I just got off the phone with what seemed like a pretty knowledgeable rep and she said that tmobile will charge foreign data fees if you use wifi calling from another country. I asked how this was possible given that I would be connected to my hotel's wifi. She claims they look to see where the ip address is coming from. That sounds petty involved if you ask me, but not impossible. Does anyone know if this is true?
Thats odd, because I talked to a T-Mobile rep yesterday, and he said the exact opposite!
They really need to get this straight...
This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.
No data charges for WiFi calls, but does go against minutes...
shinkinrui said:
This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.
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Click to collapse
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I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...
laff4fun said:
------------------------------
I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd because I just got off the phone with customer service too and the guy was looking stuff up when I asked him about international wifi calling then told me that they would charge international rates if the IP address of the wifi was outside the US. I hope he's wrong but would still use caution until we have stuff in writing.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
dystorteddream said:
So unless their billing system has come along by leaps and bounds in the past two years (Which I doubt SAMSON has) then I find it highly unbelievable that they're going to be tracking IP addresses for proper billing. Not to mention the fact that you can use Tor and other apps in order to have your IP change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's quickview now ; )
if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.
davebu said:
if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya my sister-in-law uses it to call us while she is stationed in Italy. It works really well.
Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.
Just out of curiosity, which phone did you use when the charges happened? It seems to me that the likely culprit is the phone not actually using UMA for the call. On Blackberry phones, you can tell when UMA is being used because the signal indicator will say "UMA" instead of EDGE or 3G. The post someone made about making sure the wifi calling app is set to ONLY route calls through wifi is a very good idea. It's all about making sure there's no connection happening through the roaming carrier's towers.
I think disabling worldclass (international roaming) can avoid such problem.
That is if you want to completely disable international roaming... When I go overseas, I usually prefer to have an option of making/receiving important calls (and/or communicate through texts) even at worldclass rates, but to avoid leisure calls. If I could use Wi-Fi for those - great.
But if not - those who are not aware, Skype is now available from the market with ability to make skype to skype calls for free over Wi-Fi (but not over mobile network) as well as very cheap skype to phone calls (again over Wi-Fi). Just add a few dollars of credit to your skype account before you go and call anywhere in the US for a couple of cents per minute as opposed to gambling with being hit by a few dollars/minute roaming bill. Putting $5 into your Skype account will give you about 200 minutes of talking vs risk of being billed that much for as little as 1 minute in some countries, or at most 5 minutes in others... Oh, and calling numbers in the country you travel to may be quite cheaper as well.
I'm currently in Japan and have been using the wi-fi calling through my hotel's wifi network. Having checked my bill online I see my minutes being used like I would see it if I were using a standard connection if I was in the states. I am not getting charged anything for data according to their website.
You can definitely set your phone to not connect to any foreign provider and send/receive calls only through wifi. This is obvious on my phone based on it having the normal signal bars grayed out and the wifi calling icon in the corner. Basically, I leave my phone on all the time and then I only get calls and texts when I re-enter my hotel's wifi area.
I don't know for sure, but this method appears like it might keep you from incurring foreign text messaging costs. That last statement is only a guess, I just don't see any charges yet on my phone bill.
Infinitron: Are you using the G2 or a Blackberry? I'm going to Europe this Friday and this would be really helpful.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
This information is posted on t-mobile.com in plain writing.
http://www.t-mobile.com/business/Information.aspx?tp=international_calling
When making a call over a Wi-Fi network while abroad, the call appears to be originating in the US—so calls made to the US are considered domestic calls. Similarly, calls made over Wi-Fi between two countries outside the US are rated as calls from the US, significantly reducing international calling costs.
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Click to collapse
gaww said:
Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you call a non-domestic number, while using wifi calling (UMA) anywhere in the world, you will be charged extra.
If you think you are using UMA (WiFi) but actually connect using an overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra. If your call drops from Wifi and connects to local overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra.
