Develop Bugs

[Q] Tmo claims foreign wifi calling incurs foreign data chargesi

I just got off the phone with what seemed like a pretty knowledgeable rep and she said that tmobile will charge foreign data fees if you use wifi calling from another country. I asked how this was possible given that I would be connected to my hotel's wifi. She claims they look to see where the ip address is coming from. That sounds petty involved if you ask me, but not impossible. Does anyone know if this is true?

Thats odd, because I talked to a T-Mobile rep yesterday, and he said the exact opposite!
They really need to get this straight...

This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.

No data charges for WiFi calls, but does go against minutes...
shinkinrui said:
This stems from a misunderstanding a lot of reps(and even some supervisors) had from an internal communication earlier this year. Some customers had been able to make free international calls(dialing out TO a country besides the US) using UMA while roaming internationally. T-Mobile fixed the bug and sent out a communication that people could no longer make free INTERNATIONAL calls while connected to UMA while roaming internationally. Reps misread this as meaning that we would now be charging roaming even while on UMA/wifi calling and T-Mobile had devised some means for doing so. Not true- all it means is that while connected to UMA/wifi calling it's the same as if you're connected to the regular GSM network in the US. Regular calls to the US will be regular minutes and calls to any other country(even the one you're roaming in) results in international long distance charges. If baffles me that some reps still have this misunderstanding, because there's even a chart dealing with this issue on the internal website.
TL;DR: The rep you spoke to was confused. Don't worry, you can't be charged roaming while connected to UMA/wifi calling. Just remember it will be charged just like making a call from the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
------------------------------
I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...

laff4fun said:
------------------------------
I talked with a T-Mo G2 specialist and she basically said the same thing...While calling on WiFi, you will NOT incur ANY charges - however, she did say that the minutes you do use while calling on WiFi will be charged against your minutes. She also made it very clear that if the phone connects to the cellular system, then you will get charged for international roaming...
To prevent that, she even emailed me the sequence for making sure your phone does NOT connect to the foreign cellular provider...
Here it is...
1. From any Home screen, tap the Application Tray.
2. Scroll to and tap Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Tap the Menu key.
4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Connection preferences.
6. Tap one of the following options:
o Wi-Fi Preferred: All calls go through Wi-Fi when connected to a Wi-Fi network. Calls drop as you leave the Wi-Fi range.
o Cellular Preferred: Calls go over the cellular network, and Wi-Fi Calling is a backup if the cellular network is not available.
o Wi-Fi Only: Calls can be made when connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is no Wi-Fi network, then your calls cannot connect.
7. Tap OK.
Hope this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd because I just got off the phone with customer service too and the guy was looking stuff up when I asked him about international wifi calling then told me that they would charge international rates if the IP address of the wifi was outside the US. I hope he's wrong but would still use caution until we have stuff in writing.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App

dystorteddream said:
So unless their billing system has come along by leaps and bounds in the past two years (Which I doubt SAMSON has) then I find it highly unbelievable that they're going to be tracking IP addresses for proper billing. Not to mention the fact that you can use Tor and other apps in order to have your IP change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's quickview now ; )

if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.

davebu said:
if your on wifi often enough to use wifi calling why not get magicjack, can use it with csip now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya my sister-in-law uses it to call us while she is stationed in Italy. It works really well.

Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.

Just out of curiosity, which phone did you use when the charges happened? It seems to me that the likely culprit is the phone not actually using UMA for the call. On Blackberry phones, you can tell when UMA is being used because the signal indicator will say "UMA" instead of EDGE or 3G. The post someone made about making sure the wifi calling app is set to ONLY route calls through wifi is a very good idea. It's all about making sure there's no connection happening through the roaming carrier's towers.

I think disabling worldclass (international roaming) can avoid such problem.

That is if you want to completely disable international roaming... When I go overseas, I usually prefer to have an option of making/receiving important calls (and/or communicate through texts) even at worldclass rates, but to avoid leisure calls. If I could use Wi-Fi for those - great.
But if not - those who are not aware, Skype is now available from the market with ability to make skype to skype calls for free over Wi-Fi (but not over mobile network) as well as very cheap skype to phone calls (again over Wi-Fi). Just add a few dollars of credit to your skype account before you go and call anywhere in the US for a couple of cents per minute as opposed to gambling with being hit by a few dollars/minute roaming bill. Putting $5 into your Skype account will give you about 200 minutes of talking vs risk of being billed that much for as little as 1 minute in some countries, or at most 5 minutes in others... Oh, and calling numbers in the country you travel to may be quite cheaper as well.

