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The Telecom Digest for Sat, 08 Jan 2022
Volume 41 : Issue 7 : "text" format

table of contents
Re: I've been given a Google Pixel Fi phone. Now what?
Re: I've been given a Google Pixel Fi phone. Now what?

Message-ID: <4dmdnVwuEtyW2kX8nZ2dnUU7_8zNnZ2d@giganews.com> Date: 7 Jan 2022 05:57:54 -0800 From: "John Reiser" <vendor@BitWagon.com> Subject: Re: I've been given a Google Pixel Fi phone. Now what? >> Can I limit data use? > > Probably not. Most versions of Android have a Setting for "Data warning and limit". In recent versions, go to Settings and then Search for "limit". On a handy instance of Android 12, I see a default of 2.0GB; but the default is Off, and I have never turned it On. The web administration page for my plan shows usage as of yesterday, and my plan sends me an email when I reach 75% of monthly allowance.
Message-ID: <20220106163510.GA26240rev@telecom.csail.mit.edu> Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2022 16:35:10 +0000 From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com> Subject: Re: I've been given a Google Pixel Fi phone. Now what? Here are some more question, inline. On Wed, Jan 05, 2022 at 12:48:59PM -0500, John Levine wrote: > It appears that Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com> said: > >A kind neighbor has given me a used Google Pixel Fi phone, and I'd > >appreciate your help to make use of it without spending too much. > > > >Please answer these questions for me: > > > > 2. Google offers a "Low Cost" plan with "Unlimited talk and text," > > which they say is great if I can use WiFi a lot, but the $20 they > > quote on the first page turns into "$20-$80" when it's time to give > > them a credit card number. It turns out that they want to be paid by > > the Gigabyte for data. Can I limit data use? > > Probably not. I got an email from another reader, who said that there's a software option that will do that. Do you know anyone at Google who can confirm or deny? > > 4. Verizon has been offering a prepaid plan for $20/month. Can this > > phone be used with that? I don't need data. > > I think so. You might also look at the $20 and $25 plans from Tracfone > which also uses Verizon, and from Ting which will send you a Verizon SIM > if you ask for one using the online chat on their web site. Ting looks like a good deal: I especially like that they don't charge for data that's over the plan limit. They do throttle the rate, but I don't mind that, given how seldom I use or need data. But, I use a Verizon Femtocell, since coverage is so poor out here in the hills. Tracfone used to use a different carrier, so I'll ask if Verizontal switched them to Verizon Cellular as part of the Tracfone deal. > > 5. If someone gave this phone to you, what would you do with it? > > Stick a SIM in it and see how it works. It's a nice 2017 vintage phone. The Google Pixel Fi site said it has an "e-sim" in it, so I didn't know that was possible. I'll check. Thanks for your help! -- Bill Horne (Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)

End of telecom Digest Sat, 08 Jan 2022

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