micky wrote:
She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other
problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do
you think that is likely?
She can't have "real" WiFi-calling without a SIM ...
She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do
you think that is likely?
On Sat, 24 Feb 2024 15:19:37 -0500, micky wrote:
Making much progress on my 85-yo friend's phone. She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other
problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do
you think that is likely?
By using @ndLine, I've gotten beyond needing basic wifi calling, but do
you think there are other limitations on the phone now if it is still
locked to Metro???? If there are none, why should I bother to unlock
it? If there are some, some would be more important than others. ??
***After the Motorola flash screens on phone startup, there is a
full-screen Metro PCC flash screen.
I think you may have misunderstood how wifi calling works.
Here's the problem. If somebody tries to call you how does Whatsapp or
any of the other apps know which phone it should ring? My understanding
is that when Whatsapp starts it gets you phone number from your own phone
and sends it to their servers. So they now know your IP address and your >phone number so that when someone calls you it can look up your phone
number and get your IP address and so ring your phone.
But I think that is all that is needed. Your number may even have expired
as your contract with your Telco has finished but so long as the phone is >able to send a message to Whatsapp then wifi calling will work. So maybe
any old SIM will work providing it has a phone number associated with it.
Or maybe its me who has misunderstood how wifi calling works.
On 2/24/24 12:59 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:36:20 +0000, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
micky wrote:
She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other
problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do >>>> you think that is likely?
She can't have "real" WiFi-calling without a SIM ...
Maybe I should have repeated her whole story. With his permission, she
uses the wifi of her next door neighbor. Right now, all she does with it
is watch videos. When I try to enable wifi-calling, it gives an error
and on the same screen or the previous screen it lists Metro and says
it's unavailable. I assume that's because the Metro sim is not in
place, and I guess the wifi she's using comes from the neighbor's
router, not his phone. It also, under Phone, continues to list a phone
number, which I assume is or was the phone number of the young man who
gave her his old phone.
By real, I just meant using the default dialer and not using an
additional App like google voice or 2ndLine or TextNow.
So, what do you think about the question whether she is locked now and
whether I should try to unlock the phone?
Why not? There's no reason it SHOULD be locked, is there?
I make google voice calls through my home wifi without involving the
SIM, which is turned off. I assume that's what she wants to do and
don't see why it's not possible unless Metro/T-Mobile is latching on for
some reason.
Actually, that's quite possible. When I had the free-forever (HA!) >Freedompop SIM it refused to let me make calls via the home wifi even
after it would no longer make calls itself. Ultimately Freedompop did >whatever it needed to...
DO IT!
Google voice, 2ndLine, TextNow, etc are all givin away phone numbers,
and there are only 1 billion phone numbers for the USA, which has 300 >million people, almost as many landlines, almost as many cellphones,
almost as many fax machines and quite a few soft-drink machines**. They >total at least 500,000,000, so knowing how people are, it's reckless to
give away phone numbers for free.
One of them outright said that if you didn't use your number for a
while, yuo'd loose it, but of course they didn't want to say how long
because that probably varies a lot.
Do they call or email and warn you before taking away your free phone
number?
I make google voice calls through my home wifi without involving the SIM
On 2/24/24 7:04 PM, Andy Burns wrote:
The Real Bev wrote:
I make google voice calls through my home wifi without involving the SIM
But that isn't "real" WiFi-calling, that's why I put the real in
scarequotes, what "other" type of calling is micky trying to get
working? whatsapp, googlevoice, a SIP softphone, etc?
I believe that the problem is that the phone has NO phone number. The
Metro number is dead. No idea why the splash screen is still there.
Perhaps there's an app still on the phone that needs to be deleted. Hunt >through the apps and then the settings.
Google voice provides a free phone number which you can access via any
wifi connection you can make. Starbucks, Walmart, your own home router,
your neighbor's router...
Get a google mail account (if you don't have one, which is very close to >inconceivable) and get a google voice number to associate with it.
Install the google voice app. I use '555-1212' to check for connection >without disturbing a human.
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:36:20 +0000, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
micky wrote:
She has no sim and is only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe????
other problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by
T-mobile***. Do you think that is likely?
She can't have "real" WiFi-calling without a SIM ...
