since I'll be driving for a long period of time. Is that correct? Also do I need to call them and tell them I will be out of the country for 6 months? Trying to figure out best way to do this. Not very savvy when it comes to this stuff. 😊
Wow...that sucks! I just recently joined Google Fi and plan on going on extended travel overseas towards the end of this year. So basically you were out of the country for 10 months before you got a warning from Google Fi, correct? So what are your plans going forward after you get back to the states? Changing providers? What about this scenario? Go to South America for 6 months, then go to South East Asia with a layover in the U.S. for a few hours. Do you think that would restart the clock?
My plan is to keep it and if I have a data issue to get a data card in the other country. You can still text and use your phone...you just lose the data. I have a Google phone so it has an eSim. I have my sim card slot free for another sim. Hope that doesnt happen though. I've heard your scenario does work. As long as you ping on a US cell tower it resets your clock. But Im not 100% sure about that. But I'll definitely be trying out that scenario.
Question: When you connect other devices to your phone's hotspot while using google Fi on your phone, internationally, does the ip address of those devices match with the one from your phone (i.e. a US IP address) or a local one?
If international data is cut off for me in Philippines (plan to stay there for good), will I lose the ability to receive texts from my bank and other US businesses?
Thanks for the info! You mentioned in one of the other comments that you have a Google phone. Do you know other travelers who have had as much satisfaction with Google Fi who use iPhones? I'm planning on using it in South America with an iPhone, and am curious as to if I should expect as good of coverage. Also, did they give you a notice before shutting yours down, like was the email sent a few days before, or did the email just say that they did it, with no notice? Thanks!
Yeah...I know a lot. They all liked it. The only difference is you have to select your cell phone network...it won't switch automatically and you can't have an eSim...so you have to get a physical SIM. But coverage wise it's the same.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thanks! And in regards to Google Fi shutting down your service, did they give you a notice before shutting yours down, like was the email sent a few days before, or did the email just say that they did it, with no notice?
So, stupid question. With Google Fi, could I literally get off the plane in Bangkok, turn on my phone and start calling and texting back to the US? Really I'm looking mainly to be able to receive texts, to confirm my number for account verification type activities. Can use whatsapp and Line for most calls, and would likely use a dual sim phone with a local sim card for data. Thanks for cool video!!!
If I am only going to travel for 1 month that's really not gonna affect the data right? I am traveling for the first time to Lebanon and I was always thinking of a way that can make me always able to have access to the internet in all countries without the need to change my phone number. So can you tell me how was the data connection strength? Was it like a wifi?
Can you still use hotspots if google has turned your data off? I was thinking I could just connect to WiFi. Would that work? Also, I have a compatible phone but am currently out of the country. Can I sign up for Google Fi, connect it to my unlocked phone and start using it right away? Thanks for the video and Safe Travels!
yeah, that's what I did. Nowadays, I'd just get a phone with two sim slots, have your US phone in once slot and buy a data card in a foreign country and use that for data. I have Tmobile now and a country specific data card.
@@30AndAWakeUp Okay. That makes sense. One difficulty is that I had the T-Mobile travel-pass for about 3 months not knowing that they would shut off service after a period of time. I had to send my SIM card back to the US so they wouldn't completely shut off my service. So I don't have a U.S. SIM card and i'll be traveling internationally for quite some time. Will Google Fi issue me an eSIM when I sign up that I can start using right away on my unlocked phone? I just found out about Google Fi today so I am a bit lost in how to go about getting it established. Thanks for any additional time you take to answer my question. I appreciate it!
I am going to Columbia for a week and I already have T-Mobile. Would you recommend just getting the Sim card with a different phone number for the few days that I am there would I still get phone service and Internet like here for only when I’m on Wi-Fi?
When the data gets shut down can you still text? I know you said you could call, but I need to text for the type of work I do. I am looking at getting Google Fi and will be moving abroad. I need a US carrier for my work (VOIP won't work).
Ok.. so just looking into options as I am starting to work for a US company while living abroad and will need to make/receive multiple calls from the US. I use whatsapp etc when possible but what are your suggestions for work? 20 cents a min is really gonna add up fast... do you connect your Google Fi to Google voice? Is that even possible?
Any thoughts on starting with one of the unlimited plans, waiting a couple of months, switching to pay as you go ($20/line+ $10/GB) and switching to local pay as you go sim for data, and then switch back to gFi periodically? Or do you think it’s all about the ping to a US cell tower?
