WiFi calling where no service available

flaneurs_lobster

Don't want to contradict 1p's staff but, 

Just switched on Airplane mode followed by wi-fi on this mobile w/ 1p SIM, get wi-fi calling enabled (and it works).

It certainly has had 1p 4g signal recently.

EDIT: SMS works too.

10_66

Thank you both, the person I spoke to said that even if you force it onto airplane  mode, it still needs a slight signal.  I'm so confused by it all.  I know I can't go to Three now as doesn't work in the town where I work, I was prepared for Three at home as I thought WiFi call would solve it.  This is why I was now looking at EE piggy backers (EE too expensive for me).  Oh the joys of living in a rural area 

Qew

10_66 said:

Thank you both, the person I spoke to said that even if you force it onto airplane  mode, it still needs a slight signal.  I'm so confused by it all.  I know I can't go to Three now as doesn't work in the town where I work, I was prepared for Three at home as I thought WiFi call would solve it.  This is why I was now looking at EE piggy backers (EE too expensive for me).  Oh the joys of living in a rural area 

Then the rep is contradicting EE themselves:

"WiFi Calling lets you make and receive calls and texts using WiFi, even if there isn't mobile network coverage.

"All you need is a phone that supports WiFi Calling and a WiFi connection in the UK."

https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/getting-started-and-upgrading/using-your-phone-features/how-do-i-use-wifi-calling

My own experience is that Wifi calling works fine in airplane mode, which also contradicts the rep.

10_66

Thank you Qew, this is what I'd always thought, so I was surprised by what 1pmobile rep told me.  I'd mentioned to her that I put my phone on a airplane mode, and she said that wouldn't make any difference anyway, which is why I was even more surprised.  So I'm not impressed by 1pmobile then.

Thanks to alanjones60 and flaneurs_lobster for confirmation too.

sully1311

Yea, the rep is lying.

k_man

sully1311 said:

Yea, the rep is lying.

Or just mistaken, or answering a different question.

Some working mobile signal is probably required to initially activate the SIM, or keep it active ongoing.

That is different to WiFi calling working without mobile signal.

10_66

k_man said:

sully1311 said:

Yea, the rep is lying.

Or just mistaken, or answering a different question.

Some working mobile signal is probably required to initially activate the SIM, or keep it active ongoing.

That is different to WiFi calling working without mobile signal.

Granted she was mistaken, but she was certainly not answering a different question, and if the answer she gave required a fuller explanation then she should have given it.  Either way she failed in being of any help with her response.

k_man

Unfortunately customer service is one of the areas where costs are cut in the lower cost providers.

10_66

k_man said:

Unfortunately customer service is one of the areas where costs are cut in the lower cost providers.

Sadly, this is true of all companies these days, whatever their purpose.

flaneurs_lobster

The provisioning of wi-fi calling by a particular carrier on a particular handset (or not) is complicated. I'm not surprised that most providers don't want to get into technical discussions via their customer service reps. 

Most seem to take the attitude that it either works (good) or not ("we never said it would work"). 

If it's essential that you have it working then insist that it is demonstrated as such before a contract is agreed. This is obviously not always easy to do. 

Alternatively buy an iPhone, they always work.