Well i think the rep is correct and if you are flying international they will charge you for the roaming calls because you are using phone minutes. Make sure that you use the service at your own risk because it might get you a big bill from T Mobile
Related
I'd like to see whether it exists and can anybody extract it out and I'll try to install on nexus one to see how it works.
mingkee said:
I'd like to see whether it exists and can anybody extract it out and I'll try to install on nexus one to see how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not on the shipping rom...
You should be able to pull it from the dumped euro rom if I'm not mistaken.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
rUsTyRuSs said:
You should be able to pull it from the dumped euro rom if I'm not mistaken.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol what.no
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
http://www.androidcentral.com/t-mobile-g2-wont-have-free-tethering-may-have-wifi-calling
doesn't come installed yet- from what I've read, it will be included in an OTA
It is not installed got mine this weekend in austin at the android bbq from the tmobile pr rep
Wonder if G2 will be support for the wifi application and service ?
Sounds awesome, but no body is discussing price. Do WiFi minutes use your normal minutes, or is there a separate cost (has to be for international), or is (National) WiFi calling completely FREE?
If I can save minutes using WiFi at home and have no additional costs, that would be awesome.
...also, I assume the phone cannot receive calls (from your normal number) over WiFi, can it? It would be even nicer to be able to make and receive calls with the cellular network completely turned off. Imagine the battery life!
rpmccormick said:
Sounds awesome, but no body is discussing price. Do WiFi minutes use your normal minutes, or is there a separate cost (has to be for international), or is (National) WiFi calling completely FREE?
If I can save minutes using WiFi at home and have no additional costs, that would be awesome.
...also, I assume the phone cannot receive calls (from your normal number) over WiFi, can it? It would be even nicer to be able to make and receive calls with the cellular network completely turned off. Imagine the battery life!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Price will most likely be free like uma. On my wife's bold, wifi calls are free. The cellular radio will not need to be active as that would defeat the purpose. However, the new system doesn't do wifi to cellular hand-off. So if you leave the range of your wifi network, the call is dropped. also, I'm not sure how this is going to pan out, but the system apparently connects to the towers via the internet and the towers connect the call. I'm not sure if this means you need to be in a serviceable area or not, but it seemed rather odd to me.
In regards to the wifi calling app. The service (ability to make calls over wifi) will be free, making phone calls will deduct from normal minute buckets. T-Mobile states that they have it use your minutes because while it doesn't use a local tower it still goes through their system (ie call gets routed through web to tmobile switch and then is sent through a landline, which of course tmobile still pays the owner for, using @home only cuts the use of the one tower and base station, you still register on the network so you can use your normal # and receive calls. Which brings me to my last point...) you should be able to receive calls just fine.
One thing to keep in mind, wifi signal is degraded more heavily by the way you hold the phone than cell signal, if you download an app that monitors cell and wifi signal, you can see this for yourself. Something to keep in mind if you notice your calls are dropping a lot on wifi or you are missing calls.
In regards to needing to be in a servicable area, the service will work as long as there is wifi. Even in other countries.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2
But no free min via wifi, even for incoming? Lame and usless unless you have poor voice signal where you are.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
rpmccormick said:
But no free min via wifi, even for incoming? Lame and usless unless you have poor voice signal where you are.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
True enough. In the past you could add unlimited calling over wifi for $10 per line or $20 for up to five. This feature was discountinued in 2008, with tmobile claiming only a tiny percentage of consumers used the service and that it would remain fir business customers (albeit at a higher price.)
If enough people request it, maybe tmobile will come out with the feature sooner. If you really want something like that, request it at @tmobile on twitter, ask on facebook, post on the support forums or call customer care. If enough people want it, it will happen.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2
Skype????????
I wonder how this will work on corporate plans.
we have about 150 blackberrys with wifi calling and we have a deal where it does not deduct from our minute pool
I really hope it comes out as an OTA.
Not because I'm concerned with wifi calling, I'm concerned with an OTA coming out... one that can help those many times smarter than I get root.
..That said bring it up to tmo at any chance!
so let me get this straight, so if i have the unlimited wifi (which i do) then when the wi-fi calling gets here (hopefully soon) then it will NOT be deducted from my minutes bucket right ?
