There’s a misconception that tech people use state-of-the-art gadgets and our homes are Jetson-like. This is usually not the case; most IT people that I’ve met are actually into low-tech options. They choose solutions that work consistently. For the last 25 years I have been a Sprint customer, but I finally jumped off that carrier to Google Fi. Here’s why.

To understand Google Fi, imagine you are roaming all the time, worldwide. Google Fi utilizes Wi-Fi and Google Fi hotspots all over.

You do not have to get a different SIM card for each country you visit, let’s say for Israel. You’ll have the same number with the same data and WiFi all over the world. This is the primary reason for our family’s switch. And please note, this is not, and I am not a fan of, pay-for-play columns. What I usually write about is something cutting-edge or some tech with which I have had firsthand experience that I can personally recommend.

How it works: You get a SIM card from Google Fi, which will take about two to three days to receive. You sign up and you can switch any phone over to the service; it takes five minutes or less. They send you an email, you input your credit card information (you can use multiple payments) and boom, your number is ported over and you are on Google Fi. Google Go has 24/7 chat and real phone support as well.

The carriers will unlock the phone so that any carrier’s SIM card can be put in your smartphone. Easier said than done, trust me. (More on that later.)

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of Google Fi:

At the time of this column my wife, Rachi, is in Israel at a staff meeting for Nefesh B’Nefesh where she works. When she got off the plane, data worked immediately and I could call her using her U.S. number. We worked with support in advance to make sure she could make outgoing calls. Worst case, you can always use WhatsApp, but the calling in and out works immediately as well.

In the past, every time my family has gone abroad we have had to go through this whole rigmarole with Sprint to have the phone unlocked for international. Some folks rent a phone for a vacation or business travel just so they don’t have to deal with this. Though I had been a Sprint customer for so long, it still was getting frustrating to have to go through this same experience: Upon landing I would get a frantic call from my children or my mother that a phone is not unlocked and they’re not able to make calls or receive texts until we call Sprint. Then we have this long hold time and then they finally get the phone unlocked.

Google Fi works best with Google phones Moto G7 and Google Pixel, the second of which I am now using, and it’s amazing and affordable. The Moto is baseline Android and doesn’t have the bloatware apps, which are unwanted or random apps that the company provides on everyone’s new device.

Billing: If you have a family plan, every phone number has its own dedicated account and support via one’s @gmail.com account. The bill can be paid by one person. The Google Fi app has the support-line bill and how much data everyone is using in real time. It takes getting used to. My kids can’t have me call on their behalf, because Google Fi only takes support from the actual number or the gmail address.

On the other hand, I’m one of those people that has been just paying my smartphone bill blindly, but finally I’ve noticed that I’ve been paying a finance fee and my wife’s been paying a lease fee for a over a year or more. My bad. After calling, the carrier said, “Oh, you actually have to call us and have to tell us to stop charging the finance fee. For the leasing fee if you want to stop the lease, you either have to upgrade or you need to bring the phone back in mint condition.”

There are some hiccups with Google Fi, I will say that. At times you may need to turn off WiFi if callers can’t hear you. Many voicemail apps can’t be used with Google Fi.

Before you dive in, check which smartphones can be switched to Google Fi and which countries support Google Fi.

Overall, after a lot of hassle at Sprint I’m very happy with Google Fi. If you are “locked into” a lease with your current carrier, I’d opt to pay a reputable unlocking company like MNMobile Guy. Allowing clients to unlock customer-owned smartphones is not advertised by the carriers. But it is a fact that it can be done. If you do not owe money on your phone—no lease and fully paid up—you can unlock legally and switch to any carrier. The smartphone is yours! Full disclosure: When I saw the whole unlocking process advertised and one sees stores advertising that they can “unlock your smartphone,” I assumed there was some illegal action going on. But it is legal. However, I would still recommend finding a reputable store or online service to do this for you. Be careful when you go to any store with all your contacts and email on your smartphone. As a rule of thumb, always factory reset your smartphone.

How I did it: I reached out to MNmobile Guy ([email protected] asked for Nathan. See his YouTube video. They charge $30 to $35 per phone. The more phones you bring the cheaper MNmobile Guy will be. All the work is done remotely. He will have you download a lot of files first. You need a smartphone USB-connected Windows PC and a fast internet connection. The process is quick and seamless. By the way, I’m not in any way recommending any reader take a not-paid-off, leased or stolen phone to unlock. This is illegal and unethical. Unlocking should only be done with your fully owned smartphone that is your property.

Insurances: Most carriers offer Asurion smartphone insurance. It’s a nominal fee. The coverage is for theft, and even dropping your phone and cracking the screen; see any teen’s smartphone for real-time picture;). The service may offer on-site repair, a loaner or a mailer with free shipping. The fix for my Samsung Galaxy S7 edge was $30, shipping included, and was back in under a week. Rates may vary depending on your smartphone. My experience was amazing; Asurion sent a refurbished phone and fast. Again, always factory default your phone—take out any SIM card and SD card before shipping. If you think you are one of those folks who will never drop their smartphone, you are the exception.

My rates and services are now cheaper and better. The best part is I can switch at any time if I need to. One can also finance a Google Fi supported smartphone via Google Finance.

But one thing is for sure: The days of the overpriced carriers charging fees no one understands, and locked phones are over. Now you, the client, have the power to choose rates and carriers that fit your needs and budget.

Feel free to email [email protected] with comments and questions. (Here is more info and my referral code to check it out. https://g.co/fi/r/4CDF5P. Read more at fi.google.com.)

By Shneur Garb

Shneur Garb is the CEO of The Garb I.T. consulting Group and the founder of the Chromebook GC-CuBe. Email [email protected] for comments and feedback.