Hi Fi: Google, Sprint And T-Mobile Partner To Launch Wireless Service

Google Inc GOOG GOOGL has partnered with Sprint Corp S and T-Mobile US Inc TMUS to offer a new wireless service called Project Fi.

Shares of all three companies were up about 2 percent.

According to a post published on Google’s blog, the program intends to bring people and their devices closer. “As mobile devices continually improve how you connect to people and information, it's important that wireless connectivity and communication keep pace and be fast everywhere, easy to use, and accessible to everyone."

The post continues: “similar to our Nexus hardware program, Project Fi enables us to work in close partnership with leading carriers, hardware makers, and all of you to push the boundaries of what's possible. By designing across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways for people to connect and communicate.”

Google highlights three main focus areas:

1) Helping customers get the highest-quality wireless connection everywhere.

2) Enabling fluent transitions among wireless and Wi-Fi networks, and easy communications across devices.

3) “Making the service experience as simple as possible.”

How It Works

There is a flat, one-time rate. Users pay $20 a month for the basic services, plus an extra $10 for every GB of cellular data used, either in the U.S. or overseas. Data is still fractioned, so if you use 1.5 GB, you will pay $15, and not $20).

For now, the service will only be accessible from Google’s Nexus 6 phone, but the company plans to expand coverage soon.