The new version of Google Fi for iPhone now supports that platform’s visual voicemail functionality, a significant improvement.
“Visual voicemail (yes, finally!),” the Google Fi app landing page on Apple’s App Store notes under the “What’s New” listing. “Now your voicemails show up in a list, and you can listen, read the transcripts or reply—right from the app.” The latest version of the app also adds some “slicker animations and transitions, which you’ll probably only notice subconsciously.”
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Google rebranded its Project Fi wireless network service as Google Fi in November 2018 and, more momentously, added support for iPhone and most Android handsets too. Previously, the service worked only with Google’s own phones and with a very short list of certified devices.
But this compatibility came with a few limitations. Those with iPhones and non-Fi-certified handsets cannot take advantage of Google Fi’s incredible network switching capability that moves connectivity to whatever GSM or CDMA network has the best reception on the fly. And on iPhone, Google Fi could not take advantage of iOS’s visual voicemail feature.
When I first tested Google Fi with iPhone in December, I was able to experience Google’s workaround for visual voicemail: The firm sends a text message containing a rough transcription of the voicemail. If you wanted to actually hear the voicemail, you had to call your carrier’s voicemail phone number and navigate through menus with your keypad.
No more. Now you can use your iPhone with Google Fi like it’s 2019.
wocowboy
Premium Member<p>What is the problem for not including more phones in the network-switching capability thing, which as Paul says is arguably Google Fi’s greatest feature. I used Google Fi on my Pixel 1 and it worked flawlessly, I was almost never without a great signal from either T-Mobile, Sprint, or US Cellular. With current “non-certified” phones you only have access to T-Mobile, which is much better than they used to be, but disabling network switching is a great hobble and downside that should be addressed. I don’t know why Google doesn’t do it.</p>
wocowboy
Premium Member<blockquote><em><a href="#425899">In reply to JerryH:</a></em></blockquote><p>OK. For example, due to regulations regarding the 700 MHz spectrum that Verizon uses for their LTE service, all the phones Verizon sells must be unlocked. This gives the customer the ability to use an old Verizon phone they have lying around on pretty much any carrier just by inserting a SIM card for that carrier, whether it's a CDMA or GSM carrier, depending on device capability. So am I correct in thinking that this capability is something totally different from the on-the-fly network switching used for Google Fi service?</p>