I'm currently in Japan and have been using the wi-fi calling through my hotel's wifi network. Having checked my bill online I see my minutes being used like I would see it if I were using a standard connection if I was in the states. I am not getting charged anything for data according to their website.
You can definitely set your phone to not connect to any foreign provider and send/receive calls only through wifi. This is obvious on my phone based on it having the normal signal bars grayed out and the wifi calling icon in the corner. Basically, I leave my phone on all the time and then I only get calls and texts when I re-enter my hotel's wifi area.
I don't know for sure, but this method appears like it might keep you from incurring foreign text messaging costs. That last statement is only a guess, I just don't see any charges yet on my phone bill.

Infinitron: Are you using the G2 or a Blackberry? I'm going to Europe this Friday and this would be really helpful.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

This information is posted on t-mobile.com in plain writing.
http://www.t-mobile.com/business/Information.aspx?tp=international_calling
When making a call over a Wi-Fi network while abroad, the call appears to be originating in the US—so calls made to the US are considered domestic calls. Similarly, calls made over Wi-Fi between two countries outside the US are rated as calls from the US, significantly reducing international calling costs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

gaww said:
Two years ago I was told by TMo customer service that I would not be charged overseas calling if I used WiFi over there (Germany). I would be charged minutes, except I was calling M2M, so that was not to be a problem for those calls.
Got my bill. and there was $200 for overseas calls while I was on WiFI. I got most of it removed ONLY because I had been told it would not happen.
If they are ONLY charging minutes at US rates - that will be an improvement - but be careful. The posts on using magicjack may be the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you call a non-domestic number, while using wifi calling (UMA) anywhere in the world, you will be charged extra.
If you think you are using UMA (WiFi) but actually connect using an overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra. If your call drops from Wifi and connects to local overseas mobile carrier, then you will be charged extra.

Well i think the rep is correct and if you are flying international they will charge you for the roaming calls because you are using phone minutes. Make sure that you use the service at your own risk because it might get you a big bill from T Mobile

[BOUNTY(?)] WiFi calling

Not really sure how to properly start a bounty thread, and direction is appreciated. Also don't know if this is even possible as I know porting wifi calling has proven to be nearly impossible on other devices, e.g. Nexus S. However, doesn't hurt to ask and I know it was done on Nexus One. Am using Galaxy Nexus on TMo, if that makes any difference.
Really, desperately need wifi calling for reception purposes in my apartment. Left TMo's Galaxy S2 for the Galaxy Nexus, love everything about it except lack of reception in home.
I know I can utilize Google Voice, but I need to be able to use my TMo number for both incoming and outgoing calls as well as texts, and not interested in porting my mobile number to Google.
I'm willing to fork over $100 for working wifi calling, if anyone is up to the challenge... if even possible...
Also, if anyone has alternate suggestion (not Google Voice, something that utilizes TMo mobile number, would be GREATLY appreciated!!

If this is possible that would be awesome. But I believe UMA is strictly a tmo thing
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I use Groove IP app exclusively for calls, both over wifi and 3G/HSPA+. I am on the T-mobile $30/unlimited data/100min plan, so it is a must for me. It works great! and only a few bucks on the market. You will need a Google Voice account, and to set it to ring Google Talk, and maybe a little other setup, but it is pretty simple.

Tubes6al4v said:
I use Groove IP app exclusively for calls, both over wifi and 3G/HSPA+. I am on the T-mobile $30/unlimited data/100min plan, so it is a must for me. It works great! and only a few bucks on the market. You will need a Google Voice account, and to set it to ring Google Talk, and maybe a little other setup, but it is pretty simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for suggestion but I really need my TMo mobile number to work, and I'm not looking to port it to GV...

lp1527 said:
Thanks for suggestion but I really need my TMo mobile number to work, and I'm not looking to port it to GV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will match whatever contribution you make. I want to see the WiFi calling in the ways of the HTC Glacier (MT4G)...

