Google"s decade-old mobile service, Google Fi Wireless, is getting some new updates and features. For starters, Google said it is expanding the availability of Wi-Fi Auto Connect+ to "millions of locations," including major airports like JFK, LAX, and ORD.
The feature works for free on Pixel phones, allowing the device to automatically connect to premium Wi-Fi at participating stores, airports, and shopping malls when cell signals are weak indoors. A "W+" icon shows up in the status bar when the device is connected through Wi-Fi Auto Connect+.
It currently works on Pixel 5 and newer models for select locations in the US, where you can expect up to 2x better reliability and an average 30% improvement in latency on premium Wi-Fi compared to nearby Google Fi cellular networks, according to the company.
Building on the likes of HD calling, Google Fi Wireless will get support for AI-enhanced audio calls when you"re talking to someone on a landline or older device. The optional feature rolling out over the coming weeks will automatically filter out distracting background noise and clarify voices on both ends.
Google is also pushing new updates to Fi"s web version over the coming weeks. You will be able to make phone calls, send text messages, and check voicemails from a computer or tablet"s web browser without having your Google Fi-enabled phone nearby. The web version will get a new interface with full RCS support to share photos and videos in high quality.
The in-app support in Google Fi Wireless is another place where the company is trying to stuff its AI. It"s updating monthly bills with new AI-powered summaries to explain charges, changes from the previous month, or how changes in plan can affect future costs.
For the uninitiated, Google Fi is a virtual mobile network from Google that uses the infrastructure of other telecom companies to offer its services. While it"s supported in over 200 countries, only people living in the US can buy Google Fi Wireless. Google said that new users who bring in their phones and subscribe to its Unlimited Essentials or Standard plan will get a 50% discount for 15 months through monthly bill credits as part of a limited-time offer.