Switched to google fi because I travel often. After the switch to Google Fi, I had no phone or data service in Iowa, South Dakota, Montana, or Idaho - had no maps or phone service on a cross country road trip! Immediately terminated my service with them. I have been attempting for 3 months to recover the $89.57 that I was charged. There is no support phone number - only chat and email and the chat feature is often turned off. Worst experience with any company in my life - and would have been worse if I was in a foreign country - if you are a traveler avoid Google Fi like the plague!!
It was great for international travel for a while but yeah...not so great outside of a big city. Although now I think they are on tmobile's network...so not sure how it is now. Currently using Tmobile for international travel and it's worked well.
Always pay with a credit card. File a claim/dispute with your credit card company and get them to do the work. Generally, if they don't respond, like in your case the company considers that an admission of guilt (like a default judgment in court) and they credit you the money you lost.
If I have a pixel 4 (has google fi modem built in) and decide to sign up for service abroad, can I do that? ..or do I need to be in the United States to sign up?
@@30AndAWakeUp Have you considered that a Storyteller would be just the RV to ship to Europe? I have. You could combine RV and International travel. My two passions as well.
I actually leave the U.S. for 6 months and stay for 6 months... but I only use an average of 3 to 7gb of data per month regardless of my location. Do you think this would pose an issue for me?
I would not recommend Google FI . I switched a month ago and have had a major issue which tech support is unable to resolve. I live in WV and frequent to PA and MD, When Im in MD it will allow me to connect to us cellular. When i go into PA where there is no us cellular it will connect to sprint or t mobile. When i go back into WV it will not reconnect to US cellular and for whatever reason will not connect to sprint. Tech support is on the other side of the world so when you email, you don't get a response until the middle of the night 8-12 hours later. So in summary, I would call their smart switch technology a load of shit!
Can you please elaborate on making calls while away? I understand it's 20cents a minute, but do you get charged when making calls on WiFi? If so how much?
@@30AndAWakeUp Thank you for replying. I was told that calls made on WiFi while outside of the U.S. (from Europe to U.S.) incurs a fee. I guess that's incorrect.
Thanks for the Google Fi experience update. Just ordered a SIM Card and will be activating in the US tomorrow. Hopefully Google Fi will work properly in Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. In the past have just got local SIM Cards but this makes sense to just get one SIM Card that works everywhere.
1. I live in India however I have recently got a GoogleFi at my mailing address in Texas. Would I be able to activate this card in India? 2. Are you able to continue using GoogleFi for calls and messages after they turn off data? Will they only turn off data and will keep the number active?
It almost happened to me during my world travels in 2019 I was out of the country for 7 months and Google Fi sent me an email to basically warn me that I have been out of the country for more then 3 months and that they will cancel my data if I am not back in the USA to resume Fi data service. Calling and text message will still work outside of the USA but no data on Google FI. I opted to buy sim cards in all the countries I visited so I never had Fi to shut off on me. I did get my Pixel 3 stolen in Vietnam but that's another story to tell lol
Hey, dude. Didn't you say you weren't a country counter? I have no clue about Google fi at all. But WHATEVER! Ill just watch your videos because i have nothing better to do. Because i cant go do sports.
I am not even joking here but on my international travel ..Google fi service is bad & shoddy and customer care is horrid!! In less than 4 weeks all cell service is down for 2-3 days and this happened 5 times in 28 days !! Where in the contract did they say data services will 'automatically stop ' when you are on international travel? why don't you advertise this ? Why will i even cancel my legacy Sprint contract (with 0 problems on dozens of international travel) and sign on to this lousy, bad, shoddy google fi ?? what horrid customer service ?? I have signed up for google Fi and no one told me when signing the contract that I would not be able to use it for ‘extended ‘ travel !! What is ‘long term use ‘ ? 1 day .. 1 week ? 1 month In less than 30 days , 5 times the service is down 2-3 days ? Why am I paying google fi?? Why should I pay the entire bill for the shoddy service ?? I have already contacted my attorney general Ken Paxton of Texas .. Mr. Paxton is leading dozens of states in USA in investigating google .. I’m sure he will add my complaint with this pathetic customer service of google fi and goggle today I am going to lodge a complaint today at USDOJ attorney general office in Washington DC ..and also the Washington dc attorney general
This is among the most informative Fi videos. Really excellent.
