ZTE WF723 & VoLTE

[416_er]

Has anyone else with a ZTE WF723 been able to access VoLTE? I know someone asked the question from last year but I wanted to see if there are any updates. For reference, this is a Wireless Home phone device; I had been using the WF721 without issue but that device is 3G only and wanted to upgrade with the impending 3G shutdown.

I swapped out the old 721 for the 723 and it keeps dropping to 3G everytime it receives or makes a call. I guess I need to hop over to another network or will more devices make the whitelist?

[Etaylor]

I too swapped out the ZTE WF721 for the ZTE WF723 for the same reason ( the old 721 model is only 3G and the networks is shut down or soon being shut down). My ZTE WF723 will connect to the 4G LTE network and place called over it , but once the party I am calling picks up , the call goes completely silent and I cannot hear the other party. This is also the case if anyone calls us. It will ring , we will answer and then it goes immediately silent and they cannot hear us. This is temporally fixed for a call or 2 by hard resetting the ZTE WF723 modem. It is very annoying. 

[computergeek541]

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@Grinch wrote:

My ZTE 723 is now on a PM 4G (VoLTE) plan. 

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There's no such thing as a specific VoLTE plan. While there was a time when Public Mobile did offer plans that didn't include any calling services, all Public Mobile plans that do include voice services allow access to VoLTE, even plans advertised as 3G plans.

[Nezgar]

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@Grinch wrote:

My ZTE 723 is now on a PM 4G (VoLTE) plan. 
I never realized that when on a call that the green reception bars turn orange, which indicates that the call has dropped to 3G.  As of a month or so ago the bars remain green all of the time. 

Question:

Will the ZTE 723 continue to work on a 5G plan (and a 5G sim)? 
Or is there a new ZTE model for 5G or another device?

@Nezgar 

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That's pretty cool. Only the 3G networks have any known track for decommissioning, so if you are doing VoLTE now, you'll be good for a very long time (as long as the LTE network is around). 5G plans permit access to all radio networks including 3G and LTE so that shouldn't matter - get the plan that best suits your needs... Both VoLTE and VoNR are basically using the same transport for voice traffic (VoLTE / VoNR). Probably the $18 plan with unlimited Canada-wide calling will be just fine for a ZTE device. 🙂

[Grinch]

My ZTE 723 is now on a PM 4G (VoLTE) plan. 
I never realized that when on a call that the green reception bars turn orange, which indicates that the call has dropped to 3G.  As of a month or so ago the bars remain green all of the time. 

Question:

Will the ZTE 723 continue to work on a 5G plan (and a 5G sim)? 
Or is there a new ZTE model for 5G or another device?

@Nezgar 

[Dre_drizzy]

WORKING

TRY THIS.

Not sure if this has been answered but i was having the same issue with the green  reception light turning orange. What I did was put the sim into my iPhone, under “cellular” voice and data you can select 5g, LTE or 3G. Mine was enabled in 5G so I selected LTE, put the sim back into 723 and no more orange light. After a year troubleshooting I finally figured it out.

Cheers!

[Grinch]

Hi Nezgar.....I am going off course here. We used to discuss voip.ms and the Xte Boxes. I can't see to be able to PM you.   Just downloaded the voip.ms to phone iOS version. Only have $ on my account and no DID.  is there an option to did up a caller ID  on the app? Like I have on Zoiper? Actual I have 3 on Zipper. 

[416_er]

those of us in Manitoba would beg to differ. we have less than 6 months in some parts: https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/3g-shutdown-manitoba 

[Nezgar]

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@Grinch wrote:

I guess I need to get my butt in gear.  3G at PM must be going soon as the new $15 plan prepares us for the change. I still wonder how those on the old $15 will be advised. I found out here and am rarely ever looking here. Freedom has a $99 and $119 annual plan. I would take the $119 plan “if” my ZTE box will work. Will have to  test if they no longer have 3G.  I have no problem for a link to cell set up either a dedicated iPhone. 

