Mobile Phone - Call in/out using provider network or home wifi when no coverage

Welcome Guest.

You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.

Forums › Mobile handsets › Mobile Phone - Call in/out using provider network or home wifi when no coverage

shroo

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#114366 17-Feb-2013 15:56

Hi,

It seems this used to be possible possible with dual band handsets if UMA was allowed by the mobile service provider. Is there a similar way now?

My situation is no mobile coverage at home, but have very good wireless broadband and home wifi network. I'd like to get a mobile handset that will use a specific provider's network when I'm out and about but will automatically switch to using my wifi network when home.

This is different to wanting to use VOIP. Makes sense? Any ideas?

Thanks

1 | 2

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#763818 17-Feb-2013 15:59

If you are with Vodafone for mobile *AND* broadband then you can always use a Vodafone Sure Signal.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#763821 17-Feb-2013 16:02

Approx where are you located? Vodafone are deploying a number of RBI 3G sites at the moment

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/about/rural-broadband-initiative/

shroo

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#763825 17-Feb-2013 16:18

Thanks for quick replies. We don't use Vodafone for broadband, we use UberGroup. No option for Vodafone broadband, only as provider of mobile service for when out and about. We're locate about 15km's NE of Whangarei in Whareora. Does UMA still get used? Is there an equivalent currently in NZ?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#763827 17-Feb-2013 16:25

There's no UMA in New Zealand.

The Sure Signal is your only option if you want to add coverage to a certain place.

shroo

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#763833 17-Feb-2013 16:40

Not possible since we can't get fixed line broadband, which is a pre-requisite of the Vodafone Sure Signal plan... There must be another way?!

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#763855 17-Feb-2013 19:03

shroo: There must be another way?!

Nope.

Looking at the RBI maps a lot of that area will be be covered by the RBI, but whether you'll get covererage on your handset will depend entirely on where you are.

Juicytree

141 posts

Master Geek

#763890 17-Feb-2013 20:56

Why not use a smart phone and skype out when at home. Divert your inward mobile calls to your skype number on "no answer" instead of your mobile call minder. You may prefer one of the other calling systems such as google talk or Vonage if they have similar services.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#763898 17-Feb-2013 21:04

Google Voice and Vonage aren't available in New Zealand.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#763902 17-Feb-2013 21:08

Juicytree: Why not use a smart phone and skype out when at home. Divert your inward mobile calls to your skype number on "no answer" instead of your mobile call minder. You may prefer one of the other calling systems such as google talk or Vonage if they have similar services.

No good for SMS and MMS

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#763930 17-Feb-2013 22:20

Juicytree: Why not use a smart phone and skype out when at home. Divert your inward mobile calls to your skype number on "no answer" instead of your mobile call minder. You may prefer one of the other calling systems such as google talk or Vonage if they have similar services.

This seems to be a pretty good option to me. I've never used it but I think Whatsapp or something similar would work for SMS too.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#763934 17-Feb-2013 22:28

You can't receive a SMS sent to your mobile number on WhatsApp.

coffeebaron

6234 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#763937 17-Feb-2013 22:36

Is there zero coverage throughout the home; or can you get 1 bar signal at a window / on roof?

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#763943 17-Feb-2013 22:49

freitasm: You can't receive a SMS sent to your mobile number on WhatsApp.

Good point, I forgot about that, though it could still be useful in some circumstances like this I guess.

I you're using Skype there's also the message service on Skype.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

allan

2044 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#765215 18-Feb-2013 15:47

Left-field comment, but doesn't Office 365 provide an incoming text diversion/copy of some sort. Maybe use that in combination with some cell to VOIP redirection?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#765239 18-Feb-2013 16:15

Technofreak:
freitasm: You can't receive a SMS sent to your mobile number on WhatsApp.

Good point, I forgot about that, though it could still be useful in some circumstances like this I guess.

I you're using Skype there's also the message service on Skype.

Which, again, is only OUT, not IN.

1 | 2

News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00

eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07

BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21

eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01

WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32

RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26

Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24

Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01

Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22

Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46

Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42

D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34

Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15

Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.

Updates »

Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.

RSS feeds: Main feed; Forums feed

Site features: Geekzone BI dashboard; Geekzone Badges; Geekzone Status Page

Affiliate links: Samsung; AliExpress; Wise; Sharesies; GoodSync

Site Information: Subscribe to Geekzone; Privacy Statement; Forum Usage Guidelines (FUG); Advertising; Trademark and copyright