Use skype........
-FuRBz- said:
so let me get this straight, so if i have the unlimited wifi (which i do) then when the wi-fi calling gets here (hopefully soon) then it will NOT be deducted from my minutes bucket right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will still use your minutes.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
jasonvieira said:
I wonder how this will work on corporate plans.
we have about 150 blackberrys with wifi calling and we have a deal where it does not deduct from our minute pool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tl;dr
In short, no idea yet
In the billing system your calls from uma phones (and @home phones) get tagged as being a hotspot call (you see this on your paper or net bill with a letter designation.) The free uma calling service relies on the tag to make the calls free. If calls from the wifi calling app get this tag (it should show even without the free calling feature) the the calls will be free from the wifi calling app through the unlimited uma calling feature, otherwise no.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2
-FuRBz- said:
so let me get this straight, so if i have the unlimited wifi (which i do) then when the wi-fi calling gets here (hopefully soon) then it will NOT be deducted from my minutes bucket right ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, it won't be deducted from your minutes if you're already grandfathered & paying the monthly fee for unlimited uma/hotspot minutes (that's directly from the tmo techs' wifi calling training doc)
Hi,
I want to confirm if I'm overseas can I use the wifi calling feature to call back to the states and not incur roaming charges? I believe I'll still be charge minutes but not sure if they will be consider roaming.
Currently on Tmobile FrostyJB v4.
Thanks
According to the T-Mobile website:
support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1680
Billing
There is no additional monthly charge to use the Wi-Fi Calling feature on your handset. Wi-Fi Calling uses monthly plan minutes for the following:
Calls made from the US to US numbers
Calls made from the US to international numbers (subject to international rates)
Calls made from outside the US to US numbers (not charged roaming)
Calls made from outside the US to international numbers (subject to international rates, but not charged roaming)
Note: You must disable Data Roaming when traveling internationally to avoid incurring data roaming charges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should take from your bucket of minutes. To play it safe when abroad, I would go into the band menu and change it to a band that the country you're in doesn't use. To do this, just go to your Phone app, type *#197328640# and a secret menu will pop up, then hit [1]UTMS > [1]DEBUG SCREEN > [8]PHONE CONTROL > [7]NETWORK CONTROL > [2]BAND SELECTION. You should be able to select a band right there.
When coming back to the states, don't forget to go back to [2]BAND SELECTION and hit [1]Automatic to resume normal operation.
Another option would be to pop in a local SIM and call the States. It should be, depending on country, ridiculously cheaper.
What country are you going to?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
You should be safe with wifi calling
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Just use the wifi calling feature. You don't need to buy a local SIM to call the States. Why not use the included minutes that you've already paid for? The thing is, you can't turn on wifi calling when you have Airplane mode on. So naturally it'll find a local network so the potential concern is your phone using the cell tower rather than wifi, which could happen on accident. That's why I provided steps on how to restrict the phone's modem to a band that isn't used overseas to remove that possibility. Better safe than sorry, or broke with overages.
Don_Perrignon said:
Another option would be to pop in a local SIM and call the States. It should be, depending on country, ridiculously cheaper.
What country are you going to?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hong kong
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
You should be able to make WiFi calls to US as long as you make sure that your T-mobile Sim card is inserted and connected to a high speed internet service through wifi that is and WiFi calling is active. I have made call from Singapore, U.A.E and India back to US with no extra charges. Now that T-mobile offers unlimited UMA calls, I would add that to your account through customer service (ask them to add unlimited wifi calling). This way WiFi calls doesn't get counted towards your minutes. Have a safe trip.
Just buy a data-only sim card for your trip and make anything you want using internet!
There are some options I tried: local sim cards, MXTConnect sim card (for Europe).
anyone tried wifi calling on this? does it work decently and is it easy to use? would like to be able to go with 1000 minute package and save some dough if the wifi calling really works well and its easy enough for the wife to use when she talks to her mother all night.
