2D 3G Shutdown: Pixel 3 4G Compatilbility

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 2D 3G Shutdown: Pixel 3 4G Compatilbility

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#3383283 12-Jun-2025 17:49

Good luck. I wouldn’t keep using this phone because it isn’t getting any software updates. Plus it is from the time when Pixels weren’t very good.

SamF

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#3383284 12-Jun-2025 17:52

I don't really care about software updates; it does what I want it to do.

But I have to agree with you on the fact that it's not actually a very good phone.

I mean it works ok, but there are quite a few annoying quirks!

Anyway, I'll give the hack a go and report back here as to how I get on!

nztim

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#3383479 13-Jun-2025 09:05

SamF:

Yeah, looking at various 'non-official' ways to enable VoLTE as it appears that there is some kind of Google-level country / carrier restriction in the phone itself.

Each phone Manufacturer decides what VoLTE Profiles to install/not install in their phone's software

and the phones will only make calls in areas where the VoLTE profile for the specific carrier has been installed into the phone's software.

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

SamF

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#3383488 13-Jun-2025 09:30

nztim:

SamF:

Yeah, looking at various 'non-official' ways to enable VoLTE as it appears that there is some kind of Google-level country / carrier restriction in the phone itself.

Each phone Manufacturer decides what VoLTE Profiles to install/not install in their phone's software

and the phones will only make calls in areas where the VoLTE profile for the specific carrier has been installed into the phone's software.

Ok, interesting.

Are these profiles something which cold theoretically be recreated / installed manuallty?

The processes I'm finding are to "enable" VoLTE, but make no mention of profiles.

nztim

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#3383491 13-Jun-2025 09:32

SamF:

Ok, interesting.

Are these profiles something which cold theoretically be recreated / installed manuallty?

The processes I'm finding are to "enable" VoLTE, but make no mention of profiles.

Not AFAIK basically the phone registerers with a Carrier, in the phone's software the phone knows the carriers SIP server is XXX the VoWifi Tunnel is XXX the RTP Codes are XXX

Carriers only provide that information to phone manufacturers

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

nztim

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#3383493 13-Jun-2025 09:34

This is also why Apples IOS is like 10GB, as it has all this carrier information in it... its also why the iPhone works almost universally anywhere

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SamF

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#3383495 13-Jun-2025 09:44

nztim:

Not AFAIK basically the phone registerers with a Carrier, in the phone's software the phone knows the carriers SIP server is XXX the VoWifi Tunnel is XXX the RTP Codes are XXX

Carriers only provide that information to phone manufacturersk

Well that's annoying. This seems like something which could easiiy be user configurable.

SamF

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#3383623 13-Jun-2025 12:17

Well, after a bit of web research, it seems that it may be possible to manually create the carrier profile:

https://xdaforums.com/t/how-to-enable-volte-vowifi-in-unsupported-countries-without-root-requires-shizuku.4637959

And at least one person has got VoLTE working with 2D (albeit with a Pixel 6):

https://github.com/kyujin-cho/pixel-volte-patch/discussions/1#discussioncomment-5644517

Might give it a crack this weekend.

Update: Reading a little more closely, it seems that the method I was intending to use to actually enable the VoLTE options in the phone only works for newer Pixel phones :(

It's very frustrating knowing that the Pixel 3 is CAPABLE of VoLTE, but locked behind some arbitrary software restrictions!

mudguard

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#3383634 13-Jun-2025 12:58

SamF:

Update: Reading a little more closely, it seems that the method I was intending to use to actually enable the VoLTE options in the phone only works for newer Pixel phones :(

It's very frustrating knowing that the Pixel 3 is CAPABLE of VoLTE, but locked behind some arbitrary software restrictions!

This is a very popular topic. Bottom line for Android is buy only from the big box retailers in New Zealand. No parallel imports.

SamF

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#3383638 13-Jun-2025 13:13

mudguard:

This is a very popular topic. Bottom line for Android is buy only from the big box retailers in New Zealand. No parallel imports.

Sure, but there's no reason why it has to be that way (at least for phones which have the band support).

mudguard

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#3383650 13-Jun-2025 13:51

SamF:

mudguard:

This is a very popular topic. Bottom line for Android is buy only from the big box retailers in New Zealand. No parallel imports.

Sure, but there's no reason why it has to be that way (at least for phones which have the band support).

The issue is for the 99% of users who aren't going to try and do it themselves

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#3383654 13-Jun-2025 14:23

SamF:

mudguard:

This is a very popular topic. Bottom line for Android is buy only from the big box retailers in New Zealand. No parallel imports.

Sure, but there's no reason why it has to be that way (at least for phones which have the band support).

@SamF far more to it than just band support

SamF

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#3383656 13-Jun-2025 14:26

Linux:

@SamF far more to it than just band support

Ok fair, but I mean for phones like the Pixel 3 which, by everything I can see, would work fine with the right software on them.

mudguard

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#3383657 13-Jun-2025 14:29

SamF:

Linux:

@SamF far more to it than just band support

Ok fair, but I mean for phones like the Pixel 3 which, by everything I can see, would work fine with the right software on them.

But that unfortunately is whole point. Hundreds of phones have all the correct hardware. But with the switch over each manufacturer has to load each country's profile in

And they're not doing it aside from Apple. Unless they officially sell in that market. And hence why I didn't buy a Pixel or replace my partner's Pixel with another one.

SamF

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#3383658 13-Jun-2025 14:33

mudguard:

But that unfortunately is whole point. Hundreds of phones have all the correct hardware. But with the switch over each manufacturer has to load each country's profile in

And they're not doing it aside from Apple. Unless they officially sell in that market. And hence why I didn't buy a Pixel or replace my partner's Pixel with another one.

I think we're on the same page here mate :D

It's a relatively simple fix (for the companies involved), but instead of putting in that tiny effort, they're relegating millions of phones to the e-waste scrap heap and making customers spend more money to buy new ones.

I guess it's better for the bottom line this way...

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