topic US Roaming Minutes in Get Support

US Roaming Minutes

ibh — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:17:50 GMT

When will PM offer US Roaming Minutes only add-on again? Thank you.

Re: US Roaming Minutes

dust2dust — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:20:56 GMT

They've only just recently changed it around so I don't think they'll be doing anything soon. But maybe tagging @J_PM to suggest their return from a customer. I agree, the individual parts were good to have.

Re: US Roaming Minutes

softech — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:28:17 GMT

@ibh I doubt the will offer Roaming Talk alone at the moment at least. With the poor 2G coverage which our voice needs, I doubt PM will only offer Talk only, and then a separate text only.

To be honest, since Talk might not work by itself, better to just use VoIP app like TextNow and then use Wifi or local prepaid data, or use it with Data Roaming. Much better and more reliable then getting Roaming talk only

Re: US Roaming Minutes

ibh — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:31:07 GMT

Thank you. I would like to be able to use my PM phone number in the US which is only possible if I have a minutes add-on. The PM bundles and data add-ons are way too expensive compared to what I can purchase elsewhere on an e-sim or sim. I sure hope PM addresses this issue soon.

Re: US Roaming Minutes

softech — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:38:22 GMT

@ibh Yes, for now, the cheapest add-on that include Talk is then Bundle - US Roaming - Talk and Text (15 days) - $15 (10 Reward points)

Please note that while Roaming talk is available for purchase, we are relying on T-Mobile 2G network for voice. The 2G network is an older system and it might not work everywhere. So, it's really hit or miss even you pay for it (but PM will likely refund you fully or partially based on your roaming experience)

You can understand the current voice situation with this post prepared by @darlicious :

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/US-Roaming-Add-ons-Decommissioning-of-US-3G-HSPA-Networks/td-p/843202

Re: US Roaming Minutes

ibh — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:43:00 GMT

Thank you very much for your response and suggestion. I have already been using a VoIP App with Airalo roaming data as you suggest, but it still makes it difficult to receive calls to my PM number when I am in the States. I guess we will have to wait until PM decides to have 3G network capability on their roaming instead of 2G which is disappearing. Is there a likelihood of this happening in the near future?

Re: US Roaming Minutes

softech — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:53:15 GMT

@ibh not 3G but VoLTE. US has fully decommissioned 3G at the moment. The problem with PM is that we are not set with VoLTE yet. We will. It was supposed to come last year (2022) , so very likely we weill see VoLTE this year. Once VoLTE is here with PM, the Talk roaming will be using VoLTE on T-Mobile as well and we can forget about 2G 🙂

And one suggestion, assuming you are not buying Talk roaming. Since you are using VoIP app already, before you leave for the trip, when you are still in Canada, forward all calls to your VoIP phone number (it must be a Canadian number). Then make sure you remove the PM sim card before you enter US. (if PM sim is active and discover that it has access to US network, even you do not have any roaming add-on , the Call forwarding will be disabled)

Re: US Roaming Minutes

ibh — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 20:58:48 GMT

Thank you for your suggestion. I have previously done this and it didn't work too well. I will be trying another VoIP app. Any suggestions for one that works well? The that I used says it is not meant to be a call forwarding service!

Thanks

Re: US Roaming Minutes

softech — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:03:09 GMT

@ibh Which one you used? TextNow is ok, just a bit of ad

are you going US a lot? try to get a Google Voice number. But you need to find a way for Google to link you up with a US phone number, not VoIP number

and if you use forward, again, put your PM sim out of the phone is before you arrive US is critical. The moment PM sim and US network talks, the call forwarding will be disabled

Re: US Roaming Minutes

ibh — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:08:47 GMT

Thanks. I used Fongo. I appreciate your comments about removing the PM Sim first or the call forwarding will be disabled.

Re: US Roaming Minutes

darlicious — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:13:59 GMT

@ibh

As far as I have read up on T-Mobile's 2G network they have no definite date for decommissioning that network. They have maintained it as a competitive edge and it was a back up for their poor 3G network coverage (only 21%!!) So that their customers without 4G LTE or VoLTE capable phones could still be connected without access to the 3G network. Now it enables T-Mobile to expand their roaming partnerships with other global providers (like pm) who have yet to enable VoLTE for their customers.

Make use of the cell mapper coverage map in my thread that @softech linked for you to be able to plan for voice coverage while in the US. It's a very useful tool not only for the 2G network but the 4G LTE and 5G networks as well. The loss of the stand alone talk and text US Roaming add ons and their importance has been brought to the attention of pm management so hopefully we will see them brought back to the US Roaming add on menu in the near future.