Maybe I should have repeated her whole story. With his permission,
she uses the wifi of her next door neighbor. Right now, all she does
with it is watch videos. When I try to enable wifi-calling, it gives
an error and on the same screen or the previous screen it lists Metro
and says it's unavailable. I assume that's because the Metro sim is
not in place, and I guess the wifi she's using comes from the
neighbor's router, not his phone. It also, under Phone, continues to
list a phone number, which I assume is or was the phone number of the
young man who gave her his old phone.
By real, I just meant using the default dialer and not using an
additional App like google voice or 2ndLine or TextNow.
So, what do you think about the question whether she is locked now and whether I should try to unlock the phone?
micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> writes:
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:36:20 +0000, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
micky wrote:
She has no sim and is only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe????
other problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by
T-mobile***. Do you think that is likely?
She can't have "real" WiFi-calling without a SIM ...
Maybe I should have repeated her whole story. With his permission,
she uses the wifi of her next door neighbor. Right now, all she does
with it is watch videos. When I try to enable wifi-calling, it gives
an error and on the same screen or the previous screen it lists Metro
and says it's unavailable. I assume that's because the Metro sim is
not in place, and I guess the wifi she's using comes from the
neighbor's router, not his phone. It also, under Phone, continues to
list a phone number, which I assume is or was the phone number of the
young man who gave her his old phone.
By real, I just meant using the default dialer and not using an
additional App like google voice or 2ndLine or TextNow.
So, what do you think about the question whether she is locked now and
whether I should try to unlock the phone?
If you enable wifi calling and then phone a landline, how will the call
be charged for without a SIM card?
'Wifi calling' is a specific term for
the service provided by the network operator for when there is no
signal, and it is normally charged in the same way as a call through the >cellular network. It's different from the kind provided by Signal,
Skype, etc.
(Excuse me if that's already answered somewhere).
On 2/24/24 9:28 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 19:49:19 -0800, The Real Bev
<bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
On 2/24/24 7:04 PM, Andy Burns wrote:
The Real Bev wrote:
I make google voice calls through my home wifi without involving the SIM >>>>But that isn't "real" WiFi-calling, that's why I put the real in
scarequotes, what "other" type of calling is micky trying to get
working? whatsapp, googlevoice, a SIP softphone, etc?
I believe that the problem is that the phone has NO phone number. The >>>Metro number is dead. No idea why the splash screen is still there.
Well, I guess I was impatient. I turned the phone on 2 or 3 hours later
and the Metro splash screen was gone. And of course the wifi option
was still gone, because I think that only showed if you clicked on the
mobile network, which is now blank, and because, as you say, it has no
phone number.
Under About Phone, where it used to have a phone number, it now says
Unknown.
One more of the Metro apps now do nothing, total of 2, so I erased the
icons, but MetroZone still works. It provides news videos and stories,
especially regarding entertainment, but some politics.
I even filled in her 911 information, though I doubt she'll use it
instead of the cordless "lingo-service" wired phone.
I think she'll be very happy.
So she doesn't need to actually use it as a phone?
I'm either not understanding or not convinced.
So, I haven't hooked up my wifi-calling
It was a big advance when cell phones were able to use the wifi signal,
but this sounds like it was no advance at all.
I'll agree that I can't use wifi without the sim, at least the way this
phone is built, but I'm not convinced about your reason.
In comp.mobile.android, on Sun, 25 Feb 2024 14:34:30 +0000, Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:
micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> writes:
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:36:20 +0000, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
micky wrote:
She has no sim and is only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe????
other problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by
T-mobile***. Do you think that is likely?
She can't have "real" WiFi-calling without a SIM ...
Maybe I should have repeated her whole story. With his permission,
she uses the wifi of her next door neighbor. Right now, all she does
with it is watch videos. When I try to enable wifi-calling, it gives
an error and on the same screen or the previous screen it lists Metro
and says it's unavailable. I assume that's because the Metro sim is
not in place, and I guess the wifi she's using comes from the
neighbor's router, not his phone. It also, under Phone, continues to
list a phone number, which I assume is or was the phone number of the
young man who gave her his old phone.
By real, I just meant using the default dialer and not using an
additional App like google voice or 2ndLine or TextNow.
So, what do you think about the question whether she is locked now and
whether I should try to unlock the phone?
If you enable wifi calling and then phone a landline, how will the call
be charged for without a SIM card?
Well, most are free, or no extra charge, anyhow.
'Wifi calling' is a specific term for
the service provided by the network operator for when there is no
Is network operator the same as cellular provider?
signal, and it is normally charged in the same way as a call through the
cellular network. It's different from the kind provided by Signal,
Skype, etc.
