Making a call using Google Fi is going to get a lot more private in the coming weeks after Google announced it was introducing end-to-end encryption on calls.
The change means that no one except you or the person you’re talking to can hear what’s being said, but the protection does come with some quite limiting caveats. Top of the list is requiring both people to be using an Android smartphone as well as both using Google Fi. It’s possible to use Google Fi with an iPhone, but this new encryption feature simply won’t work for those users.
Google decided to make it very clear when an end-to-end encrypted call is happening. You’ll “hear a unique ringing tone and see a lock symbol on the screen just before being connected.” The person being called will also see the lock screen appear. Google says you can already achieve the same for text messages if you’re using Messages by Google and both people have Messages and chat features enabled.
End-to-end encrypted calls are rolling out “in the coming weeks.” The phone plan already allows you to block phone numbers, block spam calls automatically, and protect your online activity using a built-in VPN. Google Fi is available as either a $20 Flexible, $60 Simply Unlimited, or $70 Unlimited Plus plan, with discounts applied the more people there are on your selected plan.
