VoLTE using an overseas "dumb" phone

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openmedia

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#311276 1-Jan-2024 18:43

My father has a simple Doro 6820 phone and never uses data. He just needs an active SIM for emergency calls while he is visiting.

Yet again VoLTE is causing setup issues as Spark/Skinny won't work on 3G for his phone. The phone supports VolTE in the UK and the SIM show's VoLTE support in other devices, but it looks like he can't be provisioned on Skinny's network for VoLTE calls.

Looks like we might need to get a warehouse mobile or other supplied with supported 3G bands.

I wonder how much pain the carrier's teams at Auckland airport must face with their vistor SIMs due to VoLTE?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3176804 1-Jan-2024 19:02

Does that handset not support 3G / WCDMA 850Mhz?

It would not really be a issue as all NZ carriers support 3G / WCDMA voice at the moment and VoLTE is not required unless they travel into RCG areas that don't have 3G hardware on the site

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#3176810 1-Jan-2024 19:35

Linux: Does that handset not support 3G / WCDMA 850Mhz?

It would not really be a issue as all NZ carriers support 3G / WCDMA voice at the moment and VoLTE is not required unless they travel into RCG areas that don't have 3G hardware on the site

While that's true now, it's going to be an issue pretty soon. All three networks have public switch-off dates for 3G within the next two years (One this year), and areas with only 4G/RCG coverage are only going to grow.

The lack of an effective autoconfiguration system for VoLTE seems like a pretty major failure if you ask me. Especially as manual configuration isn't a thing, unlike APNs.

Oh well, carriers get to sell more phones...

nztim

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#3176813 1-Jan-2024 19:42

Don't know how many times I have said this Carriers all over the world have different VoLTE profiles, not every profile is in every phone. The exception to this the Apple iPhone which has all carriers profiles world wide.

Heck we even got caught out in the USA last month where Verizon’s VoLTE profile was not in IOS 16 on my wife's phone so calling wouldn’t work until we upgraded her phone to IOS17

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3176814 1-Jan-2024 19:44

nztim: Don't know how many times I have said this Carriers all over the world have different VoLTE profiles, not every profile is in every phone. The exception to this the Apple iPhone which has all carriers profiles world wide.

Heck we even got caught out in the USA last month where Verizon’s VoLTE profile was not in IOS 16 on my wife's phone so calling wouldn’t work until we upgraded her phone to IOS17

I know, and I'm saying it's a terrible protocol design failure, especially when considering the existence of dumb-phones/feature-phones, where a software upgrade probably isn't practical.

nztim

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#3176815 1-Jan-2024 19:51

Its also why the IOS operating system on my iPhone 12 is over 10GB

Other manufacturers sacrifice OS size for not having all these VoLTE profiles..

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openmedia

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#3177039 2-Jan-2024 08:56

Linux: Does that handset not support 3G / WCDMA 850Mhz?

It would not really be a issue as all NZ carriers support 3G / WCDMA voice at the moment and VoLTE is not required unless they travel into RCG areas that don't have 3G hardware on the site

Afraid it doesn't have 850MHz 3G, only 2100/1900/800.

Going to try a Warehouse mobile SIM and leave it locked to 3G.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3177053 2-Jan-2024 10:22

Warehouse mobile is 2degrees network

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nztim

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#3177083 2-Jan-2024 12:20

Are you based in Wellington by any chance?

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#3177110 2-Jan-2024 13:58

A read of the manual shows:

Your device is approved for use on the 4G LTE FDD 1 (2100), 3 (1800), 7 (2600), 8 (900),
20 (800), 28 (700) MHz, 4G LTE TDD 38 (2600) MHz,

WCDMA 1 (2100), 8 (900) MHz,

GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz networks.

Spark has I suspect mostly turned off the urban-only WCDMA 2100MHz band, and the 850Mhz band isn't supported.

Both 2D and One have widespread coverage at WCDMA 900MHz so the phone should work on them for the near future.

openmedia

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#3177216 2-Jan-2024 23:23

Working fine on 3G on Warehouse Mobile. Also doesn't get 4G VoLTE on Warehouse/2Degrees, but I can force 3G which is sufficient for limited calls while visiting.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

nztim

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#3177241 3-Jan-2024 09:09

While this works now on this trip (and not on RCG sites) there is going to be come a time when the three major NZ networks shutdown their 2g/3g services.

I hate to think how many old flip phones are in Grandma and Grandads glove box are all of a sudden not going to work when they genuinely need it in an emergency.

Also, how many parallel imported Android phones are there around the country which work fine for 4G data but still use 3G for voice calls due to the lack of VoLTE profile in them. All of a sudden are not going to be able to make calls when the 3g/2g networks are switched off.

Likewise International visitors to NZ with Android phones which don't support NZ Carrier's VoLTE profiles finding that data works fine but when they try make a call (including emergency services) the call doesn't go through.

I would be interested to see data from OneNZ/2Degrees/Spark how many devices are connected to their network that are still using 3G for voice.

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openmedia

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#3177455 3-Jan-2024 21:57

In the case of my father he needs one of those Big Button old phones designed for seniors. His fingers struggle with touchscreens and he can't work a smart phone.

His phone is fully supported for VolTE on all the carriers in the UK, but there isn't an alternative if you're travelling abroad when none of my spare phones are suitable.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3177595 4-Jan-2024 13:54

Wonder if this phone has the NZ VoLTE profiles in it?

https://www.bigbuttons.co.nz/mobile-phones/big-button-mobile-phone-blue-nz.html

It says 3g/4g networks but that doesn't necessary mean VoLTE

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CcMaN

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#3180303 11-Jan-2024 00:35

I'm becoming more and more convinced that this VoLTE issue with Android phones is related to NZ carriers not putting the effort into supporting a diverse range of handsets. I've got a Motorola Edge 20 Pro that I purchased through PBTech, I've tested this on Spark, One NZ and 2degrees, 5G works on all, but VoLTE works only on 2degrees. The handset isn't even parallel imported!

However, I've done a bit of travel this year, picking up local SIMs and have had no problems with VoLTE support for my handset in Japan, Taiwan, Australia and Thailand. Pretty gutted as the phone isn't that old and wasn't quite aware of the VoLTE compatibility issues and the impending 3G cut off I may end up switching to 2degrees just so it works!

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#3180304 11-Jan-2024 00:51

@CcMaN the handset is parallel imported why are you saying it isn't?

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