3G shutdown: check your phones

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › 3G shutdown: check your phones

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 31

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13954

ID Verified

#3382602 10-Jun-2025 20:16

https://archive.ph/GbFzX

Tech Insider has fielded anecdotal evidence of 3G phones still being on sale at retailers as a super-budget option, despite the fact the plug will be pulled on 3G networks by year’s end (or in the case of Spark, three months later). But an Auckland man’s case shows it’s not just “burners” you have to be wary of.

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3382711 11-Jun-2025 08:42

nztim:

Pointers for Apple Users

If you have an iPhone 11 or above VoLTE is on by default and cannot be disabled
If you have an iPhone 6s to iPhone 10 you need to enable VoLTE under Mobile Data settings, it is not on by default
If you have an iPhone6 or older you need to replace the phone (or just keep using it as a data only device)

When I checked for the settings on our iPhone 8's, I didn't see 'enable VoLTE' under Mobile Data settings. I just saw a 'Voice & Data' selector which could choose between 3G and 4G. They already had 4G selected.

friendlymonkey

180 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#3382725 11-Jun-2025 09:35

quickymart:

https://archive.ph/GbFzX

Tech Insider has fielded anecdotal evidence of 3G phones still being on sale at retailers as a super-budget option, despite the fact the plug will be pulled on 3G networks by year’s end (or in the case of Spark, three months later). But an Auckland man’s case shows it’s not just “burners” you have to be wary of.

Volte does work on the Xiaomi model mentioned in the article but you have to disable the carrier check by dialling *#*#86583#*#* we have one that makes calls over volte fine. I guess the consumer shouldn't be expected to know this.

nztim

4013 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2711

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#3382726 11-Jun-2025 09:39

Earbanean:

When I checked for the settings on our iPhone 8's, I didn't see 'enable VoLTE' under Mobile Data settings. I just saw a 'Voice & Data' selector which could choose between 3G and 4G. They already had 4G selected.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6D7h08VqBrY

If you don't have the VoLTE settings it's on by default and cannot be turned off

To Verify it is on, hotspot your phone to a laptop, continually ping -t 8.8.8.8 and then make/receive a call from your device while the ping is running

if there is no drop in packets while the call is been setup VoLTE is enabled

also, the App I was referring to above (not free but like $2) is called iTest

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

bagheera

544 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 189

#3382729 11-Jun-2025 09:45

Earbanean:

nztim:

Pointers for Apple Users

If you have an iPhone 11 or above VoLTE is on by default and cannot be disabled
If you have an iPhone 6s to iPhone 10 you need to enable VoLTE under Mobile Data settings, it is not on by default
If you have an iPhone6 or older you need to replace the phone (or just keep using it as a data only device)

When I checked for the settings on our iPhone 8's, I didn't see 'enable VoLTE' under Mobile Data settings. I just saw a 'Voice & Data' selector which could choose between 3G and 4G. They already had 4G selected.

iPhone 8 not supported any more (just a few month ago drop to vintage), but also can only goto ios 16 with security patches, which did not have the volte update I think, think that was 17, so most likely will stop working come 3g turn off, but one.nz does say iPhone 8 ok, but with no more updates from apple, it may drop off the list soon

nztim

4013 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2711

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#3382735 11-Jun-2025 10:12

bagheera:

iPhone 8 not supported any more (just a few month ago drop to vintage), but also can only goto ios 16 with security patches, which did not have the volte update I think, think that was 17, so most likely will stop working come 3g turn off, but one.nz does say iPhone 8 ok, but with no more updates from apple, it may drop off the list soon

Perform the test above, or download iTest iPhone 8 is supported

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

bagheera

544 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 189

#3382736 11-Jun-2025 10:15

nztim:

bagheera:

iPhone 8 not supported any more (just a few month ago drop to vintage), but also can only goto ios 16 with security patches, which did not have the volte update I think, think that was 17, so most likely will stop working come 3g turn off, but one.nz does say iPhone 8 ok, but with no more updates from apple, it may drop off the list soon