Verizon has a network extender that plugs into your home internet connection. It gives you a cell signal in your house and routes it over the internet back to Verizon. There is no monthly fee just a charge of the device. $250 i think. Maybe TMo has a similar device.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=gotoFemtocell

pharpe said:
Verizon has a network extender that plugs into your home internet connection. It gives you a cell signal in your house and routes it over the internet back to Verizon. There is no monthly fee just a charge of the device. $250 i think. Maybe TMo has a similar device.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=gotoFemtocell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSM, on T-Mobile
But thanks for the suggestion...

pharpe said:
Verizon has a network extender that plugs into your home internet connection. It gives you a cell signal in your house and routes it over the internet back to Verizon. There is no monthly fee just a charge of the device. $250 i think. Maybe TMo has a similar device.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/accessory?action=gotoFemtocell
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TMo does have a signal booster device, but it cannot be implemented in shared-wall structures (i.e. apartment buildings). Also, have many places, such as family homes, with lousy in-door coverage where wi-fi calling makes all the difference in the world.

i called tmo last month i fact complaining of a low signal in my town home. they sent me a signal booster for free.. from 1 bar downstairs to now 5 bars

BiGMERF said:
i called tmo last month i fact complaining of a low signal in my town home. they sent me a signal booster for free.. from 1 bar downstairs to now 5 bars
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's awesome! Unfortunately they're not allowed in apartment buildings so won't help me.
I desperately need wi-fi calling!!!

lp1527 said:
That's awesome! Unfortunately they're not allowed in apartment buildings so won't help me.
I desperately need wi-fi calling!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the cops might hall you off!

lp1527 said:
That's awesome! Unfortunately they're not allowed in apartment buildings so won't help me.
I desperately need wi-fi calling!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who's going to stop you..?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

jyames said:
Yeah, the cops might hall you off!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
joshnichols189 said:
Who's going to stop you..?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm not scared of the signal booster police!
Unfortunately they check your address to verify. NO, I don't know if/how they can verify ALL shared wall structures, but for someone like me with "Apt. 5J" attached to my address it's not difficult. The issue is you need to register your address in case of emergency, as 911 cannot definitely and accurately determine your address if making a call using signal booster. So the issue is that if a neighbor picks up your signal without knowing and makes an emergency call, 911 may not be able to identify address. I know it's a long shot but it's not MY rule. And afaik, you cannot lock the signal to exclude others as you can with wifi.

jyames said:
Yeah, the cops might hall you off!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, and hall = haul when referring to carrying someone away. Just saying

I think the booster is tied to your cell account... so you might have a fun surprise.
The wifi calling was awesome but ultimately its property of T-Mobile and doesn't work on ICS. T-Mobile must update it before even attempting to porting it over.
CM team has used it a ton. Maybe they'll implement it in their CM9 rom. But I suspect they'll be busy just ironing out the bugs for a while.
Plus T-Mobile is doing away with wifi calling as we know it. I BELIEVE they're implementing a new system and probably going to charge for it.
Hopefully T-Mobile gets this working on some ICS (Nexus?) when it releases.
-Galaxy Nexus
-Asus Transformer

player911 said:
I think the booster is tied to your cell account... so you might have a fun surprise.
The wifi calling was awesome but ultimately its property of T-Mobile and doesn't work on ICS. T-Mobile must update it before even attempting to porting it over.
CM team has used it a ton. Maybe they'll implement it in their CM9 rom. But I suspect they'll be busy just ironing out the bugs for a while.
Plus T-Mobile is doing away with wifi calling as we know it. I BELIEVE they're implementing a new system and probably going to charge for it.
Hopefully T-Mobile gets this working on some ICS (Nexus?) when it releases.
-Galaxy Nexus
-Asus Transformer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're correct that wifi calling is very proprietary to T-Mobile and from what I understand (I'm not a developer whatsoever), is extremely difficult to impossible to port. I've been watching them try it on Nexus S since its release a year ago.
Unfortunately T-Mobile won't make it available to a non-branded TMo phone so unless Galaxy Nexus is released directly by TMo (which I doubt will happen), it won't happen even when they update it for their own ICS devices.
ALso, TMo did in fact change the implementation of their wifi calling- it's already been released on new devices such as TMo Galaxy S2 and HTC Amaze. However they are not and will not be charging for it (in fact they've again enabled free calls that don't use plan minutes when calling on wifi), it has just changed the way it's handled (better performance). Little to no noticeable change to end users.
Would be great if CM team get it working on Galaxy Nexus!
Good thoughts, thanks!

