grandfathered plans and rewards

[Helenruch]

With all these changes and also 3G being phased out, I will have to switch to a different plan once I cannot keep 3G anymore. When I do so, will I lose my rewards and be forced to use their newer rewards point system? I prefer the old credit system. Also, I am reading that add-ons have an expiry date now. I still have old add-ons, such as extra data and international call time - do those have an expiry date now?

[zSharm]

just got out of my grandfathered plan after reading this thread

[dust2dust]

That date is about the the 3G UMTS WCDMA network phase out as has already happened in the states. The plans here are about speed, not network.
What will happen is all the phones that can't do volte or that companies refuse to allow to use volte even though the phone is capable, will not be able to use the cellular system for talk.

Adding - or phones that don't have 4G LTE capability won't work at all. A phone with 4G LTE can still use text and data. But there's also a chance that the phone companies would just block devices that don't have volte.

[Helenruch]

What do you think will happen at the end of 2025 when 3g is phased out? Will PM have us choose another plan or will they just have to bump us up to 4G with our current plan?

[dust2dust]

One of my phones is not on the list but it got and still has volte. You found the right spot. Yours is not. You need that IMS thing mentioned.

What OS version did your iphone get up to? There's a better chance it might get volte if all the cards are lined up right.

With either phone, can you find the network mode and see if you can switch it to 2G GSM. T-Mobile lets us roam on their old 2G network if no volte. It's less coverage but it still works. Coverage is their responsibility, not Public. It can do both talk and text. LTE can do text and data. If volte present then it's just better.

[softech]

@Helenruch 

Sorry, A21 is not on PM's VoLTE compatible list for now

To check if VoLTE is enabled on Android, you can try one fo the two ways

• Go to Settings->About Phone->Station Information->Sim card status
• On phone dialer, press*#*#4636#*#* -> Phone information -> press on the 3 dots menu( top right corner
   -> press IMS service status
  
  When you are at the menu, check IMS registration status, it should show Registered for VoLTE to work

[Helenruch]

The iPhone was recently factory reset and is all up to date but I decided to try and return to my Samsung since I prefer Android (after resetting it too). I came across this and so then checked my phone: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/anyone-else-missing-volte-toggle.4435513/#post-87417653

My SIM settings are below. Does this mean I have been switched to VoLTE on my Samsung?

[dust2dust]

I would say there's a better chance of getting volte on the iphone than the A21. Did you figure out if the iphone is all up to date?

[hairbag1]

@Helenruch 

here's a list of the volte compatible phones that PM will turn on...but of course your results may vary.

https://publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/volte

[Helenruch]

Is there a reason not to preemptively turn on volte even before a US trip is planned? I just reset NY old Samsung Galaxy A21 so now am back on that instead of the iPhone.

[makkahn28]

@Helenruch , Your Rewards will Not Be affected If U switch to a Newer Plan

Also, Any Data Add-Ons that you have gathered Prior to the May Date Though Not sure what day Specifically, they won't be affected, Only Data Add-Ons after the May Date Purchased would have the 30 Day Expiry

L-D Calls as of right now do Not Expire, Hopefully they do Not, Otherwise that would make PM look more like $$$$ Hungry

I do hope they either revert the Data Add-Ons back to the Roll-Over, Or, Give a Longer Expiry Date like 90 or 150 Day very least

[hairbag1]

@Helenruch 

if you plan to travel to US (other than Alaska), ask the CSA to turn ON volte in your iphone 8. Without volte, talk in US is still an...underwhelming experience. You'll find rural use impossible w/o volte. Text and data will be fine w/o volte...just talk is affected.

[dust2dust]

@hairbag1- To avoid any confusion, it's 5G network, not speed.

Adding - I think the A21 would work fine here. It sounds like you had other issues with it. Which OS do you have on that old iphone 8. It might just sneak in to be able to use volte.

The roaming problem is that they have shut down their 3G networks. It's not the phone.

[softech]

@Helenruch A21 is not a Canadian model and I don't think it has all the compatible bands PM uses, that is what contributed to the issue

IPhone 8 is good enough for 4G/LTE. Again, 3G plan is just speed , you can use it on LTE network with your plan, just that PM will cap your speed to 3Mbps

[hairbag1]

@Helenruch 

on my phone, it shows the 5G in the top corner...but my plan is the old $15 plan (3G speed). When I do a Speedtest, the download speeds range around 2.95mbps...upload about the same.  Therefore we can see that we do pick-up the newest 5G speed network, but PM chokes it at around 3G speed. For my use...that's still acceptable.

[Helenruch]

it's an iPhone 8! But I was using Samsung Galaxy A21 which was only 3 years old (but was otherwise a piece of crap and acting up even after resetting, so I switched to an old iPhone someone gave me)

[softech]

@Helenruch which iPhone you got?  most iPhone, although not all, have LTE.  You should be safe

[Helenruch]

Do you mean the phone itself? I am currently using an old iPhone 8. I assume it has 4G LTE capability..? Is the issue with no 3G in the US based on phone or on our PM plan? 

[dust2dust]

What's the make and model of the phone? Do you know if it has been enabled for volte? Do you know if you can switch the network down to the old 2G GSM?

That is indeed where 3G UMTS WCDMA is a problem. But T-Mobile lets us roam on their old 2G or if you have volte then volte.

[Helenruch]

Nice, that is a good plan that you switched to! I might eventually, but right now I am fine on 3GB of data and never use it all up since I get on wifi at home and work. I pay veeery little due to the credits from refer-a-friend and don't want to add $9 extra to my bills just yet when I don't need to. The only thing is having trouble with 3G if I go to the US for travels.

[dust2dust]

So yes when they say 3G around here they actually mean speed. Your phone will use the still running 3G for calls. Or your phone could have been enabled for volte which uses the 4G LTE network. But you can still have the 3G speed plan.

[BKNS27]

@Helenruch 

You don’t have to worry about 3G being phase out for another 2 years (2025) but if you are roaming in the US. It will be in 4G/LTE.

The Points system is all voluntary so DON’T switch over. All your rewards will remain if you switch plans.

[Helenruch]

I have an old $30 3G plan. 3GB data (I think 1 GB is because I do autopay and the other was a special one time thing, but can't remember)

[Handy1]

@Helenruch  No you can change plans and keep your rewards I can confirm I just switched plans and kept mine check it out 

[softech · Accepted solution]

@Helenruch from what we know, 3G will he here for some time still, a lot longer than first anticipated , likely beyond end of 2025 at least

For plan change, you can freely change plan and it wont' affect your current rewards, also confirmed by Community Manager here:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/FAQ-amp-Troubleshooting/td-p/986594

Will I be moved to the new rewards program if I change my plan?
Changing your plan won’t automatically transfer you to our new Public Points rewards program. If you’re currently on our legacy rewards program, you will continue to stay on it. However, we encourage you to explore Public Points, as it opens up even more opportunities for savings.

[dust2dust]

3G (UMTS/WCDMA) will be with us for a while yet. Don't get confused with the 3G terms. It's about speed, not network. Does your phone have 4G LTE? It's only data add-ons that are time limited. The calling add-ons are as they were.

[hairbag1]

@Helenruch 

you can change to any current plan without losing your Rewards. Just doen't ever opt for Points...ever !

added...old data and calling will stay as usual. Only newly purchased data has a 30 day date.