topic Re: Will US roaming work for me? in Get Support

Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:53:12 GMT

My phone is Moto g7 play.

Will US roaming work for me?

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

hairbag1 — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:57:30 GMT

it's not on the Public Mobile whitelist of VoLTE enabled cellphones so it likely won't work for calls in USA. Data and text should be just fine though. You can download TextNow or Whatsapp to call most any US or Cdn number using local wifi or your PM data.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

BKNS27 — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:30:36 GMT

@hairbag1

The Motorola Moto G Play is on the whitelist so it should work.

@A_O

Make sure Roaming is enabled on your Moto G and if there is a setting for VoLTE…just enable it. If there are no setting, It will automatically switch to VoLTE depending on the Moto firmware.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

Phil_Adelphus — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 12:09:15 GMT

@BKNS27 The Motorola Moto G Play is on the whitelist so it should work.

There are several Moto G's on the whitelist but I don't see the Play?

@A_O You can test your phone for VoLTE while still in Canada. Turn off wifi, turn on cellular data, make a phone call. If you have VoLTE the phone should not drop to 3G for phone calls. There is no more 3G in the USA, so a phone that can't do Voice over LTE (VoLTE) will not work unless it can connect to T-Mobile's 2G network which still exists in some areas but is being shut down also.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:55:09 GMT

The phone worked just fine with VoLTE when I was on Koodo.

That Telus decided not to support it on PM seems like a pure marketing decision and is very disappointing, to avoid a stronger word.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

Phil_Adelphus — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:31:03 GMT

@A_O The phone will work on LTE, the question was whether it was enabled for VoLTE, which is not the same thing. Did you try the test I suggested and found that the phone dropped to 3G? If not, we don't know that it won't have VoLTE and work in the USA.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:16 GMT

Apologies for the typo, I meant it worked on VoLTE (and WiFi dialing).
Post fixed.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

Phil_Adelphus — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:13:25 GMT

@A_O , I meant it worked on VoLTE (and WiFi dialing

Definitely wifi calling won't work, but I don't think we yet have an answer as to whether you have confirmed VoLTE doesn't work by doing the test while in Canada. It may be that it does have VoLTE on PM but we don't know unless you try in Canada before you go. Bear in mind also that Public Mobile is a tier 3 carrier, Koodo is tier 2. You have to go with whatever suits your specific needs the best, and pay the price if necessary.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 20:17:09 GMT

1) The phone drops to 3G the moment it initiates the connection

2) It is not about tiers, as PM does support VoLTE, just not on all the models that Koodo does.
I don't see any technical reason for that - they should either support it or not.
I am sure that would not have been the case if we had real competition in the cellular market.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

Phil_Adelphus — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 20:46:59 GMT

@A_O 1) then it isn't VoLTE approved for Public Mobile so in the USA your options would be T-Mobile's 2G which is hit and miss, or a voip app. Data and texting should still work. I had the same thing on another carrier with a VoLTE capable phone, so yes I do understand it is frustrating.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

BKNS27 — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

@Phil_Adelphus @hairbag1

Sorry had a brain freeze moment.

@A_O

The Moto G Play isn’t on the whitelist.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:05:10 GMT

So basically my options are:

1) Get the $30 US text+call+data add-on.
The "call" part gets unused, but I can temporarily forward all calls to my free Fongo number.
The "text" is mostly for receiving 2FA messages while in the US.
The "data" for Internet access, Fongo calling to Canada, receiving forwarded Fongo calls, and Whatsapp.
Not sure how to make calls within the US.

2) Get a local SIM for a week (phone does not support eSIM).
Allows local outgoing calls in the US.
Cheaper.
Does not allow receiving calls and texts sent to my number.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

BKNS27 — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:24:01 GMT

@A_O

I personally use the TextNow SIM for free calling, texting and essential data while I am in the USA.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

hairbag1 — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 23:15:02 GMT

@A_O

another option not previously mentioned is using TextNow. It's an app that you download for free, then select a free Cdn phone number. With TextNow you'd be able to make/rec free calls to most any US and Cdn number as well as free text too. TextNow uses your local wifi and the data from the add-on. Depending on how long you're gonna be in USA, maybe 1GB or 3GB data could last for your trip. Another option...get a newer cellphone. If you travel to US / Mexico frequently...PM has inexpensive regular plans that cover Canada / US / Mexico. You can still use your Moto G7 Play in Canada and Mexico as 3G is still in use there.

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

A_O — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 05:40:09 GMT

How is TextNow compared to Fongo?

Re: Will US roaming work for me?

hTideGnow — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:41:27 GMT

hi @A_O TextNow is better. Send and Receive text both free (Fongo only free to receive) and voice quality is much better than Fongo