According to one source I found, “The chances of Google (Alphabet Inc.) going out of business in the next 5 years are practically zero. Financial experts and credit markets assess its probability of bankruptcy as almost non-existent (estimated at roughly 3.98% or lower). The company commands a massive market capitalization and boasts unassailable fundamentals, including over $120 billion in cash reserves.” And yes, that was a Google AI search, so take it for what it’s worth.
I was thinking of those stories of someone’s Google account getting locked or disabled and the person unable to get anyone at Google to help.
I’m on a Verizon prepaid account, unlimited calls and text, 5gb data and hotspot capability for $25/mo. Fits my needs perfectly since 99% of the time I use the phone it’s via wi-fi and the Verizon network is available just about any time I need it otherwise.
I think the risk of your Gmail account getting locked out and your phone number being locked out are independent.
I have a few Gmail accounts, and while one is primary, i have three of them logged into my phone. I guess i do store my addresses and stuff on the primary one.
Anyway, I’m another Google Fi user. It’s good if you spend most of your time in Wi-Fi (because it can make calls and stuff for free on Wi-Fi) and it’s good if you travel. I love that I can fly to Germany, or Japan, or Canada, or Denmark, … and turn on my phone as the plane is taxiing to the terminal, and all the emails and texts and whatnot i missed en route have loaded before we start leaving the plane. And in a pinch , i can create a hot spot and use it to get my laptop on line. (Or to help out a friend with no service.)
If you use a lot of cell service and stay in the US, i think there are cheaper options that work just as well.
Such as?
I haven’t researched it in a while, but there are some cheap resellers. I forget who i bought from when i wanted a burner number, but it was cheaper.
I both travel a lot internationally and also am mostly in Wi-Fi when I’m not traveling, so Google Fi works very well for me.
Thanks puzzlegal. I’m looking for a reliable mobile service at a reasonable cost, and the Verizon network infrastructure, which I am currently using today, works better in my area than any other. Yes, I realize there are cheaper providers out there, but cost is just one of the parameters. Google Fi seems the best choice of those I have looked at so far, even though it’s not the cheapest..
As sort of implied in several posts but not outright stated: there are basically only 3 cell phone service providers: Verzion, T-Mobile, and AT&T (there are some others but niche - US Cellular is currently being absorbed by T-Mobile, GCI Is only available in Alaska, C Spire in the south). Each provides different network coverage so the “best” is usually what works best in your area or the areas you are likely to visit (T-Mobile was garbage on the Oregon Coast at least a couple years ago, Verizon generally works best in the rural west near me except for one mountain range where AT&T was better). The 3 companies do have slightly different rules about data caps.
All other companies are known as MVNOs and provide their own service which piggybacks on 1 or more of the other networks. So the coverage is the same as a major network. Most are small companies who can offer a savings (though some are just rebranded service by a major company, e.g. Visible is Verizon, Mint is T-Mobile although they didn’t found them). Sometimes these offer reduced data caps etc. compared to the big company.
Primarily MVNOs offer much cheaper service and the main considerations are price and customer service or ease of use. Also some offer other perks (international services, network transfers, streaming services, Apple/Android watch plans, etc.). Many offer unlimited calls, text, and maybe data for cheap.
Otherwise the major difference is deprioritization, at times of heavy use especially in crowded areas, the 3 major networks are allowed a larger portion of bandwidth, so say if a major festival is in town or possibly during some emergency of heavy use, people who pay a premium for Verzion can have a faster and more reliable connection than people using a Verizon MVNO. Recently this has become less certain, there are tiers called QCI. Lower numbers are better and some MVNO plans get e.g. Verizon-level QCI 8 service.
Visible uses the Verizon network but is much cheaper. I pay Visible $35 a month, taxes and fees included. I get the Verizon network and unlimited data. You sign up on line, can keep your current cell number, etc. Haven’t had any problems in the year+ since I switched over from 15years + at Verizon where I was paying at least $70 a month and data was not unlimited. Plus the price went up a chunk every year
I think my burner phone number was Mint. It worked fine.