.........it's the same Wi-Fi calling just as any other phone. .......Nothing new. .........
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
It works just like you are using the normal network including using the minutes on your plan. Its main claim to fame is to connect where there's no signal from a tower. It is NOT free minutes. Still the 1000 minute plan will go further than you think because evenings, weekends, and mobile to mobile calls don't count. If you work during the day and your family is on tmobile most calls will not count against your plan. I share 1000 minutes with my wife who talks a lot (evenings as she has a day job) and we never come close to using them all. Figuring week days only equals 20 days in 4 weeks and allows an average of 50 minutes a day of prime time talking. Who has time to talk that much during the work week? Not me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
gatorrph said:
It works just like you are using the normal network including using the minutes on your plan. Its main claim to fame is to connect where there's no signal from a tower. It is NOT free minutes. Still the 1000 minute plan will go further than you think because evenings, weekends, and mobile to mobile calls don't count. If you work during the day and your family is on tmobile most calls will not count against your plan. I share 1000 minutes with my wife who talks a lot (evenings as she has a day job) and we never come close to using them all. Figuring week days only equals 20 days in 4 weeks and allows an average of 50 minutes a day of prime time talking. Who has time to talk that much during the work week? Not me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wifi calls only use up minutes on prepaid plans. You have unlimited wifi call minutes on plans that include a 2yr contract (Value or Classic plans).
rmgill said:
Wifi calls only use up minutes on prepaid plans. You have unlimited wifi call minutes on plans that include a 2yr contract (Value or Classic plans).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true... it uses minutes regardless of whatever plans you have (I know, I'm on a 1000 minute Value Plan and I use wifi calling whenever I'm in my apartment). Also, I don't believe you can use wifi calling on prepaid plans? (correct me if I'm wrong).
I think it used to use minutes, the website clearly states it does not use your minutes.
Wifi-calling works well on note 2? I keep hearing its buggy? Phone not ringing while on standby, not able to answer and recipient can't hear you etc. :/
JFizDaWiz said:
I think it used to use minutes, the website clearly states it does not use your minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source?
here's a support document for it:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1680
Under billing:
Billing
There is no additional monthly charge to use the Wi-Fi Calling feature on your handset. Wi-Fi Calling uses monthly plan minutes for the following:
Calls made from the US to US numbers
Calls made from the US to international numbers (subject to international rates)
Calls made from outside the US to US numbers (not charged roaming)
Calls made from outside the US to international numbers (subject to international rates, but not charged roaming)
Note: You must disable Data Roaming when traveling internationally to avoid incurring data roaming charges.
In short, it's "free" ie. it's a FEATURE that allows you to make phone calls over Wifi, but you're still limited to amount of minutes you have on your plan.
zen0s said:
Wifi-calling works well on note 2? I keep hearing its buggy? Phone not ringing while on standby, not able to answer and recipient can't hear you etc. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works fine for me . No problems as far as I can tell.
I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?
girl in the store said the wifi calling doesn't use minutes. But regardless, my main concern is how tmobiles wifi calling works as far as voice quality and ease of use.
guthrien said:
I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It get's routed through their systems not like VOIP.
robl45 said:
girl in the store said the wifi calling doesn't use minutes. But regardless, my main concern is how tmobiles wifi calling works as far as voice quality and ease of use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the 4 or 5 calls I've used it on so far it worked just fine. I couldn't tell it was any different than a normal network call. Use is seamless, by default the phone uses wifi networks when available. You don't have to do anything to activate or use it except connect to a wireless network, everything else is automatic and transparent to the user. You won't even know you are using it except for the icon that shows in the notification bar. Voice quality is the same as any other call on both ends of the conversation.
guthrien said:
I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She may be mistaken with the addon which is free, but only works when you travel outside the US and use wifi calling.
"Free wifi calling" is a feature that must be explicitly added to your account. It doesn't cost extra, and when you have it, wifi calling does not use plan minutes. I don't know whether it's available for prepaid and value plans, but I have it on my classic plan and it saves me a lot of money. I just had to call and ask to have it added to my account.