lp1527 said:
You're correct that wifi calling is very proprietary to T-Mobile and from what I understand (I'm not a developer whatsoever), is extremely difficult to impossible to port. I've been watching them try it on Nexus S since its release a year ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem on the Nexus S has nothing to do with the Wifi Calling app (which is actually made by Kineto), the problem is the radio interface layer (from Samsung) which is a binary blob. It does not support what the Wifi calling software requires to work (authentication calls mainly). Kineto blames Google for not "requesting" this feature from Samsung.
Getting the Kineto app up and working was really not that difficult. The only thing that needed to be changed was an audio library because the constructor was changed from Froyo to Gingerbread. That had nothing to do with the Kineto/Wifi calling software other than it used that constructor.
lp1527 said:
Unfortunately T-Mobile won't make it available to a non-branded TMo phone so unless Galaxy Nexus is released directly by TMo (which I doubt will happen), it won't happen even when they update it for their own ICS devices.
ALso, TMo did in fact change the implementation of their wifi calling- it's already been released on new devices such as TMo Galaxy S2 and HTC Amaze. However they are not and will not be charging for it (in fact they've again enabled free calls that don't use plan minutes when calling on wifi), it has just changed the way it's handled (better performance). Little to no noticeable change to end users.
Would be great if CM team get it working on Galaxy Nexus!
Good thoughts, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe there is also a hardware component to it now (SIM based).
If anyone wants to try this I can give you the necessary info to get started.

krohnjw said:
The problem on the Nexus S has nothing to do with the Wifi Calling app (which is actually made by Kineto), the problem is the radio interface layer (from Samsung) which is a binary blob. It does not support what the Wifi calling software requires to work (authentication calls mainly). Kineto blames Google for not "requesting" this feature from Samsung.
Getting the Kineto app up and working was really not that difficult. The only thing that needed to be changed was an audio library because the constructor was changed from Froyo to Gingerbread. That had nothing to do with the Kineto/Wifi calling software other than it used that constructor.
I believe there is also a hardware component to it now (SIM based).
If anyone wants to try this I can give you the necessary info to get started.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you clearly know much more than I do about it! Like I said, I'm absolutely no dev and have only 'average' knowledge of these things. Thanks for the info! Any idea if the GN has what would be necessary to make it happen?

I use my own asterisk box, but I'm sure a pbxes account would work for you. Just use the built-in sip client on the galaxy nexus.
https://www1.pbxes.com/index_e.php

nomisunrider said:
I use my own asterisk box, but I'm sure a pbxes account would work for you. Just use the built-in sip client on the galaxy nexus.
https://www1.pbxes.com/index_e.php
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checked out the link but I still have NO clue what this is ... can you elaborate please? Thanks!

wifi calling

anyone tried wifi calling on this? does it work decently and is it easy to use? would like to be able to go with 1000 minute package and save some dough if the wifi calling really works well and its easy enough for the wife to use when she talks to her mother all night.

.........it's the same Wi-Fi calling just as any other phone. .......Nothing new. .........
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

It works just like you are using the normal network including using the minutes on your plan. Its main claim to fame is to connect where there's no signal from a tower. It is NOT free minutes. Still the 1000 minute plan will go further than you think because evenings, weekends, and mobile to mobile calls don't count. If you work during the day and your family is on tmobile most calls will not count against your plan. I share 1000 minutes with my wife who talks a lot (evenings as she has a day job) and we never come close to using them all. Figuring week days only equals 20 days in 4 weeks and allows an average of 50 minutes a day of prime time talking. Who has time to talk that much during the work week? Not me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

gatorrph said:
It works just like you are using the normal network including using the minutes on your plan. Its main claim to fame is to connect where there's no signal from a tower. It is NOT free minutes. Still the 1000 minute plan will go further than you think because evenings, weekends, and mobile to mobile calls don't count. If you work during the day and your family is on tmobile most calls will not count against your plan. I share 1000 minutes with my wife who talks a lot (evenings as she has a day job) and we never come close to using them all. Figuring week days only equals 20 days in 4 weeks and allows an average of 50 minutes a day of prime time talking. Who has time to talk that much during the work week? Not me.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wifi calls only use up minutes on prepaid plans. You have unlimited wifi call minutes on plans that include a 2yr contract (Value or Classic plans).

rmgill said:
Wifi calls only use up minutes on prepaid plans. You have unlimited wifi call minutes on plans that include a 2yr contract (Value or Classic plans).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true... it uses minutes regardless of whatever plans you have (I know, I'm on a 1000 minute Value Plan and I use wifi calling whenever I'm in my apartment). Also, I don't believe you can use wifi calling on prepaid plans? (correct me if I'm wrong).

