Tag: project fi

Google Announces Moto X4 Android One Edition

Earlier in September there as a leak of an Android One branded Moto X4, and now, Google has officially announced the new smartphone. The Moto X4 Android One for Project Fi is available only in the United States as of now and is priced at US$399 (Rs. 25800 approx.). The device can be pre-ordered from the Project Fi website right now and is available in Super Black and Sterling Blue colours.

Android One is Google’s project to provide pure Android OS experience and timely software updates to smartphones. In a blog post, Google said:

Like all Android One phones, Android One Moto X4 runs a pure Android experience, with a clean software design and a carefully curated set of preinstalled apps to give you just what you need. For example, it comes optimized for the Google Assistant to help you get more done, and offers high-quality video calling with Google Duo. You’ll also get access to the latest updates from Android, such as Android Oreo before the end of the year. Android One moto x⁴ will be among the first to receive an upgrade to Android P.

Project Fi is a Google-run network service is a customizable package that switches between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. It eradicates boundaries and gives customers the freedom to use the network in their hometown and during international travels at the same rate.

As far as specifications are concerned, the Moto X4 has a 5.2 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass on top for protection. The smartphone runs stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat and is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery with TurboCharge capabilities. Motorola recently announced that the Moto X4 will receive an update to Android 8.0 Oreo by the end of the year. The company claims that the 15 mins of charge can give up to 6 hours of talk time. The Moto X4 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, 2.2 GHz octa-core processor and Adreno 508 GPU, along with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which can be expanded up to 2TB via microSD card. The phone has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

The new smartphone will also feature Alexa, the Amazon AI voice assistant. This isn’t the first time that Alexa has made its way onto a smartphone, the Huawei Mate 9 was the first smartphone to feature the voice assistant. Since then, we have also seen Alexa make its way to the HTC U11.The 4 in Moto X4 signifies that the new smartphone will be able to share the sound with up to 4 devices, thanks to the presence of Bluetooth 5.0.

The Moto X4 has a dual-camera setup at the back. The main camera is a 12MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, and the 8MP secondary camera with an f/2.2 aperture is equipped with a wide-angle lens. The dual-cameras allow users to have depth effect shots, bokeh effect shots, ultra-wide angle shots, and selective focus shots. On the front of the device is a 16MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an LED flash. The cameras record 4K videos at 30 FPS.

The regular variant of the Moto X4 will launch in India on 3rd October and the price is expected to be around Rs 25,000.

September 21, 2017
Apple Rejects Rumours About Launching its Own MVNO Cellular Service

Yesterday, we reported that Apple was looking to start a mobile wireless service. However, in a statement to CNBC, Apple has clarified and said that it “has not discussed and is not planning MVNO cellular service following reports saying it was planning on doing that.”

This statement crushed all rumours that Apple was looking to expand by exploring to become an MVNO. Besides, Google had also announced their own MVNO initiative, Project Fi. However, Apple has clearly rejected all rumours surrounding their own so-called initiative and has no plans to offer consumers an MVNO cellular service.

Even Tim Cook, had earlier stated that Apple doesn’t need to “own the pipe” and that their aim was to focus on making great and efficient devices while leaving the cellular issues to “people who own it” and “who know more about it than we do”

Source: [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_blank” link=”https://twitter.com/CNBCnow/status/628584165311692800″]twitter.com[/tw-button]

August 5, 2015
Report: Apple to Bring Out its Own Mobile Wireless Service

Earlier this year, Google surprised us all by bringing out Project Fi – the company’s own cell service. The Google-run network service is a customizable package that switches between Wi-Fi and multiple cellular networks. We’ve now seen reports that claim that Apple is also planning to launch a service, similar to what Google already has to offer.

According to the reports, the Cupertino-based tech giant is currently in talks with telecom companies in Europe to work with them on their very own Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service. In the States, the service is already in trial mode.

It’s operation may be similar to Google’s Project Fi. Apple would chalk out a deal with multiple carrier services so that once you opt for Apple’s MVNO service, it would provide you the best service available in that particular area – hence, switching between multiple carriers. And with this switch, you would also begin paying Apple for your texts, calls and data usage, instead of your current network provider. When Google launched its cell service, it claimed that it was the ultimate way to make sure you get the best possible network connection available.