Glad it was helpful!
FYI: If you're a DoD employee (GS) you can get a waiver instantly
Good to know...thanks for sharing.
I was just wondering this thanks
Thank you for sharing this info! Been looking into Google Fi instead of getting a country local SIM. This is super helpful!
What is a DoD employee? Department of Defense?
@@TheJayMorra yes that makes sense of course, they won't touch the government.
I too received the email and customer service was unhelpful. Tough getting hung out to dry given all my important online accounts have 2 factor authentication. They are effectively forcing me to switch to T Mobile.
i did the same
Hi. This is my story. I have Google Fi since Sep 2019. I live in Venezuela, so what I do is my Google Fi number is registered in Hang out. I can receive call and SMS and for Data, I have a local SIM. It’s cheaper and only spend $20 in my monthly statement. My device is an IPhone
That's probably what I'll start doing as well. Thank for the tip.
30 And A Wake Up I use Google Fi when I go to my vacation house in Florida, Canada and Europe. It’s a great service so far. No complains
Does iMessage work with your American number?
I am glad i came across your video before switching. Good information
Glad it was helpful!
I've been in Central America and just got the Google Fi email. But in my situation, once they turned off my account, my phone will not ring
for incoming call and my voicemail on GF is deactivated. I can use my same number on WhatsApp and Skype. But whenany website that needs a securing check to log back in, SMS and phone calls will not go through. Ouch. I called and they said I had to be in the military. That was it. Not I'm looking for a new carrier or local country carrier to port my number over
id contact them and figure out how to get it to work through wifi
They shut mine off too! I didn’t know about their policy so that’s my fault.
Yeah, definitely sucks but at least they are giving some waivers!!!
I also travel a lot and not sure if I'll be able to get back to US before they'll cut off my international data. Thanks for the heads up. Great review!
No problem
Interesting (and very useful) information. I had assumed the rule was also based on your data use. In other words, you figure they probably lose money on every international gig of data you use. Their business model assumes most people travel infrequently enough that those occasional losses from overseas data wash out. So keeping your monthly data use low when overseas would help you stay under the radar, even if you were out of the U.S. for long stretches.
But this suggests that they aren't being nearly that strict about this. If you all got the same letter at roughly the same time, and presumably used significantly different amounts of data over those 11 months, it suggests exactly what you say, that they are just basically tracking the intervals between when you ping a U.S. tower as their only enforcement mechanism on that rule and they don't really care how much data you use while overseas.
I should get back to the U.S. frequently enough that I will not be anywhere near the 11 month limit. I will, however, probably spend just about half of 2020 overseas. I was a little worried about where the line was, but this sounds like I'll be just fine. I guess I am about to find out.
One other data point you may want to share: were you all signed up for unlimited data or were some of you doing the pay by the gig plan? In other words, does it not matter what plan you are on before they come down on you for being gone too long?
Pay by the gig plan. Also, I have friends that are usually on wifi and dont use much data - they didn't get their service shut down. So it might be wise to monitor how much data you're using.
Great video and thanks, So they only will shut off the data and not text and phone calls ?
This was a while ago..but yeah text and phone calls worked on wifi
I have same problem without the notification. And, the phone line was also cut off. So, during COVID19 lockdown in Spain, I have no service at all, but I'm still being charged for service plan basics. I set up my plan with explicit plan of moving overseas, and Google support never shared the information you just did. I need service for when I return to the USA, but Google cut me off while in Spain during Covid19 lockdown. Then, the international support number is turned off, chat is buggy and limited, and e-mail can't learn from plain speak writing.
If you download whatsapp....you should be able to call them through that app when you are on wifi. I was able to talk them into turning my service back on...hopefully you can do the same.
International roamers: this is just a data plan. This is not a cell phone service. Google Fi charges 20 cents per minute for calls while you're abroad, and 20 cents per minute FOR INCOMING calls, like it's 1992. As a data plan, sure it's fine. But it's not a phone service. and Wi-Fi calling not available on IPhone.
good point
I just received this notice today! I wonder since I have a shared plan with my business partner who lives in the US but he never uses it, maybe we can somehow get our account back up. I'm not an American however & travelling abroad and live between latin america and asia and haven't been in the US since 2019 pre pandemic. I always live abroad and probably visit the US once every 1-3 years otherwise. Really reliant on my Google Fi since around 2017, so I hope I can get it back up! Good info in any case, got a new sub!
that might work
If you’re a DoD (GS) employee, Google fi will submit a waiver for you and it will take approximately 3-5 business.
