Google Fi customers who use Pixel phones are receiving two new connection features at no additional cost, Google announced. One feature automatically switches between two of the largest 5G cellular networks, and the other connects devices to premium Wi-Fi in millions of locations without requiring a login. The carrier described both as "super network" capabilities.
The cellular feature moves a user's connection to a secondary network when the primary one slows or becomes unstable. Google says this gives customers the fastest available option when service is strong and reduces dead zones when coverage is limited. The capability relies on MEP (Multiple Enabled Profiles) technology, which lets a single eSIM chip host and run multiple SIM profiles at the same time. Google's release notes that any non-Fi SIMs must be disabled for the feature to work.
Google Fi offered automatic network switching when the service launched a decade ago, though that earlier version moved between Sprint and T-Mobile, which merged in 2020. Google did not identify the two 5G networks involved in the new feature. The service usually runs on T-Mobile, and the three largest US carriers are T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon, leaving open which network serves as the second option.
On the Wi-Fi side, Wi-Fi Auto Connect+ joins users to faster networks in places such as airports and malls without requiring them to sign in or adjust settings. Google defines faster as two times better reliability and 30% improved latency compared with normal Google Fi cellular networks. The connections are automatically encrypted, according to Google, to keep online activity secure. The Wi-Fi feature is also coming to Samsung phones running One UI 9 or higher and to select modern Motorola phones.
Both features are available internationally and are included with the Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans at no extra cost, Google said. For US subscribers, that means the upgrade arrives without a change in plan pricing. The company positioned the additions as part of the Fi service rather than as separate products.
The rollout is limited to Pixel phones for the cellular switching feature, while the Wi-Fi capability extends to additional Android devices. Google did not say when the features would reach other phone models. Customers on the eligible plans receive the capabilities automatically.
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