I need everyone to listen up and get your hands ready for applause.

Why?

Because I just received my invitation to Google’s Project Fi.

Before I gush any further, let me give you all a quick backstory…

For at least 10 years, I had been a devoted customer of Wireless Carrier That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

After all that time, I started realizing that my cell phone bill was one of my larger monthly expenses, at more than $100 per month. Even though I had consistently chosen the middle-of-the-road plan and a reasonable device, it seemed like I couldn’t avoid paying exorbitant amounts of money for my phone.

So when a certain other competing carrier advertised a guarantee that my phone bill could be slashed in half, how could I resist? It also vowed to cover any early cancellation fees that resulted from leaving my previous contract.

Again, how could I resist?

Long story short, I’m still paying around $100 per month, even with my new carrier. How this happened, I am not sure. But I can’t say that I’m surprised.

I will venture to say that I’m probably not the only one who is tired of overpaying for wireless service or being hit with hidden charges.

Although I wouldn’t put large wireless carriers on a Comcast level of shady and manipulative business operations, I definitely don’t trust them to do the “right thing” when it comes to their customers.

With that, I bring you back to the celebration of my Google Fi invitation and why I am so darned excited to ditch my current carrier.

Paying for What You Use

This might be a foreign concept to large wireless carriers, but with Project Fi, you only pay for what you use. (I know — it took some time for me to be convinced, too.)

Here’s how it works: Project Fi charges users a flat $20 per month for the usual unlimited talk and text, Wi-Fi tetherings, and international coverage. Then, every 1 GB of data is an extra $10 per month.

Only use 1 GB? Pay $10.

2 GB? $20.

If, during the course of your billing cycle, you do not use all the GB that you’ve paid for, Google refunds the difference to your account.

For example, a plan with 3GB of data costs $50 per month. However, if you don’t use all that data, Google will partially refund the money you already paid. So if you only used 1.4 of your 3GB, Google says you’ll get $16 back.

If you use more than the data limit you chose, Google just charges you for the additional MB of usage — no overage fees.

This was the major deciding factor for me. I don’t know about you, but my data usage fluctuates pretty dramatically each month, and I like the idea of just paying for the services I actually use — nothing more, nothing less.

Fi phones will automatically jump between T-Mobile and Sprint networks, as well as the one million+ free Wi-Fi spots that are already part of the Google network — whichever will provide you the fastest connection at any point in time.

A large number of tech testers have confirmed that service is the same if not better than that of existing carriers.

Project Fi is reasonably priced, the service is reliable, and the number of compatible devices (though limited) are expected to increase in the near future. The fact that these qualities seem so groundbreaking makes for a pretty tragic commentary on wireless services.

As of right now, access to Project Fi services is invite-only. Fear not — the club isn’t that exclusive. I requested my invitation and received it just a few days later.

As an added bonus for those of you who hate calling customer service, Project Fi phones just require you to tap a “troubleshooting” button, and a Google representative CALLS YOU.

All of these things are great, but there’s another reason we should all be excited…

Stickin’ it to the Man

Google’s Project Fi isn’t the first technology we’ve seen that is disrupting traditional market structures, and these days, it’s not necessary to reinvent the wheel to cause a disruption.

Take Uber for example.

Uber uses existing smartphone technology to lower the cost of personal transportation. It’s increased the number of personal transportation providers and displaced existing personal transportations services.

On a personal note, I’m a huge Uber fan. At the risk of revealing how frequently I consume alcohol, I’m going to say that I use Uber pretty often.

It’s easy, I can pay for the ride right from my phone, and as a single woman, it’s nice to see a picture of who’s coming to get me. Uber drivers are rated by their customers, so they actually care about being friendly and accommodating. I’ve had Uber drivers give me free snacks. Who doesn’t love snacks?

More than snacks, though, I love technology that changes the paradigm — especially when that paradigm is expensive, complicated, and terrible.

Uber did it to taxi services.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) did it to cable companies. (During the first quarter of 2015, Netflix directly contributed to a more than 40% reduction in traditional TV viewing.)

Now, Google is doing it to wireless carriers.

Disruptive technologies lower cost, create additional supply avenues, and sometimes do both. Sometimes, they open the door for entirely new markets. They displace existing technologies and have a huge economic and social impact. Even more, they are a wake-up call to existing industry leaders.

Google Fi is just starting to go mainstream, and I for one am very excited to see how major carriers respond.

I think it’s time for those large carriers to start thinking about their customer service, poor connectivity, high prices, and stifling contracts. If not out of the goodness of their hearts, then because customers will start looking for other options — especially as more of those options appear.

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