Thanks for the responses, sounds like this could work well especially if it won't use minutes. I assume it works just as well on galaxy s3? I'm getting this but wife might want something smaller
wmm said:
"Free wifi calling" is a feature that must be explicitly added to your account. It doesn't cost extra, and when you have it, wifi calling does not use plan minutes. I don't know whether it's available for prepaid and value plans, but I have it on my classic plan and it saves me a lot of money. I just had to call and ask to have it added to my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on a legacy classic plan? I remember it being that way a way back, but was later removed as an option. If you had a really low plan it was a $5 charge, but if you on their larger minute plans it was included.
robl45 said:
Thanks for the responses, sounds like this could work well especially if it won't use minutes. I assume it works just as well on galaxy s3? I'm getting this but wife might want something smaller
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP, see my post earlier w/ documentation that it DOES use minutes...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=33409120&postcount=8
i don't know if it was a special then but last week i was on t-mo's website and they had a banner ad for wi-fi calling and it stated it did not use minutes, which was a good selling point for me. i can't find it now of course....what the craps
I can confirm that "Free Wi-Fi Calling" is a feature that must be added, and that it works on the Value plans. The description of the addon:
"T-Mobile Free Wi-Fi Calling gives you unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, unlimited high speed data and when travelling internationally free calls back to the USA – all at no additional cost."
I just checked my online account info and it's been added. I had to call to add it.
iamstuffed said:
I can confirm that "Free Wi-Fi Calling" is a feature that must be added, and that it works on the Value plans. The description of the addon:
"T-Mobile Free Wi-Fi Calling gives you unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, unlimited high speed data and when travelling internationally free calls back to the USA – all at no additional cost."
I just checked my online account info and it's been added. I had to call to add it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlimited Wi-Fi minutes means that you can make any call you want over Wifi, but it doesn't actually mean that you get unlimited minutes... put it like this, it's just business jargon.
And that entire sentence is just marketing... if you're on wifi, of course you get "unlimited high speed data" and for the "interntionally free calls back to the USA" that makes sense because internet is location agnostic... you're simply connecting to T-Mobile servers and making calls, but from T-Mobile's side of things it's not free because they still have to connect you to the other person you're calling, and usually if you call land lines, the person who calls, pays.
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree!
★ Sent by an Idiot with a phablet ★
For me its the fact that reception is horrible in my apartment, if you go outside its fine. I dont like going outside just to make a call every time so the wifi calling gives me reception inside.
Reception is the issue
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
I guessing it's free and reception issues. I'm not a big fan though
I live out in the boonies absolutely no signal within a few miles from the house. Wish I didn't have to have it esp since I love that All Star so much.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
I live in a townhouse within viewing distance from a cell tower and yet in my house I can get maybe 1 signal at one of the house (sometimes none at all). If I wanted to make a call I had to go to the garage. So wifi calling is important to me.
I'd be willing to sacrifice wifi calling for a multi-window rom if (and only if) I found a reliable option for wifi calling that's free, because t-mobile's wifi calling works very well for me.
It ABSOLUTELY is reception for many people. T-Mobile's fantastic when you get a good signal, but step inside any building made of concrete, or a brick house, or a house with other signal attenuating characteristics and you're screwed, dead zone. It's why I dumped TMo a couple of years ago, though I came back to try their Note II and newer HSPA+42 data service.
My office building is still a data dead zone, but voice calls come in if I'm near a window. My house, though, TMo's gone from a dead zone two years ago to a full-bars signal.
I went to south dakota a few weeks ago to visit my brother and his family.. t mobile, Verizon, Sprint and att reception there is abysmal.. if it wasn't for Wi-Fi calling i would've been screwed.. it's so bad there i asked my brother, "how do u deal with this reception?" Seriously i had zero bars from Irene sd to sioux falls sd if it wasn't for Wi-Fi i wasn't gonna be talking to anyone...
Sent from my SGH-T889
trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
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minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.
Jinra321 said:
minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.
