A few months ago I was invited to join Project Fi, Google’s wireless carrier experiment. International Data (certain countries) is included with your plan. There are no extra fees for SMS or data usage.
Project Fi reminds you of this benefit with a nice notification once you turn off Airplane Mode after landing.
Here’s what I got when I landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines.
The Welcome to [Country]! is a nice way to start off the notification. Here’s what I got when I landed at Narita International Airport in Japan.
The folks at Project Fi know I’ll be taking my phone out of Airplane Mode. They know I’m in a different country. A notification is small thing, but context and timing is everything.
Alex
on 09 Aug 15And so how is it different from sms with these rates Vodafone sends me each time (for 10+ years) I cross the border? (often it finds me abroad after I turn off airplane mode)
Lawrence
on 09 Aug 15T-Mobile does this as well. The call rates are the same, but 2G data is free! Incredibly helpful for Google Maps.
Jason Fried
on 10 Aug 15Not quite the same thing, but I think Uber has done a great job with custom UI around locations… Like when you’re at a major airport they know it and show you a UI that is modified due to the process of getting a black car or taxi at an airport.
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