I think it used to use minutes, the website clearly states it does not use your minutes.

Wifi-calling works well on note 2? I keep hearing its buggy? Phone not ringing while on standby, not able to answer and recipient can't hear you etc. :/

JFizDaWiz said:
I think it used to use minutes, the website clearly states it does not use your minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source?
here's a support document for it:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1680
Under billing:
Billing
There is no additional monthly charge to use the Wi-Fi Calling feature on your handset. Wi-Fi Calling uses monthly plan minutes for the following:
Calls made from the US to US numbers
Calls made from the US to international numbers (subject to international rates)
Calls made from outside the US to US numbers (not charged roaming)
Calls made from outside the US to international numbers (subject to international rates, but not charged roaming)
Note: You must disable Data Roaming when traveling internationally to avoid incurring data roaming charges.
In short, it's "free" ie. it's a FEATURE that allows you to make phone calls over Wifi, but you're still limited to amount of minutes you have on your plan.
zen0s said:
Wifi-calling works well on note 2? I keep hearing its buggy? Phone not ringing while on standby, not able to answer and recipient can't hear you etc. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works fine for me . No problems as far as I can tell.

I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?

girl in the store said the wifi calling doesn't use minutes. But regardless, my main concern is how tmobiles wifi calling works as far as voice quality and ease of use.

guthrien said:
I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It get's routed through their systems not like VOIP.

robl45 said:
girl in the store said the wifi calling doesn't use minutes. But regardless, my main concern is how tmobiles wifi calling works as far as voice quality and ease of use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the 4 or 5 calls I've used it on so far it worked just fine. I couldn't tell it was any different than a normal network call. Use is seamless, by default the phone uses wifi networks when available. You don't have to do anything to activate or use it except connect to a wireless network, everything else is automatic and transparent to the user. You won't even know you are using it except for the icon that shows in the notification bar. Voice quality is the same as any other call on both ends of the conversation.

guthrien said:
I don't understand why they would charge you for your minutes on Internet calls. Isn't the whole point for when their data is unavailable? Are they contributing much architecture to that voip call?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
She may be mistaken with the addon which is free, but only works when you travel outside the US and use wifi calling.

"Free wifi calling" is a feature that must be explicitly added to your account. It doesn't cost extra, and when you have it, wifi calling does not use plan minutes. I don't know whether it's available for prepaid and value plans, but I have it on my classic plan and it saves me a lot of money. I just had to call and ask to have it added to my account.

Thanks for the responses, sounds like this could work well especially if it won't use minutes. I assume it works just as well on galaxy s3? I'm getting this but wife might want something smaller

wmm said:
"Free wifi calling" is a feature that must be explicitly added to your account. It doesn't cost extra, and when you have it, wifi calling does not use plan minutes. I don't know whether it's available for prepaid and value plans, but I have it on my classic plan and it saves me a lot of money. I just had to call and ask to have it added to my account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you on a legacy classic plan? I remember it being that way a way back, but was later removed as an option. If you had a really low plan it was a $5 charge, but if you on their larger minute plans it was included.

robl45 said:
Thanks for the responses, sounds like this could work well especially if it won't use minutes. I assume it works just as well on galaxy s3? I'm getting this but wife might want something smaller
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP, see my post earlier w/ documentation that it DOES use minutes...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=33409120&postcount=8

i don't know if it was a special then but last week i was on t-mo's website and they had a banner ad for wi-fi calling and it stated it did not use minutes, which was a good selling point for me. i can't find it now of course....what the craps

I can confirm that "Free Wi-Fi Calling" is a feature that must be added, and that it works on the Value plans. The description of the addon:
"T-Mobile Free Wi-Fi Calling gives you unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, unlimited high speed data and when travelling internationally free calls back to the USA – all at no additional cost."
I just checked my online account info and it's been added. I had to call to add it.

iamstuffed said:
I can confirm that "Free Wi-Fi Calling" is a feature that must be added, and that it works on the Value plans. The description of the addon:
"T-Mobile Free Wi-Fi Calling gives you unlimited Wi-Fi minutes, unlimited high speed data and when travelling internationally free calls back to the USA – all at no additional cost."
I just checked my online account info and it's been added. I had to call to add it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlimited Wi-Fi minutes means that you can make any call you want over Wifi, but it doesn't actually mean that you get unlimited minutes... put it like this, it's just business jargon.
And that entire sentence is just marketing... if you're on wifi, of course you get "unlimited high speed data" and for the "interntionally free calls back to the USA" that makes sense because internet is location agnostic... you're simply connecting to T-Mobile servers and making calls, but from T-Mobile's side of things it's not free because they still have to connect you to the other person you're calling, and usually if you call land lines, the person who calls, pays.

