VoLTE seems to me to be much ado about very little. I know what the technology does, but I also read from the wireless providers the limitations such as:
- Both ends must use VoLTE. Many phones have it off by default.
- It only works with another phone on the same wireless provider's network. What are the chances of that?
- If the phone is not a carrier's branded phone, you do not get VoLTE or VoWi-Fi.
- It cannot be used with landline connections.
- Even if the call does go VoLTE/HD Voice, you will be billed for the same number of calls or minutes.
- If you force VoLTE by enabling VoWi-Fi, and be able to make and receive domestic calls for free while abroad, any international local calls or data will be billed at the very expensive international roaming rates.
- If you use a local SIM while International, you will get inexpensive local calls, but unable to use VoLTE to send or receive calls from home for free.
VoLTE seems Mickey Mouse when you have apps like Signal where you get secure chat, secure calling, and secure video conferencing, without being charged by the text, being charged by the call or by the minute, with the only dependency is a data connection.
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
Click to expand...
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.
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.
The free calling and texting app Textnow which formerly only worked on Wifi or with a paid subscription is now offering Free cellular service through the Sprint network. You just pay once for a $9.99 SIM activation kit and never need to pay a monthly fee or anything again. The Free part is only Voice and text. Their voice and texting does use mobile data but mobile data can't be used for anything else like surfing the Internet unless you pay extra. It does of course have ads to pay for this service but I haven't found them any problem. You have your own phone number and it automatically will switch between available Wifi and cellular for calls and texting. Great idea in my opinion for an extra phone number or backup phone or even a primary phone if you are in a good Sprint network area. Your phone must be compatible with Sprint's network (CDMA) or you can buy refurbished phones from Textnow that are all set to go.
Textnow now has a GSM SIM that works through T-Mobile. It took a bit of digging to find info needed to make the SIM work but so far I can only make outgoing calls and texts when on cellular (VoLTE) with
Wifi turned OFF. I can't receive calls or texts unless Wifi is ON. Is anyone else trying their new GSM SIM and had this problem? This is free cellular! You just have to put up with some ads. Textnow states you can make and receive calls on cellular but so far can't get the incoming working.
If you have trouble with this new GSM SIM even connecting here is the solution I found to at least make outgoing calls work: Go into settings > Wifi and Internet > SIM and network settings > SIM (T-Mobile) > Access Point Names > Add APN. Getting there may vary some by phone and OS version but you need to add the APN - Name : TextNow APN: textnow.static - then just save it and after saving choose it as the APN in the little circle. Turn on Airplane mode for about 10 seconds and then turn back off and you should see VoLTE and be able to make calls. If you can receive calls and text also please post here with anything you did to accomplish that.
Hi!
First, let me tell you what I did before:
A while ago I was on a longer trip to a far country, meaning roaming charges were extreme. Luckily my provider offers a VoIP service using the SIP standard, which I can use to make and receive calls with my regular phone number. So abroad I purchased a local SIM with several gigabytes of data included, removed my original SIM and installed the new one, installed a SIP cliant app, configured it to my provider account and that's it. I was reachable on my regular number, as if I were home, for a very small price. Could call enyone and they would see my regular phone number as the caller. Even SMS worked.
Now, the SIP service is being phased out by my provider and "replaced" by VoWifi (aka WifiCalling).
That works if I find a WLAN, but what can I do elsewhere?
Can I again get a local SIM and use it in a dual SIM phone (if I understand correctly, VoWifi does not work without the original SIM, so I must keep it in the phone, unlike for the SIP method above).
So, VoWifi would use the mobile data of the other (local, therefore cheap) SIM, instead of WLAN. Does this work?
I could carry with me another phone, insert the local SIM into it and turn on a hotspot, then connect to it with my primary phone, but then I would need to carry two devices, charge two batteries etc...
Is there a simple solution that would work? That is: one phone, cheap calls (the provider charges VoWifi calls as if at home country, local data only SIM are usually 10 USD per month or so), using my regular phone number for outgoing and incoming calls
Regards,
David
I'd like to force my Pixel 7 to disconnect from any mobile network, without using airplane mode. Do you know a way to achieve this?
Reason for asking this: I will travel abroad and use a secondary SIM to provide me with data, while using my primary SIM with voWiFi (or Backup calling). That'd would keep me reachable on my phone number and allow me to make calls/SMS @home at local rates.
