Need a new handset with WiFi calling & SMS

ishinnatelleth

Unfortunately I get not signal 

Neither Three, Vodafone or EE so far seem willing or able to give be a confirm which handsets they offer have both 

Don't suppose anyone has any recommendations that they know work for both on X y or z network?

giraffe69

We have no signal indoors so need wifi calling. We are with Vodafone and there is a list of phones on their website including the Samsung A70 and Samsung A51 which we have. Both are fine as are the updated versions.
The main operators seem coy about phones they don't supply but both worked when purchased from Amazon.

alanjones60

3 have wifi calling on all plans including pay as you go.
I had 4 phones now that wasnt on their list,and every one got wifi enabled as soon as i put sim in.
Same goes for smarty which 3 own

JuliusCaesar

You don't necessarily need a new phone. Try Lebara, which introduced wifi calling recently. It works on my wife's Motorola G8 Play, although I had not expected it would. If you want to try Lebara, you can currently order a SIM for 1p for 6 months, cancel anytime. https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lebara-12gb-5g-data-unlimited-min-text100-international-min-eu-roaming-now-01p-for-six-months-ps690-after-at-lebara-3978870

flaneurs_lobster

Not sure if it helps but my Samsung A52s (bought from ao.com, it matters who you buy from because vendor firmware) has calling and SMS via wi-fi on both Vodafone PAYM and 1pMobile PAYG.

Do you have a budget for a new handset? Android/iOS? 

KxMx

I wouldn't go to Lebara if WiFi calling is vital- it simply doesn't work for several of us.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/discussions/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara-3946352?page=1#comments-last 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6363806/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara/p1

virgo17

KxMx said:

I wouldn't go to Lebara if WiFi calling is vital- it simply doesn't work for several of us.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/discussions/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara-3946352?page=1#comments-last 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6363806/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara/p1

Yes this seems very hit or miss. I have two mobiles both Xiaomi, one with a custom ROM and the other with manufacturers standard ROM and both work with Lebara WiFi calling. One phone is about 5 years old and the other is current.

The best advice would be to get a Lebara SIM and risk a fiver top up to see if your mobile actually works with WiFi calling.

Yes, it's £5 but it might be less costly than committing a to plan and finding WiFi is a no go.

getmore4less

virgo17 said:

KxMx said:

I wouldn't go to Lebara if WiFi calling is vital- it simply doesn't work for several of us.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/discussions/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara-3946352?page=1#comments-last 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6363806/wi-fi-calling-and-volte-now-available-on-lebara/p1

Yes this seems very hit or miss. I have two mobiles both Xiaomi, one with a custom ROM and the other with manufacturers standard ROM and both work with Lebara WiFi calling. One phone is about 5 years old and the other is current.

The best advice would be to get a Lebara SIM and risk a fiver top up to see if your mobile actually works with WiFi calling.

Yes, it's £5 but it might be less costly than committing a to plan and finding WiFi is a no go.

Lebara SIM is now  1p(yes 1p) a month for 6 months 12GB unlimited .

J_B

alanjones60 said:

3 have wifi calling on all plans including pay as you go.
I had 4 phones now that wasnt on their list,and every one got wifi enabled as soon as i put sim in.

Agreed - the Three list is rubbish

My Moto G31 works on Wi-Fi calling (but the previous G7+ didn't) as does my wife's I pHone sE

ishinnatelleth

Thank you everyone for the replies so far, just to elaborate a bit more - really do need reliable WIFI SMS as well as calling so I can get Dr calls and verification codes etc as I'm not able to leave the house every day, I dont get a lot of SMS but the ones I do tend to eb quite important

RE Keeping our current handsets- we are currently with Three, our current handsets (Xiaomi 8 lite and Xioami 8) unfortunately not supported by Three for WIFI calling /SMS (we've tried), we did use the WIFI calling app they had but when they withdrew the app a couple years ago they sent a signal booster box, now the signal booster box is being withdrawn too next month

RE Lebara, I'll take a look but if they are not reliable with the wifi calling thats going to be an issue

alanjones60 said:

3 have wifi calling on all plans including pay as you go.
I had 4 phones now that wasnt on their list,and every one got wifi enabled as soon as i put sim in.
Same goes for smarty which 3 own

which phone models were they as ours definitely dont have it? and Smarty told me they dont support WIFI SMS at all on any handsets  

flaneurs_lobster said:

Not sure if it helps but my Samsung A52s (bought from ao.com, it matters who you buy from because vendor firmware) has calling and SMS via wi-fi on both Vodafone PAYM and 1pMobile PAYG.

Do you have a budget for a new handset? Android/iOS? 

Thank you thats very helpful, we both use Android, nothing set in stone budget wise but as will need two probably looking at getting a handset pay monthly contract, ideally around £30-40, can possibly go higher but would need some convincing (we usually buy handsets outright but only have had a months notice about having to change)  if the handsets were cheap enough and not a "downgrade" spec wise we might get the handsets outright 

the SMS part seems to be whats causing the issues when I ask, Vodafones list for example lists some versions of certain models as WIFI calling only but then same model different version is calling and SMS but customer service wont confirm what version they are selling, its very frustrating 

ishinnatelleth

ok after contacting Lebara it seems they also only support wifi calling, not sms