Samsung S8 On US Plan

[jdnause1]

My previous phone just died and I have a used Samsung Galaxy s8 from my son. Will it work on the new Canada/US plan - not the 3g addon plan, but the $50 40Gb plan? I guess Samsung removed the VoLTE on/off selection in the settings and it is supposed to select it on automatically when needed , but I don't know if even that is required.   I was in the New York State and Pensilvania a year ago with the US addon and it was horrible because the 3G network is all but gone.  This phone does not work on 5G.  Will this phone work on the 4G or LTE without issues.   We will be heading to the US in December and heading through all the southern states starting in New York down to the Gulf coast and working towards Texas South Padre Island.  I have to upgrade this battery and don't want to invest in it if it won't even work.  Thanks, John.

[jdnause1]

Thanks for the info.  I will look into this.   My pixel does turn on.  

[maximum_gato]

@jdnause1 

The Google store currently has a waitlist for the pixel 6a at $379 or the 7a is available at $549. If your pixel 3aXL turns on it has a trade in value of $37. Or you can try swiftronics...it's currently sold out of its open box pixel 4a at $199 but has a brand new 4a at $299.

https://swiftronics.ca/collections/smartphones

[jdnause1]

Thanks for the helpful info.  I guess I'm phone shopping now.  My wife will be happy because she gets so discouraged with me when I'm a cheap b.

[jdnause1]

Ok and I know how that scenario worked a year ago- crap.  I guess I'm phone shopping now.

[DennyCrane · Accepted solution]

@computergeek541 Ah, thanks for clarifying that.

@jdnause1 This confirms you don't have VoLTE, so you won't be able to use this phone for phone calls in the US unless you manage to be able to connect to a 2G network. 

[jdnause1]

Are you saying if they don't have it on their list it still may not work in the US because it will block the transfer to 4G in the US, but not here?  I'm glad there are helpful guys out there like you.  I used to be excellent on computers during the 80s to 2000, but not now.  I've given up.

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 It toggled between 4G and LTE?? They are one and the same. Phones usually show one or the other, not both. You're sure it didn't drop to 3G?

[computergeek541]

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@jdnause1 wrote:

Way to go! I turned off my Wi-Fi and actually rebooted my phone. It came up as LTE. When I made the call it did go to 4G. Then when the call was completed went back to LTE.

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This means that you're phone actually swtiched to the HSPA (3G) network for the phone call.   Several years ago there was a push by many carriers to rename what most people had been referring to as a 3G network to 4G. To this day, some carriers still refer to the HSPA network as being 4G.

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 The phone itself supports VoLTE, and VoLTE will likely work on other carriers such as Mint. But PM has to put the phone on a white list essentially, which I don't believe they have. 

[jdnause1]

Way to go! I turned off my Wi-Fi and actually rebooted my phone. It came up as LTE. When I made the call it did go to 4G. Then when the call was completed went back to LTE.

[jdnause1]

Ok.  Thanks for the way to test. My previous phone was a Google Pixel 3a XL which is also not on the PM list, but it worked for me on Mint Mobile eSIM this past winter.  I will try this test right now.

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 You can test it yourself at home. With your PM sim in the phone, temporarily turn off wifi and ensure your phone is connected to the 4G/LTE network. Make a phone call and see if the phone stays connected to the 4G/LTE network or whether it drops to 3G. If it drops to 3G you don't have VoLTE.

[jdnause1]

Ok  Thanks for the info.  I better do a little more research on this.  I hate spending a lot of money on a phone when this one will do just fine for everything except maybe the US - ugh.

[jdnause1]

We will be snow birds so will be there for 4 months this winter.  

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 I'm quite confident the Samsung Galaxy S8 is not compatible with VoLTE on Public Mobile. It's a 6+ year old phone, and Public Mobile is very selective with which devices it adds to their approved list (for whatever reason). You will likely have problems being able to make phone calls. 

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 I wouldn't bank on it being available later. It might be. Or better plans could be out. Or worse. It's a gamble. If you don't make frequent trips to the US the roaming add-on's might be better anyway.

[jdnause1]

I saw that public mobile post, but wasn't sure if it was totally accurate and hence my questions here.  I was praying someone had an S8 and could actually verily it.

[jdnause1]

Yes.  Thanks.  I noticed that.  I have changed plans once before.  I don't need this until December and my plan renews on the 2nd of September so I will upgrade it near the end of November unless I think this US plan will disappear before then .

[DennyCrane]

@jdnause1 As far as I'm aware the Samsung Galaxy S8 is not on Public Mobile's VoLTE compatibility list.

https://publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/volte?&&&&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6KunBhDxARIsAKFUGs-gLb...

This is important because the US does not have a 3G network any longer, so in order to make phone calls while roaming you'll need VoLTE to be able to make calls on the 4G network. Data and SMS should be fine, but you'll likely run into issues with phone calls. You might be able to force the phone into 2G when you need to make calls, but even with that YMMV.

[Handy1]

@jdnause1  Be sure to change plan for next renewal when you do so you don’t lose money on your current cycle 

[jdnause1]

Thanks a lot.  I will be upgrading my plan in a while and of course my battery.   John.

[jdnause1]

Thanks for the quick response.  I will get my battery replaced.  John.

[Handy1]

@jdnause1  .yes it will work fine no worries . And you will still get 5G speeds with phone set to LTE