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Telus has published no official timeline for 3G shutdown. We do know they have been shifting wireless spectrum allocation more and more towards LTE and 5G and away from 3G, but without any official statement, I would say we are still years away from needing to worry about it.

I have a WF720 and WF721 as well that I used for home phone service and now just for "messing around" with and they still work, but for me $15+tax for home phone service was still a little high. 😆 As such, I moved on to Fongo home phone ($5+Tax) and later to voip.ms (~$1/mo + 1c/min) which are VoIP based but actually better (uncompressed) audio quality compared to the wireless boxes. The Fongo option is plug and play, and the voip.ms option requires some DIY knowledge to configure the service and the ATA box yourself (but I'd be happy to assist with that if you go down that route haha)

[computergeek541]

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@Grinch wrote:

I guess I need to get my butt in gear.  3G at PM must be going soon as the new $15 plan prepares us for the change. I still wonder how those on the old $15 will be advised. I found out here and am rarely ever looking here. Freedom has a $99 and $119 annual plan. I would take the $119 plan “if” my ZTE box will work. Will have to  test if they no longer have 3G.  I have no problem for a link to cell set up either a dedicated iPhone. 

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The plans being offered are unrelated to the decommissioning of the 3G network.  All plans, including the $15 plan with 250MB at 3G speeds, give access to customers on the exact same networks including 3G, LTE, and 5G.

[Grinch]

I guess I need to get my butt in gear.  3G at PM must be going soon as the new $15 plan prepares us for the change. I still wonder how those on the old $15 will be advised. I found out here and am rarely ever looking here. Freedom has a $99 and $119 annual plan. I would take the $119 plan “if” my ZTE box will work. Will have to  test if they no longer have 3G.  I have no problem for a link to cell set up either a dedicated iPhone. 

[416_er]

the concern is all carriers in Canada are retiring 3G networks (Rogers at the end of the month, Telus {Koodo/Public} supposedly next year) which will leave our WF723 useless unless we port to another provider (I hear freedom will work or VoIP). unless one can get the WF723 to work on VoLTE, public is no longer a viable option. 

not really a fan of the link2cell route; would mean needing to have a separate smartphone constantly plugged in and at the mercy of Bluetooth. 

[Grinch]

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@416_er wrote:

yeah, i'm on the new $15 plan too but the WF723 keeps dropping to 3G whenever it takes or makes a call. take a look at the box whenever you're on a call; if the signal bars change from green to orange that means you're on 3G. if they stay green it's VoLTE. my ZTE clearly won't register to their volte network even though Telus sells and uses the same device. it's really annoying. 

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Well what a surprise!!  Yup when calling I get full bars of “orange”.

What’s your concern about it?
Had no idea it did that and first time I’ve seen it. 😂😂

Still works though. 
What’s your thoughts on a linked to cell hand set ie. Panasonic or AT&T?

[416_er]

yeah, i'm on the new $15 plan too but the WF723 keeps dropping to 3G whenever it takes or makes a call. take a look at the box whenever you're on a call; if the signal bars change from green to orange that means you're on 3G. if they stay green it's VoLTE. my ZTE clearly won't register to their volte network even though Telus sells and uses the same device. it's really annoying. 

[Grinch]

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@416_er wrote:

Has anyone else with a ZTE WF723 been able to access VoLTE? I know someone asked the question from last year but I wanted to see if there are any updates. For reference, this is a Wireless Home phone device; I had been using the WF721 without issue but that device is 3G only and wanted to upgrade with the impending 3G shutdown.

I swapped out the old 721 for the 723 and it keeps dropping to 3G everytime it receives or makes a call. I guess I need to hop over to another network or will more devices make the whitelist?

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I did the same over a year ago. I have no issues and do keep in mind contacting CSA is pointless as they say that PM does not support ZTE boxes, yet Telus does. 

Check here re connectivity. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0600/8494/5049/files/MF723_SpecSheet.pdf?v=1652411344

So, how does one know what you are contacted to, network wise, when using a ZTE box. I am on the new $15 plan with 4G. 

[hTideGnow]

hi @416_er 

as far as we know, the device  still not able to use VoLTE on PM