Cool...thanks for the info.
Yeah I just got the "Dear Tom" email after a bit less then 3 months abroad- I heard a Factory reset may fix this before they shut down My data?
hopefully they change that policy
very useful information! thank you! i won't be converting to google-fi now
Glad it was helpful!
Roaming coverage is always best because it has towers to select from that's why coverage is so great!
aww ok...good info...thanks for watching and commenting.
30 And A Wake Up yeah it's different towers not just one company or 2
Holy cow. Had no idea this was a thing. This really throws a wrench in my plan. I don't plan on returning every 3-6 months. What is a good option then?
Best thing to do now is to get either FI or Tmobile (I have tmobile now) and have them just for cellular in your eSim spot. When youre overseas you buy a local data card for data. You'll have your US phone number still but be drawing data locally. With t-mobile I get 3G everywhere in the world if i need it for google maps or something and if I want 4G I can pay $5 for a day pass.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure if the phones I would have have eSims. I've only seen physical sims in them. But.. I guess we'll cross that bridge when it comes. Looking forward. I appreciate the help and tips.
Good info! Im heading to greece for 3 months for work so this is very helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I love google fi and I live in Guam. They caught up with me after being outside the USA for 5 months, sent me the same notice that my international data was being cancelled for same reason and left my phone/sms services working. So I've kept my goolge fi number and another phone/# on Guam Docomo, real cheap plan with 5gb permonth as I can use WIFI for everything else. I'm in process of moving my FI sim onto my new DUAL sim Moto G6. BTW, G6 is a real gem of a phone and I just paid $117 for a Moto G6 unlocked phone dual sim. WOW! I like my Moto G6 phones better than all the Samsungs I owned over 6 years before.
Very cool. Im on the Pixel 3 at the moment with the eSim and the free sim slot. Next month Im adding a sim card to the slot and see how it goes.
For someone who travels internationally a few times a year, is google fi worth it? Is it better to just buy a SIM card at the destination?
I think so.....it works pretty well in the US and is pretty cheap. And it's so easy overseas.
in 2022 Google Fi was So great! for 3 months with RY Vietnam, Thailand Bali... until they shut it off
yeah, it use to not be like that but unfortunately.....that seems to be what they do now
T-Mobile has the same stipulation. If you're gone out of CONUS for 90 consecutive days they can and will blacklist you. The only way to reverse it is by being back stateside for 90 days. I work 9-10 months overseas so that wasn't an option for me.
Yeah, tough to find a plan that's not going to get mad when you're gone a lot nowadays. Hopefully that changes in the future.
We just got the email as well. Have loved Google Fi and you've given us hope we might get a waiver. Thanks for the informative video! :)
No problem...let me know how it turns out.
Thanks for this review. It’s been awhile since you made it but apparently it’s still accurate.
I’m about to retire and start traveling. I got a Pixel and put Google Fi on the eSIM. That will allow me to use either physical or eSIM bought locally. Then I can set my Pixel to use the local service for data. Calls and texts will stay with Google Fi so I can get those pesky authentication texts from my bank, brokerage, etc.
I’ll be stopping by the states every 6 months or so. Hopefully I won’t have problems!
Unrelated question but since I’m also retired military I’ll ask. Are you using Tricare and, if so, how has the experience been while traveling?
I do have Tricare...and I use it when I go back to the US once a year. I haven't used it overseas because medical visits are usually sooo cheap...there is no reason to claim. Wish I had a better answer but never had to use it, knock on wood!
I think they shut it down after 90 days of consecutive days without returning to the usa for a short period of time.
I was out of the country for more than 11 months before they tried.
can you turn off the data roaming while abroad and turn it back on once you are back in the states? While traveling abroad, if I use a local data plan would that work?
yes
Yea, thats a deal breaker for me, it should not be a problem as long as I'm paying my fee, but since the "policy" says otherwise I will stick to T-Mobile.
That makes sense for sure.
Thank you soo much for this review! i'm from brazil and you saved me a lot of trouble!!!