Can someone explain why wifi calling is so popular!

I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?

trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree!
★ Sent by an Idiot with a phablet ★

For me its the fact that reception is horrible in my apartment, if you go outside its fine. I dont like going outside just to make a call every time so the wifi calling gives me reception inside.

Reception is the issue
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I guessing it's free and reception issues. I'm not a big fan though

I live out in the boonies absolutely no signal within a few miles from the house. Wish I didn't have to have it esp since I love that All Star so much.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

I live in a townhouse within viewing distance from a cell tower and yet in my house I can get maybe 1 signal at one of the house (sometimes none at all). If I wanted to make a call I had to go to the garage. So wifi calling is important to me.
I'd be willing to sacrifice wifi calling for a multi-window rom if (and only if) I found a reliable option for wifi calling that's free, because t-mobile's wifi calling works very well for me.

It ABSOLUTELY is reception for many people. T-Mobile's fantastic when you get a good signal, but step inside any building made of concrete, or a brick house, or a house with other signal attenuating characteristics and you're screwed, dead zone. It's why I dumped TMo a couple of years ago, though I came back to try their Note II and newer HSPA+42 data service.
My office building is still a data dead zone, but voice calls come in if I'm near a window. My house, though, TMo's gone from a dead zone two years ago to a full-bars signal.

I went to south dakota a few weeks ago to visit my brother and his family.. t mobile, Verizon, Sprint and att reception there is abysmal.. if it wasn't for Wi-Fi calling i would've been screwed.. it's so bad there i asked my brother, "how do u deal with this reception?" Seriously i had zero bars from Irene sd to sioux falls sd if it wasn't for Wi-Fi i wasn't gonna be talking to anyone...
Sent from my SGH-T889

trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.

Jinra321 said:
minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on an eligible plan you can add the free wifi calling as a additional service. My grandfathered preferred plan won't allow the free wifi calling service... It deducts minutes from my allotment. There are parts on my house that get poor reception so I use it for that purpose.
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

samklee said:
As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes

deeznutz1977 said:
You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

Coug76 said:
If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??

deeznutz1977 said:
i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can add the feature but it will use your minutes. Prepaids "do not" qualify for this plan. The only benefit for prepay to activate this feature is if you have poor reception this will allow you to still make a phone call.
As others have said, it is free and won't use up your allotted minutes only if you are on a qualifying plan.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

casperi said:
I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol ya that explains it a lil. I live in Las Vegas and I never lose signal anywhere. I guess that why I never understood. But when people are saying no reception is that mean no data either? Cause even if you have no reception but have data. Can't you use a 3rd party app that makes calls over data (not wifi)

