WiFi Calling/Texting Overseas

[UpInTheMorning]

I'm in the Middle East every month for about 10 days at a time on business. I have an unlocked phone that I bought (all international ones are unlocked). I used to have a T-Mobile phone, and in the Settings menu one could click a check box that said "enable WiFi calling" and it worked just like a regular phone.

That box is not present in the software. I have tried Talkatone, Viber, and others but I don't think they work in this part of the world so that I can get texts, nor answer calls (it doesn't ring here when somebody calls).

Can anyone help? Very frustrating.

 

[Frisco]

Hello UpInTheMorning. Have you tried changing out the SIM card?

 

[Davdi]

Unless WiFi calling is free/very cheap, just buy a pre-paid sim on arrival and use that in your unlocked phone while overseas.

 

[chrlswltrs]

The WiFi calling on Tmobile phones is something Tmobile adds. It uses your minutes, just allows you to talk over WiFi instead of a cellular connection.

Using Google Voice and GrooveIP always works great for me. You will just have to use your Google Voice number instead of your Tmobile number, but that's it.

 

[UpInTheMorning]

Thank you for the responses. I have a second phone that I use whereby I change out the SIM card. This phone (what I call my U.S. phone) i need to keep my regular number; hence the same SIM card, so that people can call me with my regular cell number.

I didn't mind my minutes being used, as I have an unlimited minutes plan, but this phone is not from T-Mobile. I bought it unlocked, so it doesn't have T-Mobile software in it. I do have a T-Mobile account, though.


I appreciate your responses, but I can't swap out the SIM card as that would give me a different number. Same problem with pre-pay, and Google Voice. Any other solutions are most welcome.

 

[chrlswltrs]

Thank you for the responses. I have a second phone that I use whereby I change out the SIM card. This phone (what I call my U.S. phone) i need to keep my regular number; hence the same SIM card, so that people can call me with my regular cell number.

I didn't mind my minutes being used, as I have an unlimited minutes plan, but this phone is not from T-Mobile. I bought it unlocked, so it doesn't have T-Mobile software in it. I do have a T-Mobile account, though.


I appreciate your responses, but I can't swap out the SIM card as that would give me a different number. Same problem with pre-pay, and Google Voice. Any other solutions are most welcome.

I really doubt you will get a better solution, unless Tmobile can forward your calls to your Google Voice number.

The problem is the wifi calling that Tmobile uses on their phones is proprietary. When I got the Nexus S I missed that feature with Tmobile, but no one was able to successfully port it to the Nexus S. if something can't be ported to a Nexus, it probably won't be ported to anything. Maybe I'm wrong though.

My solution was to switch to my primary number being my Google Voice number. I went through the pain of switching numbers, but I never have to do it again. I can always use wifi calling or forward calls to any phone, and no one would ever know that the call was being forwarded to any number. If that isn't an option, I don't know what else to suggest.

 

[El Presidente]

Have you looked at something like Pinger: Pinger brings free texting and calling to Android

I know with Viber, you need other contacts in your phonebook to have Viber installed for it to work. From what I can read with Pinger, that's not needed?

 

[UpInTheMorning]

Yes, that's one problem. I have no ability to send/receive texts. The other is that my phone doesn't ring when someone calls me, so it just goes to voicemail. I can handle calling voicemail for messages, but I really need the texting. I'll check out Pinger, thanks.

 

[UpInTheMorning]

Thanks, that's certainly one option I hadn't thought about. So far it's the best solution I've read, although I've had my same cell number for 15 years.

I really appreciate everybody's help and suggestions.

 

[gtbarry]

The simplest solution I have found is I change my voicemail to say that I am out of the country and to "skype me"

Then I just put in an local SIM with data and use skype for voice calls and messaging.