Glad I could help!
have you tried to have 2 sim cards one in the United States and one with you?. is receiving calls from the united state and making wifi calling to the United States free of charge like T-mobile or not? currently, I use T-mobile for use it abroad.
If you have a google phone you don't need any sim card. The phone works anywhere in the world. In the US it uses t-mobile, sprint and us cellular cell towers. If you have an iphone or non-google phone you just need a google sim, No need for another sim - it works anywhere in the world. Anytime you are on wifi...you calls are made on wifi.
@@30AndAWakeUpI have 3 t-mobile sim cards for me and my wife and for the internet in the house. we use it here in the United State and abroad. sometimes, we go abroad for more than six months. the first time we went abroad we got a message from the t-mobile saying you been abroad for a long time and they limit some of the features I do not remember exactly what it was. the second time we went abroad I gave our baby sitter the third sim to use it when we abroad. We were abroad for almost 9 months and was no problem cause all the sims under my name. if I did the same with google it would be work I guess. if I issue three google numbers under my name and one I give to the baby sitter. I think it would be work cause all the phone under my name and also it would be cheaper than the t-mobile. what do you think about it?. Yesterday I ordered a number and a pixel 3 phone. I am planning to travel abroad for six months or more. this time I do not need the internet abroad all what I need is the number but if it works I guess I would do it.
T mobile gave me a warning like this one time too, as I use the T-Mobile Military One unlimited plan. I was in Japan for almost 3 years and never had it shut down thankfully 😅
I switched to Tmobile recently.
were you able to get incoming calls from the USA in foreign countries, if so how much did it cost on average per call or min
Yes...it's 20 cents a minute unless you are on wifi...it's free i you are on wifi.
I'm driving to Mexico in couple weeks from USA to live for 6 months maybe longer. I currently have Sprint. I just bought a Pixel 4 and was thinking about switching to Google Fi. I'm thinking I need the unlimited since I'll be driving for a long period of time. Is that correct? Also do I need to call them and tell them I will be out of the country for 6 months? Trying to figure out best way to do this. Not very savvy when it comes to this stuff. 😊
You don't have to go..it just works outside the country.
What would you suggest for expats who live abroad indefinitely? I was all in until i saw this video, thanks for the heads up!
Im using a combination of Google Fi because text messaging and calls still works (only cost $20 a month if you arent using data) and GlocalMe hotspot.
Wow...that sucks! I just recently joined Google Fi and plan on going on extended travel overseas towards the end of this year. So basically you were out of the country for 10 months before you got a warning from Google Fi, correct? So what are your plans going forward after you get back to the states? Changing providers? What about this scenario? Go to South America for 6 months, then go to South East Asia with a layover in the U.S. for a few hours. Do you think that would restart the clock?
My plan is to keep it and if I have a data issue to get a data card in the other country. You can still text and use your phone...you just lose the data. I have a Google phone so it has an eSim. I have my sim card slot free for another sim. Hope that doesnt happen though. I've heard your scenario does work. As long as you ping on a US cell tower it resets your clock. But Im not 100% sure about that. But I'll definitely be trying out that scenario.
30 And A Wake Up - thank you! That’s was excellent information. . I had no idea. I guess I didn’t read the fine print.
@@jbjay2884 Yeah...I kind of knew but read back when I first got it that they never really enforced the policy.
Excellent! I'm travelling to Spain in March good to know I'll be cover!
Yeah...I'm in Valencia, Spain right now and it works great here.
@@30AndAWakeUp Awesome, thanks for the reply!
@@jupena Thanks for watching and commenting!
Question: When you connect other devices to your phone's hotspot while using google Fi on your phone, internationally, does the ip address of those devices match with the one from your phone (i.e. a US IP address) or a local one?
Hmmm..not sure. I use a VPN but not sure.
@@30AndAWakeUp thanks! do you know how I could find out by any chance? Also, do you have your vpn on your device or your phone or a router?
If international data is cut off for me in Philippines (plan to stay there for good), will I lose the ability to receive texts from my bank and other US businesses?
you can still get them if on wifi....
@@30AndAWakeUp so, it's not seen as a voip like magic jack? because my magic jack calls work with voice on wifi but not texts from businesses
Thanks for the info! You mentioned in one of the other comments that you have a Google phone. Do you know other travelers who have had as much satisfaction with Google Fi who use iPhones? I'm planning on using it in South America with an iPhone, and am curious as to if I should expect as good of coverage. Also, did they give you a notice before shutting yours down, like was the email sent a few days before, or did the email just say that they did it, with no notice? Thanks!