I'm either not understanding or not convinced.
But I think that is all that is needed. Your number may even have expired
as your contract with your Telco has finished but so long as the phone is able to send a message to Whatsapp then wifi calling will work. So maybe
any old SIM will work providing it has a phone number associated with it.
In comp.mobile.android, on Sat, 24 Feb 2024 23:18:37 GMT, Kit Jackson <dummyemail@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sat, 24 Feb 2024 15:19:37 -0500, micky wrote:
Making much progress on my 85-yo friend's phone. She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other
problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do
you think that is likely?
By using @ndLine, I've gotten beyond needing basic wifi calling, but do
you think there are other limitations on the phone now if it is still
locked to Metro???? If there are none, why should I bother to unlock >>> it? If there are some, some would be more important than others. ??
***After the Motorola flash screens on phone startup, there is a
full-screen Metro PCC flash screen.
I think you may have misunderstood how wifi calling works.
Here's the problem. If somebody tries to call you how does Whatsapp or
any of the other apps know which phone it should ring? My understanding
is that when Whatsapp starts it gets you phone number from your own phone
and sends it to their servers. So they now know your IP address and your
phone number so that when someone calls you it can look up your phone
number and get your IP address and so ring your phone.
But I think that is all that is needed. Your number may even have expired >> as your contract with your Telco has finished but so long as the phone is
able to send a message to Whatsapp then wifi calling will work. So maybe
any old SIM will work providing it has a phone number associated with it.
Or maybe its me who has misunderstood how wifi calling works.
I think you're right, but this all gives rise to another question.
Google voice, 2ndLine, TextNow, etc are all givin away phone numbers,
Making much progress on my 85-yo friend's phone. She has no sim and is
only using wifi.
I think the problem getting wifi-calling to work, and maybe???? other problems, is that the phone is still locked to Metro by T-mobile***. Do
you think that is likely?
micky wrote:
I'm either not understanding or not convinced.
So, I haven't hooked up my wifi-calling
What you seem to be misunderstanding is that "wifi-calling" has a
precise meaning in relation to phones and it *requires* a SIM, it is a
specific method of making calls when you are out of cell signal coverage
by substituting a wifi signal, the call will arrive at the destination
with the CLI of the SIM.
There are any number of other services which allow you to speak to other >peple, and which make use of wifi (WhatsApp, Zoiper, GoogleVoice etc)
but they should *not* be referred to as "wifi-calling", that's what's
caused the confusion here ...
On 2/25/24 10:11 AM, micky wrote:
It was a big advance when cell phones were able to use the wifi signal,
but this sounds like it was no advance at all.
When I got the (real) WiFi-Calling I was able to get rid of my landline
since the service became just as good. Before that things were sketchy with the cell. Also I had no service at my grandaughter's house. I hooked up to her WiFi and things were good. So Wi-Fi calling was definitely an advance
for me...
I'll agree that I can't use wifi without the sim, at least the way this >>phone is built, but I'm not convinced about your reason.
There's been some confusion here between the Wi-Fi calling built into the
phone (I'll call it the real Wi-Fi calling) and the various services like Google Voice that also use the phone's Wi-Fi for calls but don't use the
cell service. I imagine it depends on the phone but with my cheapie Target sale phone I just turned off the cell radio and used the WiFi as normal...
AJL noemail@none.org> wrote:
On 2/25/24 10:11 AM, micky wrote:
When I got the (real) WiFi-Calling I was able to get rid of my landline
since the service became just as good. Before that things were sketchy with >> the cell. Also I had no service at my grandaughter's house. I hooked up to >> her WiFi and things were good. So Wi-Fi calling was definitely an advance
for me...
I'll agree that I can't use wifi without the sim, at least the way this
phone is built, but I'm not convinced about your reason.
Okay, so it definitely was an advance even if they charged, but do they charge? If you use wifi calling does it get back to your cellular
provider and do the charge for it, USA calls, international calls.
If you use wifi calling does it get back to your cellular
provider and do the charge for it, USA calls, international calls.
micky wrote:
If you use wifi calling does it get back to your cellular
provider and do the[y] charge for it, USA calls, international calls.
yes, wifi-calling contacts your mobile provider over your wifi and
internet, from there it's the same as if the phone had contacted them
e.g. using an LTE tower.
You then get charged the same for the calls, whichever way your phone
reaches the provider (if it would normally be included in a bundle, it
still will be)
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