Again we should remember that this isn’t new territory for Apple. In September 2014, along with new iPads and iMacs, Apple had also announced the Apple SIM, which is a reprogrammable SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) that you could use to switch from carrier to carrier, networks and pricing plans using just a software in the device. The card is removable and if you buy a carrier locked device, it will carry the carrier’s SIM card.

The recent report states that Apple might take upto five years to launch this new service. We have no doubt that this service would be exclusive to Apple devices only. The company seems to be dabbling with multiple projects, and making its way towards the future.

Source : [tw-button size=”medium” background=”#07ABE2″ color=”” target=”_self” link=”http://www.businessinsider.in/Apple-is-in-talks-to-launch-its-own-virtual-network-service-in-the-US-and-Europe/articleshow/48333937.cms”][/tw-button]

August 4, 2015
Google Hints at a New Device in Project Fi Video; Next-Gen Nexus 5 May be in the Works

The Nexus 5 has been touted as one of the best products to roll out from the Google lineup. The handset, featuring a Full HD Display and 2.3 GHz processor, came with an affordable price tag and sold like hot cakes. Now there are reports stating that the internet giant is working on a refreshed version of the flagship. The next device has tentatively been titled as Nexus 5 2015.

A technology portal called Android Origins states that a new version of Google Nexus 5 might release in two variants. The video released last week by Google on Project Fi also displayed a new device, which resembles the Nexus 5 from the front. The device render stayed for almost 16 seconds on the video with Project Fi support on it.

Google’s recent mobile carrier plan that allows users to switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks is limited to Nexus 6 only. The company announced that its upcoming devices will come with support to Project Fi. It’s quite possible that Google was talking about the next-gen Nexus 5. Since it is called Nexus 5 2015, the device is expected to release sometime this year.

According to the source, both Huawei and LG will be working on the Nexus devices. LG will be responsible for the Nexus tablet or the Nexus phone, while Huawei can bring out inexpensive versions of the two.

Have a look at the Project Fi video below from timeframe 0.16 to 0.32 to check out the phone renders:

April 27, 2015
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Google’s New Mobile Network ‘Project Fi’

A couple of days back, there had been reports that Google was planning to launch its own US mobile wireless service. Now, the company has made its plan to bring wireless services public. Google’s new venture gives users an alternate way to curb data usage and keep their phone bills low.

Dubbed as ‘Project Fi’, the new Google-run network service is a customizable package that switches between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. It eradicates boundaries and gives customers freedom to use the network in their hometown and during international travels at the same rate. The service is only available for Nexus 6 smartphones as of now, and will work with newer models soon.

The blog post of Google reads –

Similar to our Nexus hardware program, Project Fi enables us to work in close partnership with leading carriers, hardware makers, and all of you to push the boundaries of what’s possible. By designing across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways for people to connect and communicate.

Project Fi makes use of Wi-Fi hotspot or specific 4G LTE networks, together with the US mobile networks of Sprint and T-Mobile, the venture partners. Here’s how it works: if you are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot and leave the Wi-Fi coverage area, your call will seamlessly transmit to cell networks. The service requires a special SIM and is supported in over 120 countries without roaming charges.

Another revolutionary development that comes with Project Fi is that phone numbers adopt “a multi-screen world”. This means your number works with all your devices like a phone, tablet or laptop. You can connect any device that supports Google Hangouts, whether it works on Android, iOS, Windows, and start a chat. It cuts down the dependency on your smartphone and makes every device a ready-to-use handset.

Google’s new project is unconventional in the sense that it charges customers only for the data consumed. It breaks the standard procedure of dispatching a bill for the unused data as well, which is practiced till date. Google says, “Project Fi takes a fresh approach to how you pay for wireless, manage your service, and get in touch when you need help.” There is one plan for all, and in case a user doesn’t utilize the pack called, Google will simply refund the variance.

Here’s how Project Fi works:

For $20 a month you get all the basics (talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage in 120+ countries), and then it’s a flat $10 per GB for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. 1GB is $10/month, 2GB is $20/month, 3GB is $30/month, and so on. Since it’s hard to predict your data usage, you’ll get credit for the full value of your unused data. Let’s say you go with 3GB for $30 and only use 1.4GB one month. You’ll get $16 back, so you only pay for what you use.

For now, Project Fi is invite-based, and customers need to request an invite on their site to get the service. Meanwhile it’s available only in the US, but India can expect to receive it sometime later. Check the video below to understand it better:

April 23, 2015