Yeah...I know a lot. They all liked it. The only difference is you have to select your cell phone network...it won't switch automatically and you can't have an eSim...so you have to get a physical SIM. But coverage wise it's the same.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thanks! And in regards to Google Fi shutting down your service, did they give you a notice before shutting yours down, like was the email sent a few days before, or did the email just say that they did it, with no notice?
So, stupid question. With Google Fi, could I literally get off the plane in Bangkok, turn on my phone and start calling and texting back to the US? Really I'm looking mainly to be able to receive texts, to confirm my number for account verification type activities. Can use whatsapp and Line for most calls, and would likely use a dual sim phone with a local sim card for data. Thanks for cool video!!!
yes
Even when your data got switched off. Were you able to receive and make phone calls abroad?
Yes when on wifi.
What about when Wi-Fi was disabled?
I wonder if using a VPN to ping a US tower would work. Thank you for the video, I'm looking for alternatives for my area, so this video was helpful.
It doesnt
Wow, thanks for the information..I'm not a frequent traveler, but this is good to know anyway.
No problem! Thanks for watching and commenting.
If I am only going to travel for 1 month that's really not gonna affect the data right? I am traveling for the first time to Lebanon and I was always thinking of a way that can make me always able to have access to the internet in all countries without the need to change my phone number. So can you tell me how was the data connection strength? Was it like a wifi?
It was good for me but Ive never been to Lebanon so not sure how it works there.
So i plan on living in vietnam if i stay there longer than 6 months they will shut it down? Not very good then
Yeah, it used to be an unenforced rule but theyve started to enforce it more.
Can you still use hotspots if google has turned your data off? I was thinking I could just connect to WiFi. Would that work? Also, I have a compatible phone but am currently out of the country. Can I sign up for Google Fi, connect it to my unlocked phone and start using it right away? Thanks for the video and Safe Travels!
yeah, that's what I did. Nowadays, I'd just get a phone with two sim slots, have your US phone in once slot and buy a data card in a foreign country and use that for data. I have Tmobile now and a country specific data card.
@@30AndAWakeUp Okay. That makes sense. One difficulty is that I had the T-Mobile travel-pass for about 3 months not knowing that they would shut off service after a period of time. I had to send my SIM card back to the US so they wouldn't completely shut off my service. So I don't have a U.S. SIM card and i'll be traveling internationally for quite some time. Will Google Fi issue me an eSIM when I sign up that I can start using right away on my unlocked phone? I just found out about Google Fi today so I am a bit lost in how to go about getting it established. Thanks for any additional time you take to answer my question. I appreciate it!
Really? This is new? I use them for 9 month in South America in 2019 and it never shut me down.
yeah...they shut me down
I am going to Columbia for a week and I already have T-Mobile. Would you recommend just getting the Sim card with a different phone number for the few days that I am there would I still get phone service and Internet like here for only when I’m on Wi-Fi?
I think you'll be ok to be honest.
Columbia is in the U.S. you should be fine
Is the speed good?. Or they just offer 140kps like Tmobile
Its good
Thanks for the information. Would you mind sharing your thoughts and experiences with the built in VPN that FI offers?
It's ok....i have one for me computer that works on my phone..so honestly i just use that one....
When the data gets shut down can you still text? I know you said you could call, but I need to text for the type of work I do. I am looking at getting Google Fi and will be moving abroad. I need a US carrier for my work (VOIP won't work).
you can if you have wifi
Ok.. so just looking into options as I am starting to work for a US company while living abroad and will need to make/receive multiple calls from the US. I use whatsapp etc when possible but what are your suggestions for work? 20 cents a min is really gonna add up fast... do you connect your Google Fi to Google voice? Is that even possible?
yeah...as long as you're on wifi you don't get charged.....but Whatsapp is what I tried to use most of the time.
Can you use Google Fi in conjunction with an esim? Thereby using esim for data instead?
not sure..you couldn't when I used it
Any thoughts on starting with one of the unlimited plans, waiting a couple of months, switching to pay as you go ($20/line+ $10/GB) and switching to local pay as you go sim for data, and then switch back to gFi periodically? Or do you think it’s all about the ping to a US cell tower?
Im really not sure....I'd just be guessing.
Great idea, thanks.
