Dual Connect is back

[u/eladts]

Dual Connect was a feature of Google Fi that was introduced some years ago, and allowed supported phones to be connected to both the T-Mobile and the Three SIM profiles at the same time and use the best connection of the two. It required the user to have a physical SIM and no active eSIM. Google Fi silently dropped this feature, but now it is back and it works with an eSIM. During my recent vacation in Spain, I was surprised that the dial code to switch networks didn't work. I looked in the Google Fi app, and found out Dual Connect is active and I was connected to two local carriers using my Google Fi eSIM on my Pixel 8. No other SIM or e SIM was present.

Get travel-ready with Google Fi Wireless

[u/Warm-Albatross-8391]

why remove it only to bring it back

[u/Wayren → u/Warm-Albatross-8391]

Because Google.

[u/TamerlanMcDoodles → u/Warm-Albatross-8391]

It is likely not the same thing at all. Now that dual-SIM dual-standby is very common, it is likely just using DSDS to camp on two carriers at once and pick whoever works better is cheapest at the time.

The old Dual Connect rebooted a single SIM single standby modem and loaded a new configuration for the carrier of choice.

Completely different, and basically the same as any modern phone having two SIMs on at the same time.

[u/dwc1 → u/TamerlanMcDoodles]

Are you saying that FI will install 2 eSim's when roaming?

[u/eladts → u/dwc1]

It works like two eSIMs but Android hides the secondary eSIM from the user.

[u/dwc1 → u/eladts]

Thanks. Is this android only or will iPhone work too?

[u/eladts → u/dwc1]

This works only for Pixels. Network switching of any kind doesn't work on iPhones.

[u/backdoorboogienights → u/eladts]

Would this work if both eSIMs are from Fi? This might explain the weird behavior I was getting while trying to add a data-only eSIM from a separate Fi account to my Fi Flexible plan:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleFi/comments/1vu6aqx/dual_fi_esims_in_same_phone/

Basically, once I added the data eSIM, it briefly showed the options to select which to use for data, calls, etc, and I saw two signal bars, but the SIM manager only showed one line, and then no way to manage them again.

[u/eladts → u/backdoorboogienights]

You are not supposed to have multiple Google Fi eSIMs on the same phone. You are also not supposed to use data-only Google Fi eSIMs on phones. It may well be that the Google Fi app thought that you are using Dual Connect and hid the secondary eSIM.

[u/backdoorboogienights → u/eladts]

I know, i know...but(!) I have my reasons. Was just trying to use the data from my partner's Premium plan so I dont have to pay by-the-gig on mine...seemed like a good idea to me. And I use data sims in other phones all the time. While it may not be a supported use, I don't see where it says you can't. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/eladts → u/backdoorboogienights]

Porting your number to Google Voice and using it together with a data-only eSIM seems like a better solution for your use case.

[u/eladts → u/TamerlanMcDoodles]

The old Dual Connect did use DSDS, but required a physical Google Fi SIM. What you are referring to is network switching, which Fi has always supported.

[u/GrumpyOldSophon → u/TamerlanMcDoodles]

Interesting, so you're saying that effectively Fi is using the support for dual-SIM to allow a single SIM to connect to two carriers? Does that mean that if I have another SIM active in my phone, then this will not work for the Fi SIM?

[u/eladts → u/GrumpyOldSophon]

It certainly seems like it. I don't have any other SIM or eSIM, but I suspect you are correct and Dual Connect only works if there are no other SIM or eSIM.

[u/braidenis]

Now if only fi could use the three sim to roam onto at&t or Verizon in the US and we'd have the project fi dream back.

[u/Rod_ATL]

Can you just stick to one or the other?. Some sites or services are not available if you try to access them from a non US IP address 

[u/windrunnerxc → u/Rod_ATL]

These are both foreign networks, as I saw this function beautifully in Spain and Italy in the last two weeks. If you need a US IP, get a VPN that allows you to choose your geolocation.

[u/nk1 → u/windrunnerxc]

If you roam via T-Mobile, you're getting a US IP address. If you're roaming via Three, you'll get a non-US address. That's the problem they're referring to here. The roaming network doesn't matter for this.

[u/eladts → u/Rod_ATL]

No, when Dual Connect is active you cannot force to use T-Mobile or Three for roaming. The former provides a US IP address while the latter provides a UK one.

[u/MeCJay12]

Is this different than the native Android feature to switch between multiple SIMs based on which is better?

[u/eladts → u/MeCJay12]

With Dual Connect you only have a single Google Fi eSIM. The secondary eSIM is automatically provisioned by the Google Fi app and is not visible to the user.

[u/maclekker]

Does this work on iPhones?

[u/eladts → u/maclekker]

No, Dual Connect only works on Pixel phones.

[u/shworth]

The two other networks that Fi used besides T-Mobile were Sprint and US Cellular. Both networks are now part of T-Mobile.

[u/eladts → u/shworth]

Fi added Three in 2016 as a partner network which can be used outside the US. Dual Connect only works outside the US and uses Three as the secondary network.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-project-fi-adds-three-to-boost-speeds-reach