Google Fi resolves outage that prevented calls nationwide
Google's cellular service was down in the US on Monday, affecting incoming and outgoing calls for customers. But the company says the issue has been fixed.
- I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.
Fi was off the hook for a while.
Google confirmed that the widespread outage of its Google Fi phone service had ended as of 11:38 a.m. PT on Monday.
"This issue should now be resolved. Please let us know ... if you continue to experience any additional issues," the company said on a support page. "Thank you for your patience, and sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused."
Google Fi customers had been left without service earlier in the day, with some outbound and inbound calls not working and the Google Fi team saying it was "actively working on a fix."
"For those of us who use our phones for work for public safety ... this is completely unacceptable. I will be cancelling my service," a user said in response.
One user said it was possible to call Google Fi numbers, but not any other kind of number.
"I can call Google Fi voicemail or other Google Fi mobile numbers, but not my home or anyone on another mobile network," the person said.
However, another user said inbound and outbound calls between Google Fi numbers were broken.
The support page suggested a workaround of installing the Hangouts dialer. Once Hangouts was installed, Google said, users could set incoming calls by going to "On": Settings > Your Fi Account > Google Fi Calls & SMS > Incoming Calls (On).
"I have been actively trying to reach Google Fi support through email and chat to no avail. I can receive calls, texts and email but can make 0 (zero) outbound calls," one user complained.
Google didn't say how widespread the outage was, but according to Is The Service Down it covered much of the US.
Google's Wi-Fi first network, Project Fi, was launched last year. Google Fi uses network coverage form T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular if Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Originally published June 3, 11:27 a.m. PT.
Update, 12:20 p.m.: Reworks story in light of Google's saying it had resolved the outage.