Switched to google fi because I travel often. After the switch to Google Fi, I had no phone or data service in Iowa, South Dakota, Montana, or Idaho - had no maps or phone service on a cross country road trip! Immediately terminated my service with them. I have been attempting for 3 months to recover the $89.57 that I was charged. There is no support phone number - only chat and email and the chat feature is often turned off. Worst experience with any company in my life - and would have been worse if I was in a foreign country - if you are a traveler avoid Google Fi like the plague!!
It was great for international travel for a while but yeah...not so great outside of a big city. Although now I think they are on tmobile's network...so not sure how it is now. Currently using Tmobile for international travel and it's worked well.
Always pay with a credit card. File a claim/dispute with your credit card company and get them to do the work. Generally, if they don't respond, like in your case the company considers that an admission of guilt (like a default judgment in court) and they credit you the money you lost.
Hi, you mentioned they shut off International Data but cellular service is on. Does this mean i will continue to get SMS/text ?
Hmmm...not sure.
If I have a pixel 4 (has google fi modem built in) and decide to sign up for service abroad, can I do that? ..or do I need to be in the United States to sign up?
Im not sure but I think you can.
Were you able to text/make regular calls?
yeah, when on wifi
@@30AndAWakeUp were you able to text without Wifi?
Thank you for the warning-I teach ESL and am only back in the US a month out of the year… that’s too bad.
yeah, it's a great plan but they might shut you down.
I've been looking for an international plan. Thanks
Love Fi!
@@30AndAWakeUp Have you considered that a Storyteller would be just the RV to ship to Europe? I have. You could combine RV and International travel. My two passions as well.
I actually leave the U.S. for 6 months and stay for 6 months... but I only use an average of 3 to 7gb of data per month regardless of my location. Do you think this would pose an issue for me?
i think you'd be safe ...they didn't ping me until I was out of the country 9 months
I would not recommend Google FI . I switched a month ago and have had a major issue which tech support is unable to resolve. I live in WV and frequent to PA and MD, When Im in MD it will allow me to connect to us cellular. When i go into PA where there is no us cellular it will connect to sprint or t mobile. When i go back into WV it will not reconnect to US cellular and for whatever reason will not connect to sprint. Tech support is on the other side of the world so when you email, you don't get a response until the middle of the night 8-12 hours later. So in summary, I would call their smart switch technology a load of shit!
Yeah, I switched as well. I think it's great for travel but not so much in the US. Hopefully, someone comes out with a true global plan at some point.
This is happening to me right now!!! I’m pissed, I’m done with Google Fi when I get back to the states
I got Tmobile and it's been good so far.
Is Google Fi roaming still good? How’s your experience in 2021 so far?
I was in the US the whole 2020 and most of 2021 so I dont have it anymore. Friends say it's still good.
This happened to me but with T Mobile. I think all the big carriers have similar policies.
Yeah.....kind of annoying but I understand.
excellent info. I'm normally in the EU 6+ months a year but back and forth, so this could work.
Glad it helped!
i would get a vodafone uk contract and add us and canada as an add-on thats an option for you so you can use your data in EU plus us and canada
so if i stayed in Colombia for 6 months would I be safe?
probably not anymore...they are getting more strict.
Why you didnt visit Bolivia, it is next to Peru and Chile. Love you bruh. Visit us next time 🙂
I should have!
Can you receive SMS (short code) when you are out os country ??? Thanks
Yes
How long before they notified you of it?
I made it like 9 months...but now they are much more strict.
First time i heard about google fi😄
Other than this hiccup it's pretty great.
Can Google Fi be activated from abroad ?
no
It’s probably a visa issue with us regulations to make sure people check in?
hmmmm maybe
If you use less data would that make a difference?
Yeah, I think that would have kept me under the radar.
@@30AndAWakeUp wow ok thank you so much, had no idea!
@@30AndAWakeUp also, do know how long you would have to stay in America to "reset" it? Thank you
Can you please elaborate on making calls while away? I understand it's 20cents a minute, but do you get charged when making calls on WiFi? If so how much?
No charge when you make them over Wifi...only when you make them over a cellular network.
@@30AndAWakeUp Thank you for replying. I was told that calls made on WiFi while outside of the U.S. (from Europe to U.S.) incurs a fee. I guess that's incorrect.
@@lt2143 Not in my experience.
