Google announces wireless service for Nexus 6 smartphone users

Google has announced a wireless service, called called Project Fi, for owners of its Nexus 6 smartphone.

With the announcement, the search company has now become a mobile carrier. "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," the company wrote in a blog post.

The service which was only available for the Nexus 6 required a special SIM card for Project Fi, which would work with both existing Nexus 6 devices and new ones.

According to Google, the service currently was only available as an "early access program," and during that program it would not work on other phones.

What was unique about the new offering was that the company would charge consumers only for the data they used, instead of a flat monthly fee that came with a preset amount of data. Users who failed to consume all the data they pay for, would be refunded the difference by the company.

For $20 a month, users get all the basics (talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage in 120+ countries), with another flat rate of $10 per GB for cellular data while in the US.

According to commentators, Project Fi championed better connectivity and cheaper rates for mobile-phone users in the US even if it were not to make much money for Google.

Google's most intriguing innovation was what it called its "network of networks" allowing phones to automatically tap into the strongest signal, irrespective of whether it was a free Wi-Fi hotspot or the cellular towers of Sprint and T-Mobile, who Google had partnered with in a bid to challenge behemoths Verizon and AT&T.

According to commentators, the technological advancement coupled with its unique pricing plan that paid users back for data they did not use would spark long-term improvements in wireless service.

Colby Synesael, an analyst for Cowen and Co said Google's angle seemed more aimed at driving change than dollars, San Jose Mercury News reported.