https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s9+-8967.php

This doesn't mention 700 but holy Christ it supports a lot of 4G bands. In fact, randomly looking at phones (including my XCover 4S) 700 isn't mentioned on them - but I'm pretty sure my one supports it, as I remember seeing 4G Extended on the specifications for it when I ordered it from Vodafone.

So does a phone absolutely need to be sold by Vodafone NZ for VoLTE to work here at all? It won't work on any parallel imported handset?

quickymart:

 

So does a phone absolutely need to be sold by Vodafone NZ for VoLTE to work here at all? It won't work on any parallel imported handset?

 

Believe it comes down to if the manufacturer uses rogue or DIY firmware. (IE random Chinese brand with sideloaded english android and no working playstore or OTA updates) vs larger player that has supported models in the region and bundle the required enablement mods as a cross-platform/device rollout.

Possibly depends on the level of agreement with carriers and ongoing support. Or if they are clued up enough to engage the carriers for the specific configuration details to apply to ensure it can be detected and enable.

For instance Huawei, for a little while now seems to have the same firmware for similar ranged NZ provider models to make it easy, and even some imported sold-as-nz ones. And on SIM insert and boot. It customizes/personalizes to the detected SIM and applies the carrier details from the SIM etc.

So not a different firmware for each carrier. Whilst providing specific carrier provided updates OTA, regularly for ~12 months, and semi annual once a little older (my P20 has not had one since Jun 20 now :/ )

When the P20 was released here, branded under spark, 2degrees or VF, often sold out across the board. I think Nick from PB confirmed it was all largely direct sourced via 1 carrier and just had packaging changes. Leaving a seemingly 'non-specific' one that is in my hand. VF VoLTE is working per the initial android 10 update. But so far, no update to enable VoWIFI.

I have a Galaxy S7 Active I bought secondhand 3 or 4 years ago. The Active wasn't released here. I have had no problems with connectivity to cellular or anything else, on Vodafone & Spark. But I wouldn't know about VoLTE or such-like... I tend to be a pretty basic user of phone technology, and haven't used half the whiz-bang features.

The one irritation is that I can't update Android here. When I was in the USA in 2019, I bought a SIM from AT&T (whose logo is on the phone's startup screen) and spent a couple of hours (on the hotel WiFi) updating to Android 8.0. I can't remember what version was on it when I got it.

[Edit]: Playstore is fine for apps

frankv:

 

I have a Galaxy S7 Active I bought secondhand 3 or 4 years ago. The Active wasn't released here. I have had no problems with connectivity to cellular or anything else, on Vodafone & Spark. But I wouldn't know about VoLTE or such-like... I tend to be a pretty basic user of phone technology, and haven't used half the whiz-bang features.

 

The one irritation is that I can't update Android here. When I was in the USA in 2019, I bought a SIM from AT&T (whose logo is on the phone's startup screen) and spent a couple of hours (on the hotel WiFi) updating to Android 8.0. I can't remember what version was on it when I got it.

 

[Edit]: Playstore is fine for apps

 

That is a different case. 3 revisions older than what is being asked for for a start :) Equivalent closest to the NZ market xCover 4.. ish

VoLTE is newer tech, so samsung range tends to be on 9 and above. If it's the same as this, although it may not perform like it given infill and so on, looks like it is actually missing a few - 3G 900 for VF, and band 28 4G. Newer devices cover more of these generally to make them more global-ish.

2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps

It's also a Samsung. So store is a given. It is non certified google devices that fall short of store and have issues.

All good, a relative is looking at a parallel imported Samsung handset and was asking me about how it works and if she could get VoLTE on it or not.

G965F if I remember correctly was pretty much the RoW version that NZ also got. Just flash NZ firmware and away you go.

@Digikiwi The issues could come later on when you go to a rural part of NZ that is 4G 700Mhz / VoLTE only and the handset has no coverage

Then the next thread why is handset not working where other handsets do work