Google Announces Cell Phone Service
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Google is getting into the wireless game -- announcing cell phone service it hopes will entice AT&T and Verizon Wireless customers to jump ship.
The big draw? Pay only for the data you use.
"You'll pay $20/month for the basic cell phone necessities and $10/month per GB of data beyond that. There are no caps, there's nothing limiting you in terms of how much you can use."
CNET editor-at-large Tim Stevens says Google gives you money back at the end of the month if you, say, pay for 3 GB but use only 2.
"With AT&T and Verizon, you pick a given amount of data you think you'll use, and if you don't use that much, there's nothing you can do about that. That's the big difference."
Google calls it Project Fi. It's in its infancy, using Sprint and T-Mobile's networks and for now only working with one device, the Nexus 6.
"I don't see this having any major impact on the market for quite some time. But if Google can make partnerships with major manufacturers like Samsung, LG, or Apple, that could definitely change some things."
It's invitation only to start. Details at fi.google.com.