Hi Folks,
I have what may be a considered a silly question but as someone who often visit's people in bad service areas this is something I've always wondered. Why don't phones 'fall back' to a Wifi connection if no cellular service is available?
Voice calls could go over a 'backup' VoIP service. - Digital service is digital service. It's all packets shuffling around and shouldn't matter whether is a cellular network or IP network.
MMS is already basicly email that could in theory go over any data network not just the APN.
SMS is even more basic than MMS, I'm guessing it would be trivial to move messages to an IP based network.
Whenever I plan on visiting someone who lives in a black hole (aka no service), I tell my friends to text my Google Voice number as it goes over Wifi. If they need to call me they can call my Google Voice number which forwards to my Skype In number that runs over VoIP on an Android app.
Is it just a money thing with the carriers? Why make your customers suffer through no or spotty service when you could just move everything OFF your network and on to something more reliable for them?
Your thoughts?
Related
I have a problem that I've noticed with 2.3.4. Currently, I'm using MIUI 1.6.24, but have also tried stock ROM (GRJ22) with the same results. Basically, I'm making SIP calls over WiFi while I'm in roaming mode, which shouldn't even be traceable by the carrier. I believe MIUI forces SIP calls to be WiFi only, and I can't remember if AOSP 2.3.4 has an option to enable SIP over WiFi only, but if so, I would have enabled it.
Somehow, the carrier is still charging me the same roaming fees when I'm receiving SIP calls, and when I look up the call info, it's incoming to my cell number. It's also recognized as a voice call, not a data transmission. My carrier is currently forwarding my cell number to the SIP number in the event I can't be reached or I don't answer the phone; what service that SIP number belongs to should be irrelevant, and for all they know it's a SIP number attached to a home phone (not easy even for the SIP provider to discern).
My question is, is the call somehow going over roaming 3G/2G instead of wifi and the carrier is capturing and deciphering the data, or is the Gingerbread SIP somehow utilizing the voice network, or what's going on? Should I try using a non-integrated solution (like SIPDroid) and using Droidwall to force the app to only work through WiFi? Or is there some way of software-disabling the SIM card when on roaming? I really don't need provider service when I'm getting charged on a per-minute/per-kB basis, and I'll just rely on WiFi instead.
Thanks guys!
li Arc
li Arc said:
I have a problem that I've noticed with 2.3.4. Currently, I'm using MIUI 1.6.24, but have also tried stock ROM (GRJ22) with the same results. Basically, I'm making SIP calls over WiFi while I'm in roaming mode, which shouldn't even be traceable by the carrier. I believe MIUI forces SIP calls to be WiFi only, and I can't remember if AOSP 2.3.4 has an option to enable SIP over WiFi only, but if so, I would have enabled it.
Somehow, the carrier is still charging me the same roaming fees when I'm receiving SIP calls, and when I look up the call info, it's incoming to my cell number. It's also recognized as a voice call, not a data transmission. My carrier is currently forwarding my cell number to the SIP number in the event I can't be reached or I don't answer the phone; what service that SIP number belongs to should be irrelevant, and for all they know it's a SIP number attached to a home phone (not easy even for the SIP provider to discern).
My question is, is the call somehow going over roaming 3G/2G instead of wifi and the carrier is capturing and deciphering the data, or is the Gingerbread SIP somehow utilizing the voice network, or what's going on? Should I try using a non-integrated solution (like SIPDroid) and using Droidwall to force the app to only work through WiFi? Or is there some way of software-disabling the SIM card when on roaming? I really don't need provider service when I'm getting charged on a per-minute/per-kB basis, and I'll just rely on WiFi instead.
Thanks guys!
li Arc
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Click to collapse
For US Carriers at least (I wouldn't be surprised if this was a standard practice outside of the US as well), all forwarded calls continue to use your minutes for the duration of the call as the call is still routed through your carrier.
So, if you are being forwarded the call from your cell # to your SIP you will use minutes and incur roaming fees if you are roaming. Incoming calls directly to your SIP line (that do not use your cell #) should incur no charges outside of data usage if you are over 3G. Outgoing calls using the SIP trunk only should also incur no charges.
Hello XDA-developers,
I have developed my own GAN/UMA Gateway that runs in the cloud, similar to T-Mobile's WiFi Calling and Orange's Signal Boost.