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If you are on an eligible plan you can add the free wifi calling as a additional service. My grandfathered preferred plan won't allow the free wifi calling service... It deducts minutes from my allotment. There are parts on my house that get poor reception so I use it for that purpose.
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
samklee said:
As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
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You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes
deeznutz1977 said:
You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes
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If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
Coug76 said:
If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
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i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??
deeznutz1977 said:
i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??
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You can add the feature but it will use your minutes. Prepaids "do not" qualify for this plan. The only benefit for prepay to activate this feature is if you have poor reception this will allow you to still make a phone call.
As others have said, it is free and won't use up your allotted minutes only if you are on a qualifying plan.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
casperi said:
I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
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Lol ya that explains it a lil. I live in Las Vegas and I never lose signal anywhere. I guess that why I never understood. But when people are saying no reception is that mean no data either? Cause even if you have no reception but have data. Can't you use a 3rd party app that makes calls over data (not wifi)
Cell and data are basically the same as voice runs over the data lines pulled to the towers. It will be even more so as carriers upgrade to LTE-rev14 I think which is from my understanding is pure carrier level voice IP network vs switched network now.
Basically now voice is segmented out to a Nortel, Lucent, Alcatel gear to handle the phone side and then data is routed to their respective network gear. In a pure IP network both voice and data are run data only. Voice will be filtered out with QoS rules with along with virtual pbx box vs the circuit switched like we have now. The advantages of going pure IP are
1) Carriers are no longer tied to large circuit switched gear that runs into the millions and is proprietary to each manufacturer's specs. So the carriers try to buy just one type of pbx so not to run into compatibility issues. Just replacing a line card which typically hosts 129 lines at the "CO" known as central office is always same day aired if they don't have a replacement handy and those cards run 5 or so grand a piece. So downtime is a problem and cost vs ROI is as well.
2) In a pure voice IP setup the carriers can run a virtual PBX that is software bound vs hardware that the call is then routed via data to CO or datacenter to the last leg to terminate the call with say level 3 being your terminating host that then routes the call from there. If that call is cell phone to cell phone then it can stay data the entire way. This cost the carriers fare less as the hardware is agnostics, think vmware etc. Also audio codec on the BOX and towers can be adjusted in learning mode and then into dynamic mode as to give the callers the best overall call experience and if the tower gets loaded down with calls that gear can downgrade to a lower codec to handle more call volume. Think rush hour traffic where your stuck and everyone is on their cell. I could go into more details but you would fail asleep but this killer feature alone.
Bottom line is this cost the carriers far less, the audio codec used has much better call quality and can be setup to be dynamic to the load of individual towers vs switched which is hard coded. Downtime is dramatically reduced as there's no actual phone/linecards to go bad.
Many T-Mobile users "use" the Wi-Fi calling feature because it just sounds better. The reason that is because the audio codec "your call" runs around 96kbs. With voice over LTE "depending on tower config and load" can provide the same call quality. For example vzw cell call is 4.7kbs "data" which means that call is heavily compressed. You can tell if you listen, the bass and highs are gone. It's like talking to someone that speaks monotone. The reverse, GSM to GSM call uses a audio codec in the 14.8kbs range and sounds awesome. Even better is two T-Mobile callers using Wi-Fi calling. The problem the carriers have is CDMA to GSM or the other way around, all those calls sound like crap cause the voice gear has to downgrade or upscale to meet the setting of caller and vzw doesn't scale higher than 9.2kbs so the convo sounds mutilated with call echo, drop data packets which sounds like garbage like distorted audio. Think Sat radio when you go under a long bridge. Voice over LTE "voice over data" will allow all carriers gear to talk correctly and adjust audio codecs correctly on the fly giving the callers the best call possible.
I know I went WAY beyond and in depth but I love this stuff and its fun to share it with others.
Casperi
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Reception is one thing, but there is another reason..
For people that travel frequently outside the Tmobile coverage area (ie: International).. Wi-Fi calling is important and critical.. Even with a Corp plan, international minutes when you need to call back to the US is expensive and without having to deal with call forwarding, or grabbing a local SIM.. (though I usually get one for data)
Hello everyone.