The reason for having my primary SIM disconnected from any mobile network is due to the fact that my primary carrier will charge me for calls/SMS depending on the latest place I got connected to a mobile network. They charge roaming fees even when you're using voWiFi in airplane mode! I have tested this already on a previous trip.
One way would be to select a network manually, or a network that I know it won't connect. However, if I turn on and off airplane mode (to take a flight), the phone will connect to the latest network it connected successfully to.
So my strategy is to connect manually to my home network at home, hoping the phone doesn't magically connect to a network. That's why, I'd like to really make sure that the phone can't connect to any mobile network, just to be sure it won't connect to a network while roaming. But only on the primary SIM. For the other SIM I do want to get connected.
For those wondering, my carrier is T-Mobile NL.
Try messing up the apn details on your sim when abroad. That will prevent connection
The issue is that messing with apn won't prevent the phone to register to a roaming network. That alone will tell my carrier where I am and charge roaming fees accordingly...
@jasalta387 Interesting problem for sure. Can you forward your calls to the secondary (travel) sim and use WhatsApp or Signal to call on wifi? Or leave an auto message giving your foreign number. Any time you connect to the primary network you will be charged, no two ways about it on an Android device. I do believe the iPhone has that capability however. Even if you receive a text on the primary you will trigger a roaming charge. Perhaps the only way to avoid that is turning off the sim entirely while traveling. See if they have an inexpensive international plan?
Indeed, iPhone can easily be disconnected from a cellular network by selecting one that doesn't register. That setting sticks even while cycling through airplane mode or a device reboot. On Pixel this is not the case. Pixel will register again, hence my issue.
I know I could rely on 3rd party apps or services or call forwarding. Problem is that I then need to redirect all people who could reach me to them somehow, while using wifi calling is just fine. Even SMS come and go through it. I just need to not make my carrier aware I'm overseas. Hence my question.
I could use a second device that provides me data and keep my phone all the time in airplane mode. This needs that I carry the two devices all the time with the logistics of charging two phones and all of that. I just want to do it all with my Pixel.
I was thinking one thing: I need to go to the US. Is 3G dead there for good? Because then I could tell my Pixel to use 3G and not allow 2G. That'd keep it away from any accidental network registration upon landing.
jasalta387 said:
Indeed, iPhone can easily be disconnected from a cellular network by selecting one that doesn't register. That setting sticks even while cycling through airplane mode or a device reboot. On Pixel this is not the case. Pixel will register again, hence my issue.
I know I could rely on 3rd party apps or services or call forwarding. Problem is that I then need to redirect all people who could reach me to them somehow, while using wifi calling is just fine. Even SMS come and go through it. I just need to not make my carrier aware I'm overseas. Hence my question.
I could use a second device that provides me data and keep my phone all the time in airplane mode. This needs that I carry the two devices all the time with the logistics of charging two phones and all of that. I just want to do it all with my Pixel.
I was thinking one thing: I need to go to the US. Is 3G dead there for good? Because then I could tell my Pixel to use 3G and not allow 2G. That'd keep it away from any accidental network registration upon landing.
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Click to collapse
I'm intrigued by this and would love to find a solution for you. Oh yeah, 3G is dead across the US from all reports. So I'm trying to parse this scenario, let's see if I get this right. You want to have phone calls come into your primary phone line (Sim 1) but no network connectivity for data, right so far. Also you want SMS to the primary while roaming. The problem is that even if you don't get a phone call or text the connection to the network alone will trigger a billing instance, right so far again?
My daughter has an iPhone and turns off data on the sim but can get phone calls and text. As soon as she does though there is a daily billing charge of $10 because she's outside the US. I also think she can connect to wifi and make calls and text without a carrier network. But I'm not sure about. But that aside, how would you like it to work? Would you like it to connect to the network but not get charged unless you get a call or SMS? Because once a call comes in you're roaming charges will ensue. In airplane mode and strictly wifi there should be no charges but you say they bill you anyway right? Are you sure you didn't get a text or something to trigger the charge? I hope I'm reading this right.
My carrier bills calls and SMS based on the country of the latest connected cellular network. So if I don't connect to any network while I'm abroad my carrier will think I never left the country.
