Now Playing: Watch this: Google wants to be your wireless carrier 
 
 Google wants to be your wireless carrier. 
 
 The search giant on Wednesday announced its long-anticipated wireless service in the United States, called Project Fi. 
 
 Google hopes to stand out by changing the way it charges customers. Typically, smartphone owners pay wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon a bulk rate for a certain amount of data. Google says it will let customers pay for only what data they use on their phones, from doing things like making calls, listening to music and using apps, potentially saving them significant amounts of money. 
 
 For now, the program is invite-only and will only be available on Google's Nexus 6 smartphone. 
 
 CNET 
 
 "It's important that wireless connectivity and communication keep pace and be fast everywhere, easy to use, and accessible to everyone," Nick Fox, vice president of communications products at Google, said in a statement about Project Fi. 
 
 Google's new wireless service represents a shift in its efforts to remake the wireless industry. Those efforts began in 2005, when the company purchased the nascent Android mobile phone software and started giving it away to handset makers like Samsung, LG and Lenovo. Competitors, like Microsoft, typically charged for their software. The plan worked: today, Android powers more than 80 percent of the world's smartphones, and commands significant influence in the wireless industry. 
 
 The next step for the search giant is to expand into how the cellular and wireless connections themselves are delivered to you. 
 
 Google said it would offer one plan at one price. For $20 a month, you get voice, text, Wi-Fi tethering and international coverage in more than 120 countries. Then it will cost an additional $10 per gigabyte per month. But if you don't use all of the data you bought, Google refunds you for what you didn't use. The service won't require an annual contract. 
 
 Google isn't just offering a different way to charge customers. It will also offer a new technology to allow users to switch between cellular and Wi-Fi signals while on a call. The nascent technology will help Google keep costs down, and help customers avoid relying on cellular networks that are often overburdened by wireless traffic. The program will also store your phone number on Google's servers, so you'll be able to use your number to talk and text from a phone, tablet or laptop. 
 
 Google isn't building its own wireless network to do this. Instead, the Internet giant has made a deal with US carriers Sprint and T-Mobile to use their networks. 
 
 "We are proud to enable Google's entry into the wireless industry as a service provider," Sprint said in a statement. 
 
 Still, for wireless companies, Google's entrance to the market could be worrisome. Google, with its financial resources and influence, has the power to shake up the entire industry. 
 
 When Google product chief Sundar Pichai confirmed the wireless service in February, he sought to reassure the carriers. He said Google's wireless service was meant to be a small-scale experiment. Google's rationale is said to be trying to innovate new practices and pricing models, and trying to get the wireless industry at large to follow suit. 
 
 "I think it will be a small market initially, but I have to believe [the carriers] going to be watching it closely," said Tim Bajarin, president of tech research firm Creative Strategies. 
 
 Google is the highest-profile company to do this, but it's not the only company that will offer this kind of service. Republic Wireless and Scratch Wireless, two smaller companies, will offer a similar services. 
 
 "Google can influence the entire Wi-Fi ecosystem to help improve the technology," said Jon Finegold, vice president of marketing for Scratch Wireless. "And ultimately that benefits us." 
 
 Google has been dipping into the Internet access business in other ways too. The company began taking on the home and business Internet service providers in 2010 with a project it calls Google Fiber. The a service offers Internet connections to people's homes in cities like Kansas City and Austin for much less than larger rivals Comcast, AT&T and Verizon charge. 
 
 Google is also hoping to bring its service efforts to developing countries. The company has been building a way to beam Internet connectivity to rural populations via high-flying balloons with a project called Loon. Google is also experimenting with satellites for the same purpose. 
 
 CNET's Shara Tibken and Maggie Reardon contributed to this report. ||||| About this capture 
 
 Hey—we've moved. Visit The Keyword for all the latest news and stories from Google ||||| Google just announced Project Fi, its new wireless phone service. The company is partnering with T-Mobile and Sprint for the new project. 
 
 Project Fi is a bit like a traditional carrier plan you would get from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or any other provider, except Google is focusing on two key areas: making it easier to switch between Wi-Fi and cellular, and helping you to only pay for the data you actually use. 
 
 For example, when you're using Project Fi, the service will automatically connect you to whichever network is fastest and within range. 
 
 So, if you're using cellular but there's a faster Wi-Fi service nearby, it will automatically switch, and vice versa. Google also says it uses encryption to protect your data once your device is connected. 
 
 And Google says it will credit you for unused data that you've already paid for once your cycle is up. That's the real advantage you can't get with a wireless carrier today. 
 
 For $20 per month, you get all the basics such as talk, text, and international coverage. Then, you pay a flat rate of $10 per gigabyte of data. So 1GB of data is $10 per month, 2GB is $20 per month, and so on. 
 
 That's a big deal — not only is Google crediting you for the data you don't use, but the pricing plan is really simple and transparent compared to those offered by carriers. 
 
 For now, Project Fi is only available on Google's Nexus 6 phone. You would connect your phone number to any device that supports Google Hangouts, so that you can make or receive phone calls on phones, laptops, and Chromebooks among other devices. 
 
 Google's Sundar Pichai mentioned at Mobile World Congress that Google was working on a small-scale wireless network, but this is the first time we're hearing concrete details.
– Those with Nexus 6 smartphones now have another carrier to choose from, but it's not some Silicon Valley startup—it's called Google. The company today announced the launch of Project Fi, its long-awaited entry into the wireless service biz. For now, it's available on an invite-only basis for Nexus 6 users, and the Verge notes that it has a unique pricing plan: Customers will pay only for the data they use. For $20 a month, they'll get talk, text, and international coverage, and then it's $10 per gigabyte of data. They'll be refunded for any data they've paid for but didn't use. "Let's say you go with 3GB for $30 and only use 1.4GB one month," explains the company post. "You'll get $16 back, so you only pay for what you use." Another notable feature: The service will automatically switch users between Wi-Fi and cellular, depending on which is fastest where they are, reports Business Insider. Google isn't building its own network but is partnering with Sprint and T-Mobile. "Still, for wireless companies, Google's entrance to the market could be worrisome," observes CNET. "Google, with its financial resources and influence, has the power to shake up the entire industry."