I'm new here and this is my newest phone purchase after weeks and weeks of research I decided to purchase this phone. However I'm having one big problem. I cannot receive phone calls using the phone. However I can send text messages which is strange and when I try to talk to someone it switches to 2G for no real reason too.
It's fully updated and completely stock in fact just purchased three days ago. I'm wondering what I could do so I can get this thing working again. I have 30 days to return this thing, and I rather not because its a rather good phone and I like it a lot but if I can't get it to receive phone calls then I have to return it.
please help anyone.
Dallas Texas said:
Hello everyone.
I'm new here and this is my newest phone purchase after weeks and weeks of research I decided to purchase this phone. However I'm having one big problem. I cannot receive phone calls using the phone. However I can send text messages which is strange and when I try to talk to someone it switches to 2G for no real reason too.
It's fully updated and completely stock in fact just purchased three days ago. I'm wondering what I could do so I can get this thing working again. I have 30 days to return this thing, and I rather not because its a rather good phone and I like it a lot but if I can't get it to receive phone calls then I have to return it.
please help anyone.
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Try installing the t-mobile visual voicemail app, there maybe settings in there you can adjust, only if your U.S though.
boe323 said:
Try installing the t-mobile visual voicemail app, there maybe settings in there you can adjust, only if your U.S though.
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I had the same problem check the apn settings my was the stock tmo setting with the phone and a . Was in the wrong spot
boe323 said:
Try installing the t-mobile visual voicemail app, there maybe settings in there you can adjust, only if your U.S though.
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rob420p said:
I had the same problem check the apn settings my was the stock tmo setting with the phone and a . Was in the wrong spot
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Alright I'll try and install the T-mobile visual voicemail app and see what is good
APN settings yes? I have tried that and tried inputting a manual one and even the ones on there which has three types of T-mobile settings
I'm not an expert on this but I have been looking for info on this for a while before I buy an A2 Lite to use on T-Mobile and I believe this post by a T-Mobile MVNO customer service rep may answer your question
The TLDR is that T-Mobile strictly uses band 12 for all VoLTE calls and if the phone doesn't support band 12/VoLTE T-Mobile forces it to use 2G for calls and texts. In some areas where the spectrum has been refarmed and there are a lot of 2G users your incoming call will time out before the tower finishes searching for you on VoLTE and ultimately tries to connect you to 2G, resulting in your phone not actually ringing.
This would also explain why there are no issues with texts, since they don't time out like an incoming call. Apparently there is no solution to this if you live in certain areas and use T-Mobile, and it will continue to get worse as spectrum is refarmed.
Sorry for the delay -- I'm technically off today. I saw you question and just had to pop in and answer, because I have a complete answer for you. Your issue is band compatibility, specifically the lack of Band 12. Let me explain:
For years and years, T-Mobile sent all their calls over the legacy 2G network on 1900MHz. Every call and text message went over this frequency, and all T-Mobile phones still support it for backwards compatibility.
Then, T-Mobile launched Voice over LTE, or VoLTE. But, they made the stipulation that VoLTE would only ever work on LTE Band 12. That means that any phone that didn't specifically have Band 12 LTE would still have to use the 2G 1900MHz frequency to send all calls and text messages. Any phone that did support Band 12 could use VoLTE and would send all their calls and texts through that VoLTE Band 12 connection.
That's not really a problem for most people, as T-Mobile's 2G network is still live in all their markets. These phones will connect to the LTE network for all data, but all their calls and texts go over that 2G connection.
Enter the problem: Spectrum crunch. Spectrum in the US is a limited resource. That's why the auctions always for it always go for millions of dollars for tiny portions. T-Mobile (and by extension, all its MVNOs, as we have no power over how they build their network) wants to make LTE the new standard, and push into 5G. In order to do that, they need to launch LTE in more places, and feed more devices than ever. They only have so much spectrum, so they reallocate what they already have to the new technology.
