Google kills two-year “Pixel Pass” subscription after just 22 months

This is why users don’t invest in the google ecosystem. No consistency or follow through.

Lots of misunderstanding in these comments. Google Fi service is not going anywhere, Google is not cancelling any services. The Pixel Pass is basically just a bundle of optional services that can be added to your Fi account for a very slight discount. You do not get a free phone, you get interest free financing on your phone. Because they are cancelling the Pixel Pass Google has given me $100 credit towards my next phone, which is a better deal than the Pixel Pass itself.

Like many people I'm not happy with a lot of things Google has been doing lately, but the Pixel Pass being cancelled is not important.

That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Telling people they get a new phone if they sign up for 2 years then cancelling it at the 22 month mark.

Google cancelled a project?!?

/Shocked Pikachu face

Another entry for Google's graveyard.

One more headstone in the Google graveyard

They need to get rid of that clown Sundar. Under his "leadership" Google has been on an endless downward trend.

It has been a pretty short trip from "Don't be evil" to "The cutting edge of late stage capitalism"

i am waiting for day when google kill its search engine

This probably isn't a big deal, but this _is (and the fact that Google is an ad company) is the reason why I wouldn't rely on any Google service or product that I couldn't easily replace in a matter of minutes.

this is sooooooooooo shitty, I'd be so fucking upset

I cannot believe that in the year 2023 people were still paying for a Google service that was supposed to last beyond 30 days. Especially one that was supposed to have a long-term reward. You would have to have so much blind trust in Google at that point.

EDIT: I now understand that this was a a two-year installment plan for the existing phone. That being said, I still don't think anyone should buy into Google products or services expecting them to have long-term support. Google has shown time and time again that they are willing to kill any and all projects at any time with almost no warning.

This is Google's standard operating procedure.

Well, that solidifies my plan for graphene os on this 7pro and once fairphone comes state side I'm going all in. Been moving to Proton services and this will be the first and last Google phone I get. So sick of their backtracking on everything I enjoy. Fuck Google.

The headline is sensationalist since it implies they were going to get a free phone and Google bailed at the last minute.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

When the service launched in October 2021, Google said that every two years on the Pixel Pass would make you eligible for a brand new phone.

but Google doesn't answer its own question, saying only, "We offer the best value of our hardware products and give users the flexibility to purchase their favorite services.

We continue to evaluate offers based on customer feedback and provide different ways for them to access the best of Google."

That won't happen here, though—while new signups are no longer allowed, existing users will be able to finish out their two-year term.

You’ll receive a monthly bill for Google One, Google Play Pass, and YouTube Premium at the current discounted rate, which is visible in the email sent to you on August 29, 2023 with the subject line, 'An important update on Pixel Pass.'

To take some sting out of the move, Google is offering a "$100 loyalty reward credit" for active Pixel Pass subscribers.

The original article contains 498 words, the summary contains 160 words. Saved 68%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

Say what you want about apple, but this is why they are winning. They don’t jump the gun, they don’t go home early, they stick with it consistently.

They are no more expensive than Samsung. So, other than the walled garden app ecosystem keeping all the malware out, whattcha got?

I have a pixel phone and never heard of pixel pass

shit, they should have at least waited the two months, issue some phones to early-adopters and then discontinue the subscription saying there was too little interest amongst the users to justify keeping it up. otherwise it looks like they pulled out at the very last moment to screw people

edit: ohhhhh, you were supposed to get a new phone when singing up for another two years, then they did well cancelling it before the two-year mark

Classic Google

They were eligible for a brand new phone after 24 months if they recontracted for another 24 months. If they decided to unsubscribe during months 25-48, they'd be on the hook for the remaining cost of the phone. I mention this because at least for where I am, this is the default position - this decision would just mean the user needs to get their brand new phone on a contractual repayment from a provider other than Google.

Don't this mess with consumer laws ? People who had paid for this should definitely sue.

I actually don't think anyone used it. The issue is Google didn't allow you to go back and add it within a certain time of your purchase. It also wouldn't let you purchase it at checkout with a new Pixel if you were already paying for one of the subscriptions it was composed of.

I think the other issue is most people aren't upgrading back to Pixel and most of their users are new and unsure if they will continue with Pixel. Personally, meh. Google kills something that isn't profitable and it's clear it wasn't being used as intended or gaining as much traction as they thought it would. On top of that it was just kind of a mess. If I buy a Pixel from Google why don't I have a week after my purchase to at least add Pixel pass.

I love my Pixel and I have had every Pixel except the 5. I will continue to buy them with or without this pass.

staring blankly in GrapheneOS

nooo now pit jump

Fuck Google and fuck pixel too lol

Man? A lot of these comments are so damn negative.

For the record I am one of the few Pixel phone users that has had every Pixel but the 5 and I wouldn't switch and don't plan on switching.

I have just about everyone Google products in my home from Nest Hubs to Nest homes, Pixel buds, Pixelbook, etc.