Cell and data are basically the same as voice runs over the data lines pulled to the towers. It will be even more so as carriers upgrade to LTE-rev14 I think which is from my understanding is pure carrier level voice IP network vs switched network now.
Basically now voice is segmented out to a Nortel, Lucent, Alcatel gear to handle the phone side and then data is routed to their respective network gear. In a pure IP network both voice and data are run data only. Voice will be filtered out with QoS rules with along with virtual pbx box vs the circuit switched like we have now. The advantages of going pure IP are
1) Carriers are no longer tied to large circuit switched gear that runs into the millions and is proprietary to each manufacturer's specs. So the carriers try to buy just one type of pbx so not to run into compatibility issues. Just replacing a line card which typically hosts 129 lines at the "CO" known as central office is always same day aired if they don't have a replacement handy and those cards run 5 or so grand a piece. So downtime is a problem and cost vs ROI is as well.
2) In a pure voice IP setup the carriers can run a virtual PBX that is software bound vs hardware that the call is then routed via data to CO or datacenter to the last leg to terminate the call with say level 3 being your terminating host that then routes the call from there. If that call is cell phone to cell phone then it can stay data the entire way. This cost the carriers fare less as the hardware is agnostics, think vmware etc. Also audio codec on the BOX and towers can be adjusted in learning mode and then into dynamic mode as to give the callers the best overall call experience and if the tower gets loaded down with calls that gear can downgrade to a lower codec to handle more call volume. Think rush hour traffic where your stuck and everyone is on their cell. I could go into more details but you would fail asleep but this killer feature alone.
Bottom line is this cost the carriers far less, the audio codec used has much better call quality and can be setup to be dynamic to the load of individual towers vs switched which is hard coded. Downtime is dramatically reduced as there's no actual phone/linecards to go bad.
Many T-Mobile users "use" the Wi-Fi calling feature because it just sounds better. The reason that is because the audio codec "your call" runs around 96kbs. With voice over LTE "depending on tower config and load" can provide the same call quality. For example vzw cell call is 4.7kbs "data" which means that call is heavily compressed. You can tell if you listen, the bass and highs are gone. It's like talking to someone that speaks monotone. The reverse, GSM to GSM call uses a audio codec in the 14.8kbs range and sounds awesome. Even better is two T-Mobile callers using Wi-Fi calling. The problem the carriers have is CDMA to GSM or the other way around, all those calls sound like crap cause the voice gear has to downgrade or upscale to meet the setting of caller and vzw doesn't scale higher than 9.2kbs so the convo sounds mutilated with call echo, drop data packets which sounds like garbage like distorted audio. Think Sat radio when you go under a long bridge. Voice over LTE "voice over data" will allow all carriers gear to talk correctly and adjust audio codecs correctly on the fly giving the callers the best call possible.
I know I went WAY beyond and in depth but I love this stuff and its fun to share it with others.
Casperi
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Reception is one thing, but there is another reason..
For people that travel frequently outside the Tmobile coverage area (ie: International).. Wi-Fi calling is important and critical.. Even with a Corp plan, international minutes when you need to call back to the US is expensive and without having to deal with call forwarding, or grabbing a local SIM.. (though I usually get one for data)

$30 Tmo Plan... Wifi calling wont work (I also use Sipdroid and Gtalk)

So I set up a basic Pbx'es account and use sipdroid and surprisingly its working flawless with near perfect reception in my city (even on the road on 4G)
I did not port my number as I will text through my main line, and answer real quick call that come through my original Tmo number and call them back via Sipdroid. I rarely ever use my phone for calls.
The thing is I want to be able to use my main number over wifi while at home. Wifi is currently on (and I have the notification reading Wi-Fi calling ready, when I even make a call via my main number the blue wifi call goes GREEN, but its really not using wifi....
I already burned through 25 minutes on my 100 minute plan trusting wifi calling.....
any idea why this is not working?

Wifi calling will still use minutes on prepaid plans.

kozmo21 said:
Wifi calling will still use minutes on prepaid plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow that pisses me off.... gonna make laugh even harder each month that I save $65 in my pocket....

Free wifi calling is in my plan
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

horr1blek1tten said:
Free wifi calling is in my plan
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You on $30 month plan? If so I fear something got confused between sipdroid and gtalk..

plasticslug said:
So I set up a basic Pbx'es account and use sipdroid and surprisingly its working flawless with near perfect reception in my city (even on the road on 4G)
I did not port my number as I will text through my main line, and answer real quick call that come through my original Tmo number and call them back via Sipdroid. I rarely ever use my phone for calls.
The thing is I want to be able to use my main number over wifi while at home. Wifi is currently on (and I have the notification reading Wi-Fi calling ready, when I even make a call via my main number the blue wifi call goes GREEN, but its really not using wifi....
I already burned through 25 minutes on my 100 minute plan trusting wifi calling.....
any idea why this is not working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wifi calling does work, as you have just used it to make 25 minutes of calling. It just count against your minutes because you are prepaid.
There is much confusion around this.
You have to be in a qualifying contract plan for the service to not use your minutes. I'm in a classic 500 minutes plan and can yap all day long on wifi calling without using my minutes.
On prepaid this is only beneficial to the user if he/she is in a bad signal area (i.e. basement) and would not be able to make a phone call without the wifi calling feature.
When they say it is free, it is in a sense that they don't charge extra to use that feature.

plasticslug said:
You on $30 month plan? If so I fear something got confused between sipdroid and gtalk..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No classic 500
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2