This is already happening with 3G. 2G is, again, just being kept around for backwards compatibility. They take the sectors that broadcast 3G (and 2G) and make them smaller and smaller, so the rest of the room can be used for LTE to service more devices faster. It makes business sense.
The process is called "re-farming" spectrum, and a quick Google search quickly becomes a rabbit hole as you find other people in your circumstance. They put the disused services on tiny little slivers of spectrum, some as small as 5MHz, which without getting too technical, is tiny.
If you happen to be unlucky enough live in an area where they're re-farming 2G spectrum to LTE, and your phone doesn't support VoLTE on Band 12, you're effectively fighting all the other T-Mobile (really any carrier, but for arguments' sake) customers whose devices also need to connect to that 2G network
Add enough people, and you get the problem you're having. A call comes into the network, and the towers go to work trying to find you. First, they try VoLTE, and don't find you there. Then they try the old 2G network, but there's like 200 other people in your area that are connected to that one tower, so it has to fight through them all to find your SIM card number and connect the call and-- right before it connects, the call times out of rings and your caller is sent to Voicemail.
You never get a missed call alert, your caller isn't alerted that your phone didn't ring, and because your phone didn't get a confirmation, you probably won't get a voicemail notification.
This doesn't affect the phone's ability to connect to the 3G network or 4G LTE Bands 2 and 4, which lots of phones support. But calls and texts don't travel over those networks. You'll still have an active, working data connection if this is what's happening to you, which is why it's hard to diagnose not just for Ting reps, but our customers and other MVNOs, as well as T-Mobile itself.
This problem isn't going to go away, and it's only going to get worse as re-farming 2G goes nationwide. It's not Ting-specific. Any T-Mobile device will have this problem if there are enough 2G-talk-and-text users in your area.
The phone in question, the Blu Vivo 5, supports Band 2 and Band 4 for LTE, but doesn't support Band 12, and thus doesn't support VoLTE. This is exactly what's happening to you.
This is exactly how it happened to my S/O. She had a Motorola Droid Mini on Ting GSM that worked great for years, on two distinct T-Mobile-powered networks. Then, T-Mobile re-farmed enough 2G in our area that she started missing calls, texts wouldn't arrive and she wouldn't get voicemails. The key identifier that this was her problem was that placing a call would take something like 10-15 seconds to connect. Typically, this should be instant.
There was nothing wrong with the phone at all -- it was working as designed. The second I got her into a Band 12 VoLTE phone, the problems disappeared completely. Nothing else changed.
The only solution is a new (or new-to-you) phone that supports Band 12 and VoLTE. No number of hard resets, network resets or new SIM cards will fix this problem. You'll have this problem on any network that uses T-Mobile as their backbone, as long as the phone you're using doesn't support Band 12 LTE and VoLTE.
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I don't have a high enough post count to post a link but it was posted on r/Ting if you search that subreddit for the thread titled "Over 4 years and now this" you should find it. The info was written by u/literallyunlimited.
D412 said:
I'm not an expert on this but I have been looking for info on this for a while before I buy an A2 Lite to use on T-Mobile and I believe this post by a T-Mobile MVNO customer service rep may answer your question
The TLDR is that T-Mobile strictly uses band 12 for all VoLTE calls and if the phone doesn't support band 12/VoLTE T-Mobile forces it to use 2G for calls and texts. In some areas where the spectrum has been refarmed and there are a lot of 2G users your incoming call will time out before the tower finishes searching for you on VoLTE and ultimately tries to connect you to 2G, resulting in your phone not actually ringing.
This would also explain why there are no issues with texts, since they don't time out like an incoming call. Apparently there is no solution to this if you live in certain areas and use T-Mobile, and it will continue to get worse as spectrum is refarmed.
I don't have a high enough post count to post a link but it was posted on r/Ting if you search that subreddit for the thread titled "Over 4 years and now this" you should find it. The info was written by u/literallyunlimited.
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Thanks fam, I'll return it and get another phone I appreciate the information brother.