Perform the test above, or download iTest iPhone 8 is supported

iPhone 8 is now vintage https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772, so no more ios updates, therefore any change to volte will not get an update, so at a guess will drop form telco list of support phones - iPhone 8 drop in April to vintage

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3382738 11-Jun-2025 10:23

nztim:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6D7h08VqBrY

If you don't have the VoLTE settings it's on by default and cannot be turned off

To Verify it is on, hotspot your phone to a laptop, continually ping -t 8.8.8.8 and then make/receive a call from your device while the ping is running

if there is no drop in packets while the call is been setup VoLTE is enabled

also, the App I was referring to above (not free but like $2) is called iTest

Thanks, will test tonight.

snj

305 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 221

#3382742 11-Jun-2025 10:40

bagheera:

iPhone 8 is now vintage https://support.apple.com/en-us/102772, so no more ios updates, therefore any change to volte will not get an update, so at a guess will drop form telco list of support phones - iPhone 8 drop in April to vintage

They already have support. The boiled down summary isn't completely accurate for iPhones (for instance the 6 is supported by One), but the carrier lists for Spark, One, and 2degrees all show the 8 having support (although only Spark have support for VoLTE Roaming for the 8).

The supported iOS devices really are dependent on what phones were getting updates at the times the various providers rolled out their carrier updates for specific features (and hence what the earliest version of iOS those carrier updates was in).

bagheera

544 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 189

#3382745 11-Jun-2025 10:48

snj:

The supported iOS devices really are dependent on what phones were getting updates at the times the various providers rolled out their carrier updates for specific features (and hence what the earliest version of iOS those carrier updates was in).

This is true, but the key thing here "carrier updates for specific features". If any changes are now needed for whatever reason by the telco, iPhone 8 will not get the update and may break volte - as a telco are they going to be happy including (with all the testing need with it) an unsupported by vendor phone in a list of supported phones going forward?

Asteros

363 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 189

#3382747 11-Jun-2025 10:57

Currently I can confirm the iPhone 8 works on VoLTE and vowifi on one nz, Spark and 2degrees. My family member has one and we tested it recently.

If configurations change regarding VoLTE and vowifi profiles then there might be problems in the future. However is this likely? I don’t think it’s likely.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

snj

305 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 221

#3382749 11-Jun-2025 11:10

Asteros:

If configurations change regarding VoLTE and vowifi profiles then there might be problems in the future. However is this likely? I don’t think it’s likely.

Exactly, it'd have to be a major technological or security change to force this, and it'd have to be well sign posted (like the 3G switch off) because it wouldn't just be old iPhones causing problems, but it'd be every phone where the manufacturer decides it's not worth rolling a new image for.

nztim

4013 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2711

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#3382750 11-Jun-2025 11:11

Asteros:

Currently I can confirm the iPhone 8 works on VoLTE and vowifi on one nz, Spark and 2degrees. My family member has one and we tested it recently.

Any 6s or above will

Asteros:

If configurations change regarding VoLTE and vowifi profiles then there might be problems in the future. However is this likely? I don’t think it’s likely.

...Maybe

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

bfginger

1330 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 191

#3383183 12-Jun-2025 13:49

kiwifidget:

Premium NZHerald article:

Spark delays 3G shutdown, Commerce Commission fields multiple complaints about retailers still selling 3G devices

Delayed until March 31, 2026

Are One and 2Degrees are likely to delay their 3G shutdowns too?

Linux

12185 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8479

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3383184 12-Jun-2025 13:51

bfginger:

kiwifidget:

Premium NZHerald article:

Spark delays 3G shutdown, Commerce Commission fields multiple complaints about retailers still selling 3G devices

Delayed until March 31, 2026

Are One and 2Degrees are likely to delay their 3G shutdowns too?

I hope not. The sooner the better

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ... | 31