With this service you can point your GAN/UMA Client to my Gateway and I will pass the calls to and from an external SIP Provider. You no longer have to be with Orange-UK or T-Mo -US to get UMA Service!
At the moment my network is not connected to the SS7 network so unfortunately you can't just simply roam onto it. However I do have a way to register existing SIMs with my HLR. Currently this means taking the SIM out of the phone and connecting it to a PC via a SIM Card Reader. I'm very interested in talking to anyone who could make this run as an App on the phone.
Once the SIM is registered in my HLR and the UMA App is told to go to my Gateway (there's a secret menu to do this) then the phone will register and Location Update on my network.
When it is on my network, it is no longer reachable from the Operator's network, again because I can't get access to the SS7 network. I'm very very interested in talking to anyone who thinks they know how I can access SS7. I have the SS7 stack, and the skills but not the access.
Anyway for now, I can assign a UK national number to the SIM so it's reachable via the PSTN. The MSISDN number can be call-forwarded to the PSTN number (not a great solution, but OK for now).
The cost of making calls will be whatever the SIP Provider charges. (Currently I use sipgate.co.uk) I plan on just charging a low fixed monthly fee to cover the costs of providing the access.
What do you guys think? Is this something that people are interested in? I realize without a roaming service it's no better than a Skype/VoIP type service but potentially it could be a very good service if I can get the SS7 side sorted out, it's an alternative to roaming when abroad and provide better coverage at home for many people.
All comments are welcome, thanks for reading.
AlanE
umm yes please!
too bad so many people passed over this thread. what if there were actually some decent data-only plans...
Would I be interested? Hell yes.
I'm currently using a Galaxy S2 on Orange with their Signal Boost app and I was crushed to hear that Orange are not offering UMA on the S3. There's no point in me having an expensive phone that I can't use at home (or most places near home). Third Party UMA would be a small miracle for me.
Interested
Hi Alan,
We are interested in talking to you about this. Can we PM?
Does anyone know how to activate wi-fi calling on the Z5? I figured it'd be a menu setting, but I can't find it. I'm using the Taiwan version of the Compact and am using MetroPCS here in the States.
Thanks.
To answer my own question. It appears that wi-fi calling is only available with some carrier phones. So for instance, EE in England says on their setup page,
"WiFi Calling is only available on the EE version of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, bought directly from us in one of our stores, online at EE.co.uk, through our telesales team, or through corporate sales if you are a corporate customer."
So, I guess my question now is, is there a way to flash the phone so that I can get this feature on my non-EE phone? My carrier, MetroPCS, does allow wi-fi calling, but they don't sell the Z5 (and likely won't ever sell it).
You can try flashing the EE ROM with flashtool and see if you have that option. You will get carrier specific bloatware as well.
Would I be able to delete the bloatware? And I'm new to Android. When I flash, does it delete all of my settings and downloads and whatnot? I'm assuming I can back them up someplace in case it does, but like I say, I'm new to this. Also, where would I get the EE Rom from?
Look for Xperifirm. Download and install. You can get the firmware there. Next download flashtool version 0.9.19.10. You can bundle the firmware files into a ftf and flash, both with flashtool. Read the respective guides. To keep data, look at options when flashing and choose not to wipe user data. I would type it up but the instructions are on XDA, just search.
Neither WiFi calling or VoLTE will not work on the Sony Z5 unless your carrier/network offers the Sony Z5 for sale directly.
Note, WiFi Calling and VoLTE are two separate features but similar network functions on the operators side.
Note, MetroPCS is a sub-brand of the T-Mobile USA network so Metro is pretty much TMo USA.
Since T-Mobile USA does not offer the Z5 you will not be able to get WiFi calling working. In order for WiFi Calling or VoLTE to be supported the network operator must customize the ROM to include the WiFi calling and/or VoLTE network configurations. Unlike the typical SIM card and APN settings which are industry standard and can be adjusted manually. WiFi calling and VoLTE are somewhat more complex and include carrier/network specific security certificates to work. Apple can get away with supporting WiFi calling and VoLTE simply by swapping SIMs because the T-Mobile configs are loaded into their core iOS software which goes out to everyone around the world. (Probaly one of the reasons the iOS eats up so much storage...but i digress) Android runs much leaner and does not carry all the extra configs for all global networks...hence a carrier (i.e. T-Mo US) tweaked version of the Z5 ROM would be required for this all to work.
