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:

1. The phone is model G-2PW4100. Is this model able to work with 4G
service?
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?
3. Verizon is the only reliable cellular carrier in my area. Does
Google use them? If not, which one?
4. Verizon has been offering a prepaid plan for $20/month. Can this
phone be used with that? I don't need data.
5. If someone gave this phone to you, what would you do with it?

Thanks for your help.

Bill Horne

--
(Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)

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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:

1. The phone is model G-2PW4100. Is this model able to work with 4G
service?

Yes.

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.

3. Verizon is the only reliable cellular carrier in my area. Does
Google use them? If not, which one?

Yes.

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.

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.

R's,
John

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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)

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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.

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