US roaming talk, text - compatible device, VoLTE?

[cllaw]

I have a Samsung Galaxy A31 and will be in Yuma, Arizona for 14 days. I want to be able to call & text with Canada and USA.

I understand I need to purchase a US roaming Talk Text add-on, BUT after reading all the posts about compatibility and 3G/LTE/VoLTE I'm really confused. I don't understand some of the tech talk :  (

I've been a member since before Feb 2022.  My phone is not on the list of enabled ones for VoLTE.

In my phone, under Settings -> Connections -> Mobile Networks, it shows "LTE/3G/2G (auto connect)".

So...... if I purchase the US roaming add-on, will I ACTUALLY get voice and text service while stateside?

[cllaw]

@Phil_Adelphus   Ah, I understand NOW! Thank you and thanks to everyone who chimed in : ) 

I sure appreciate it.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@cllaw   It's the device that is the issue - it does have 4G/LTE but needs to fall back to 3G for phone calls because it is not VoLTE enabled/capable.  There's no 3G in the USA.  So your only option with that phone is to use T-Mobile's 2G where it is available.

[cllaw]

---

@wetcoaster wrote:

---

@cllaw wrote:

@wetcoaster wrote:

@cllaw You can check if your phone does connect to VoLTE by turning off WiFi and placing a phone call while watching your connection flag. If the flag stays on LTE during the call you are using VoLTE, if it switches to 3G you are not. (Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung person, so things may show slightly differently on your phone.)

....so I tried that and the connection flag changed to "H" during the call (???)  What does that mean?

---

H would indicate HSPA = 3G.  Sorry, no VoLTE on this call.

---

@wetcoaster Thanks for clarifying.

Maybe this is a dumb question.... what if I changed my subscription to "Canada-US" for a month? Then I could use my phone in Arizona just like I do in Canada, right?

Or is that a no-go because it's my device itself that's the issue (no 4G)?

[wetcoaster]

---

@cllaw wrote:

@wetcoaster wrote:

@cllaw You can check if your phone does connect to VoLTE by turning off WiFi and placing a phone call while watching your connection flag. If the flag stays on LTE during the call you are using VoLTE, if it switches to 3G you are not. (Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung person, so things may show slightly differently on your phone.)

....so I tried that and the connection flag changed to "H" during the call (???)  What does that mean?

We bought the A31 on Amazon, not sure where it came from @Kristowhy.   Thanks for AT&T's  list. Good to know. @Phil_Adelphus 

I'm getting the feeling that I'm better off to use that TextNow app as mentioned or upgrade my phone before I travel. Not a terrible idea.

---

H would indicate HSPA = 3G.  Sorry, no VoLTE on this call.

[cllaw]

@wetcoaster wrote:

@cllaw You can check if your phone does connect to VoLTE by turning off WiFi and placing a phone call while watching your connection flag. If the flag stays on LTE during the call you are using VoLTE, if it switches to 3G you are not. (Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung person, so things may show slightly differently on your phone.)

....so I tried that and the connection flag changed to "H" during the call (???)  What does that mean?

We bought the A31 on Amazon, not sure where it came from @Kristowhy.   Thanks for AT&T's  list. Good to know. @Phil_Adelphus 

I'm getting the feeling that I'm better off to use that TextNow app as mentioned or upgrade my phone before I travel. Not a terrible idea.

[Kristowhy]

---

@Phil_Adelphus wrote:

@cllaw  VoLTE is voice over LTE.  This is important because the USA has shut down it's 3G networks, therefore a phone that can't do VoLTE will have no 3G to fall back on (unlike Canada which still  has 3G, for the time being). Without VoLTE for voice calls you would be left with T-Mobile's 2G network where it is available, as already mentioned.   Public Mobile partners with AT&T and T-Mobile in the USA so those are your only two options for service there.  I don't know about T-Mobile but AT&T published a list of phones that are tested to work on their network and the A31 is not on it:

https://www.att.com/scmsassets/support/wireless/devices-working-on-att-network.pdf 

---

I don't think the A31 was released in North America/Canada.  I know the A32 was however.  This could be why it's not on that list.

Hard to say what will happen with the OP in the US.  Only way is to try and see.  My understanding is that AT&T is very particular about which phone models are supported for VoLTE

[wetcoaster]

---

@hTideGnow wrote:

HI @cllaw 

A31 has VoLTE

this is not confirm, but I was told that as long as your account has VoLTE, and T-Mobile and AT&T allows your phone to use VoLTE there, then voice will work when you roam (it does not really matter that A31 is not on PM's own VoLTE list).  

But if that does not work, you will have to turn to T-Mobile 2G network which people did complain about it in Arizona

Or you can rely on using VoIP app TextNow.  It will work when you have wifi or data.  Roaming data works on 4G and works pretty well now as you can use boht t-Mobile and AT&T.  And you can also use local prepaid data 

---

@hTideGnow  Do we have community members who can confirm that T-Mobile / AT&T theory? Link please. 

After all, the connection is still through Public Mobile roaming. And... The phone being VoLTE capable is no guarantee that you can use it with VoLTE at Public Mobile. It's established by now that PM is enforcing that white list and will kick out / not serve phones that are not approved by them. There is a chance of YMMV, but generally I would not rely on VoLTE being a permanent, or indeed a roaming feature for a phone that isn't white listed. 

@cllaw You can check if your phone does connect to VoLTE by turning off WiFi and placing a phone call while watching your connection flag. If the flag stays on LTE during the call you are using VoLTE, if it switches to 3G you are not. (Disclaimer: I'm not a Samsung person, so things may show slightly differently on your phone.)

[cllaw]

Right, thanks. And if I want data, that is a separate add on, altogether.

[cllaw]

Thanks very much!

[Phil_Adelphus · Accepted solution]

@cllaw  VoLTE is voice over LTE.  This is important because the USA has shut down it's 3G networks, therefore a phone that can't do VoLTE will have no 3G to fall back on (unlike Canada which still  has 3G, for the time being). Without VoLTE for voice calls you would be left with T-Mobile's 2G network where it is available, as already mentioned.   Public Mobile partners with AT&T and T-Mobile in the USA so those are your only two options for service there.  I don't know about T-Mobile but AT&T published a list of phones that are tested to work on their network and the A31 is not on it:

https://www.att.com/scmsassets/support/wireless/devices-working-on-att-network.pdf 

[statusquo]

I believe you should be able to connect for voice and text as long as your network setting is set to auto connect as it automatically connect to the best network setting.  For data you will need to enable data roaming on your phone @cllaw 

I should also have added that you can manually select to either T-mobile or  AT&t

[hTideGnow]

HI @cllaw 

A31 has VoLTE

this is not confirm, but I was told that as long as your account has VoLTE, and T-Mobile and AT&T allows your phone to use VoLTE there, then voice will work when you roam (it does not really matter that A31 is not on PM's own VoLTE list).  

But if that does not work, you will have to turn to T-Mobile 2G network which people did complain about it in Arizona

Or you can rely on using VoIP app TextNow.  It will work when you have wifi or data.  Roaming data works on 4G and works pretty well now as you can use boht t-Mobile and AT&T.  And you can also use local prepaid data