If T-Mobile USA offers the Z5 in the future you may be able to unlock the boot-loader and flash the T-Mobile specific ROM onto your phone and get WiFi Calling and VoLTE to work. But if T-Mo USA never offers the Z5 then you will never have WiFi calling supported.
Hope that helps....
WiFi calling and VoLTE are pretty much the same thing...just VoIP. And in most operators case WiFi Calling and VoLTE are the same back end network call processing systems. VoLTE is easier for the operator to secure as the customer is using the operators LTE and IP network. WiFi calling is seen on fewer operators as it requires more security since you can access the operators network from any public or private IP network.
---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------
and in theory you could extract the WiFi calling stack form the EE network's Z5 ROM and load it into a custom ROM. That would give you the software capability to support WiFi calling....But you will still need the T-Mobile USA WiFi calling fqdn for the WiFi border controller and their security certificates which are typically specific to a handset model. And again since TMo does not offer the Z5 there are no Z5 certificates.
Ah, well that sucks.
Yeah I feel ya, I love WiFi calling too
Some network providers have their own apps to allow it. Like in the UK, O2 network has an app called TU go
All hope isn't lost - Android M is supposed to have a provision for wifi calling. I've read posts of people with Nexus 6's on M (google play editions, so no carrier specific models) that have been able to use wifi calling. The current loss of band 12 (hoping this will change too) as well as the loss of wifi calling as a fallback has been the only drawback to this otherwise excellent handset. I absolutely love the thing. It just works, no fuss.
I know this isn't helpful, especially for those outside of the US, but this is why I ported my number to google voice a long time ago. VOIP works great over Wifi for me most of the time and when I have LTE reception, I can still use Voip albeit with increased data consumption.
shizenyasuya said:
I know this isn't helpful, especially for those outside of the US, but this is why I ported my number to google voice a long time ago. VOIP works great over Wifi for me most of the time and when I have LTE reception, I can still use Voip albeit with increased data consumption.
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Do you know of any guides for how this is supposed to work? I have Google Voice, and I have Hangouts, but I'm not sure how they're supposed to work in tandem for wi-fi calling. Would I be forced to actually open up the Google Voice app in order to make wi-fi calls? How is that any different from something like Talkatone?
Adrift98 said:
Do you know of any guides for how this is supposed to work? I have Google Voice, and I have Hangouts, but I'm not sure how they're supposed to work in tandem for wi-fi calling. Would I be forced to actually open up the Google Voice app in order to make wi-fi calls? How is that any different from something like Talkatone?
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Click to collapse
Yeah, that's a bit of a pain in the ar$3. I install google voice and hangouts on any phone/tablet I get, Google voice is necessary to route all outgoing calls through GV so that my GV number shows up on my call partner's caller ID. (even though you can dial directly from the native phone dialer) I install Hangouts to manage sms and google talk (now just google hangouts but specified to avoid... or contribute to, (as the case may be) confusion) messages. You can also dial directly from Google Hangouts (this is the only option when you're only using Wifi, without cellular signal) So my thought flow kinda goes like this.
To make a call:
1)check for cell signal, if there is signal, use the native dialer to place a call
2) if there is only WiFi, use hangouts (or hangouts dialer) to place a call
Receiving calls: (If you need help I can tell you the specific settings)
1)when the phone rings, determine if it's ringing via Hangouts or the native phone app
2) check for cellular signal and wifi signal
3) if cell signal is 2g only, only answer with the native phone app (sometimes hangouts will ring first) and I have to wait for the native phone app to realize there is a call coming in (forwarded of course to my cellular provider number from GV)
4)if connected to WiFi, or I have LTE coverage (sometimes even on 3g) pick up the hangouts ring.
Sometimes I do miss calls because I'm waiting for the native phone app to ring when I'm on 2g, but hangouts rings first and the native phone app doesn't ring, but those instances are fairly infrequent and I can just call them back.
---------- Post added at 04:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 AM ----------
Adrift98 said:
Do you know of any guides for how this is supposed to work? I have Google Voice, and I have Hangouts, but I'm not sure how they're supposed to work in tandem for wi-fi calling. Would I be forced to actually open up the Google Voice app in order to make wi-fi calls? How is that any different from something like Talkatone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, sorry I've never used Talkatone, so I don't know if it works any differently. You don't have to have google voice installed to make / receive wifi calls via hangouts. you just have to have opted in to hangouts on your google voice account. The ONLY reason I still install GV is to make sure that when I make outgoing calls from the native phone app, my GV number shows up on the recipient's caller ID. They should really just bake this into hangouts and completely depreciate the GV app.