I don't want neither data nor calls/SMS on my primary SIM using cellular while abroad. I can get all calls and SMS via WiFi calling on that primary SIM. To get WiFi calling when I'm abroad I will use the data connection on my secondary SIM or any WiFi network.
Because of the need to get the secondary SIM on, airplane mode doesn't help me. So I need my primary SIM to never to any cellular network while I'm abroad.
jasalta387 said:
My carrier bills calls and SMS based on the country of the latest connected cellular network. So if I don't connect to any network while I'm abroad my carrier will think I never left the country.
I don't want neither data nor calls/SMS on my primary SIM using cellular while abroad. I can get all calls and SMS via WiFi calling on that primary SIM. To get WiFi calling when I'm abroad I will use the data connection on my secondary SIM or any WiFi network.
Because of the need to get the secondary SIM on, airplane mode doesn't help me. So I need my primary SIM to never to any cellular network while I'm abroad.
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Click to collapse
And if you turn off the sim then even WiFi doesn't work on your primary number?
If the SIM is turned off, then you don't get WiFi calling
Try the 4636 menu
Choose the SIM you want from drop down
3 dot menu top right
Disable data connection
jasalta387 said:
If the SIM is turned off, then you don't get WiFi calling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to adjust the order of airplane mode / network /wifi on-off so as to not allow the sim to connect to the network but still allow wifi on the sim? So for instance, disable the sim, turn on airplane mode, turn on the sim and then enable wifi calling while in airplane mode, turn off airplane mode with data turned off on the sim. I can't believe with no data, calls, sms and only wifi the carrier will charge you roaming. That just doesn't seem right.
bobby janow said:
Is it possible to adjust the order of airplane mode / network /wifi on-off so as to not allow the sim to connect to the network but still allow wifi on the sim? So for instance, disable the sim, turn on airplane mode, turn on the sim and then enable wifi calling while in airplane mode, turn off airplane mode with data turned off on the sim. I can't believe with no data, calls, sms and only wifi the carrier will charge you roaming. That just doesn't seem right.
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Click to collapse
@jasalta387
I don't know if you would follow this suggestion...
But in case you are interested in it, this sounds like something you could pull off automatically with something like MacroDroid or Tasker or some other automation app -- even without being rooted! But I concur, it doesn't make sense that a carrier charge roaming when there would be no data, calls, or sms but only wifi....I'm of the opinion (previously stated somewhere in the thread here) that you might've either misread the bill and/or accidentally "caught" a text or transferred a byte of data and it triggered...
Hey there, I know it sounds harsh that a carrier bills this way. It is verified and discussed in a local forum here (in Dutch) https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_message/74880578#74880578
Of course, here there are a few things at play:
1- the carrier wants to have a clear way of communication and support. If you are abroad, those are the prices you pay for. That's it. You know it for sure. They don't want to have to explain how to turn on VoWIFI and explain how to make that working for every phone, or explain to you that you made a call thinking you were on VoWIFI while you weren't. Their approach is crystal clear.
2- the carrier makes some extra income this way. While travelling in the US: for every SMS sent they charge 0.51 EUR, calls placed 1.27 EUR, calls received 0.76 EUR and 2.50 EUR per MB of data. For data, they sell some passes that makes the price more reasonable. Note that unlimited plans for domestic data/calls here start at 25 EUR per month.
3- In The Netherlands (and for pretty much every country in EU) people rely quite a lot on 3rd party apps for calls and texting, especially when you are abroad. WhatsApp is the go-to service, even for domestic communication. People don't even bother using their home carrier when travelling outside of EU. They just remove (or disable) that SIM. So the high cost of roaming is usually left to business users for which companies pay or make better deals with the carriers.
One thing I didn't mention is that in NL, pretty much all carriers limit VoWIFI to Dutch IP addresses. To use VoWIFI you'd need to use a router that tunnels all IP traffic via a VPN that has an exit point in The Netherlands. That's how I conducted my test and verified that all activity using VoWIFI was billed using the same fares as if I was using a roaming cellular network.
I want to try this using a secondary SIM from a Dutch provider, which will give me the Dutch IP address. Backup Calling on my primary SIM will make that SIM to connect to VoWIFI. But to get my home fares, I really need to make sure that my primary SIM doesn't connect to any network while I'm travelling (hence my original request).