Hugely helpful information! Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the Google Fi experience update. Just ordered a SIM Card and will be activating in the US tomorrow. Hopefully Google Fi will work properly in Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. In the past have just got local SIM Cards but this makes sense to just get one SIM Card that works everywhere.
it'll work in all those....i used it...no issue in all those countries
what phone are you using?
Pixel 3
So you recommend switching from T-Mobile to Google Fi? I live in NY
I think if you're on wifi alot...you'll save money and still have Tmobile.
@@30AndAWakeUp Got you
What is 23:59?
Military time for a minute before midnight.
Same thing happened to me. 60 days.
yeah, that sucks
So Google Fi should still be fine for going to Japan for a month then back to the states ya?
yeah, i used it in Kyoto for a month and it worked great.
I just need to have international data when I’m in Canada just for week 😅 calls/text would cool but I’m with Verizon 🙃
Yeah ...that's smart.
so google fi is the best plan for travel or what ?
I think it is.
1. I live in India however I have recently got a GoogleFi at my mailing address in Texas. Would I be able to activate this card in India?
2. Are you able to continue using GoogleFi for calls and messages after they turn off data? Will they only turn off data and will keep the number active?
No you have to be connected to a US cell tower to activate. Yes, you can still receive calls and messages when on Wifi.
It almost happened to me during my world travels in 2019 I was out of the country for 7 months and Google Fi sent me an email to basically warn me that I have been out of the country for more then 3 months and that they will cancel my data if I am not back in the USA to resume Fi data service. Calling and text message will still work outside of the USA but no data on Google FI. I opted to buy sim cards in all the countries I visited so I never had Fi to shut off on me. I did get my Pixel 3 stolen in Vietnam but that's another story to tell lol
Yeah I think that's what I am going to do. Start using data cards...it's usually much cheaper anyway. I'd love to hear the Pixel 3 story!
Dude you look like Michael Mando AKA Nacho (Better Call Saul)
I'll take it!
VPN don't work
Nope....you have to ping at a US cell tower. VPN can't do that.
You visited 17 countries this year? That must have been exhausting considering the year is only 11 days old... 😋😉😊
haha..i meant last year :)
hahaha astute woman you are.
Hey, dude. Didn't you say you weren't a country counter? I have no clue about Google fi at all. But WHATEVER! Ill just watch your videos because i have nothing better to do. Because i cant go do sports.
Not a country counter but kind of relevant for this video! :)
Thank you for the helpful information!
No problem...let me know i you have any questions.
This is the first time hearing about this. They really hide this information. I think you just saved me a lot of money and a ton of headaches. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Oh man I guess I’m back to plan A lol
I use tmobile now
@@30AndAWakeUp So which tmobile plan do you use? I have lived in Asia for over 2 years and haven't found a good solution.
Informative 👍
Thanks!!!
Thanks for the heads up
No problem!
I want to travel !!! I wish!!!
Hopefully you'll find a way.
I am not even joking here but on my international travel ..Google fi service is bad & shoddy and customer care is horrid!! In less than 4 weeks all cell service is down for 2-3 days and this happened 5 times in 28 days !!
Where in the contract did they say data services will 'automatically stop ' when you are on international travel?
why don't you advertise this ? Why will i even cancel my legacy Sprint contract (with 0 problems on dozens of international travel) and
sign on to this lousy, bad, shoddy google fi ?? what horrid customer service ??
I have signed up for google Fi and no one told me when signing the contract that I would not be able to use it for ‘extended ‘ travel !!
What is ‘long term use ‘ ? 1 day .. 1 week ? 1 month
In less than 30 days , 5 times the service is down 2-3 days ? Why am I paying google fi??
Why should I pay the entire bill for the shoddy service ??
I have already contacted my attorney general Ken Paxton of Texas .. Mr. Paxton is leading dozens of states in USA in investigating google .. I’m sure he will add my complaint with this pathetic customer service of google fi and goggle
today I am going to lodge a complaint today at USDOJ attorney general office in Washington DC ..and also the Washington dc attorney general
Replied to your same comment in the other vid.
👍🙏
👍
Wow! 😳😦 Umm...😒😏 Yeeeeeeaaah, 😬 I think I’ll keep my Iridium SatPhone 😬😬😬 Juuuuuust in case! 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ lol 😁😄😆😄😃😀
Good call! :)
It's great
Yeah, I really like it!