You could port the t-mobile wifi calling apps from the z3. I ported wifi calling to my att g2 from the t-mobile rom. It's not really that hard if you know how to read logcats
Many retail mobiles have "Wifi Calling" function but not any menu entry to enable , The APP can check the hidden function and enable it if can use.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.widget7.wifi.calling
Does Rooting allow phone calls and web browsing at the same time on Sprint Galaxy S8 ? Is the phone capable of this. Does it have enough/the right radios?
No, current Sprint phones do not call and data simultaneously over 3G or LTE, including the S8. Rooting has nothing to do with it.
please explain
OK, you say rooting has nothing to do with it. How does an Samsung phone on Sprint prevent concurrent data and voice on LTE when Samsung phone on Verizon allows concurrent data and voice.
It has to be hardware or software on the phone or the network that prevents this.
Is the hardware inside the phone the same which suggests to me the phone's functionality is "throttled" by the phone software or by the network itself, hence my question about whether this can be overcome via rooting the phone.
You apparently can get free hotspot through root, why not call + data?? If you can't I'll accept the reality (I am not looking for alternative facts), just that your answer was insufficient to persuade me that my logic is wrong.
Thanks,
Paul S
[=LordLugard;72722221]No, current Sprint phones do not call and data simultaneously over 3G or LTE, including the S8. Rooting has nothing to do with it.[/QUOTE]
Sprint doesn't have voice over LTE ....yet. Apparently they are working on software solutions to whatever their network issues are. Found this post from about a month ago on the sprint community site.
Sprint is excited to announce a new solution which allows customers to use voice and data simultaneously while on the Sprint LTE network or WiFi. Calling PLUS has just been enabled on the Samsung J7 Perx, with more devices to receive the update soon!
What you need to know:
Calling PLUS combines two features: one old and one brand new!
WiFi calling - our VoIP calling feature that lets you make and receive calls over WiFi
Voice and text on the Sprint LTE network, allowing simultaneous voice and data
Calling PLUS is delivered to your device by software update. Once your device has received the software, set up is easy!
On the phone, select Settings > Calling PLUS.
Slide Calling PLUS to On.
Customer can view Tutorial pages to learn more information about the service.
View pre-populated address
If the Country field says Non-USA, Select the Country and choose USA.
Enter a USA address manually.
If address is not shown or is incorrect, enter the address manually.
Address must be within the USA.
Select Save.
Your phone will validate the address required for E911 service and completes the enablement of Calling PLUS.
Select Calling PLUS options to enable each feature:
Wi-Fi Calling is On by default.
LTE Calling is optional but recommended to allow both Simultaneous Voice and Data and call handoffs between Wi-Fi Calling and LTE Calling.
Call handoffs will go from Wi-Fi to LTE even if the LTE Calling switch is Off. LTE Calls require the Wi-Fi Calling switch to be turned On for a handoff to Wi-Fi.
That's it! Your phone is now enabled for Calling PLUS. You can call anyone using Calling PLUS, the person or party that you're calling does not need to have Calling PLUS in order for it to work.
Keep in mind:
Calling PLUS is included free of charge with your Sprint plan, though data usage does count toward any metered data allotment.
Calling PLUS is a only available to select devices at this time and only in areas with LTE service. We will add more device models over time.
Calling PLUS is not a VoLTE solution and call quality can vary based on location and network conditions.
Calling PLUS is only supported on the Sprint LTE network and will not work over roaming partner networks.
Calls initiated while on LTE will not hand off to CDMA towers. When leaving an LTE area, such a call may drop.
Have questions about Calling plus? Ask us here! Have you received the update on your device? Tell us how it's working for you so far.
Situation:
I currently live in the US. My end game is to live in Colombia and run an orphanage. This means a regular phone and long distance doesn't make sense. With someone like CallHippo, I can VOIP with a free number, call recording, free inbound, and 200 free minutes outbound and $.01/min. after that. This also enables me to change SIMs with no number porting, and use any Internet connection for calling without meeting any wireless provider requirements. However, it depends on a data connection. However, I've never had cell phone service without data available also, and VOIP requires very little bandwidth. 1GB of data is good for at least 1200 minutes of VOIP.
So my question is, Can you think of an instance anywhere anymore , where I might have voice but not data?
Thanks!