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Three launching 4G and Wifi Calling (VoWifi and VoLTE)

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    #2
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260130/three-launching-4g-and-wifi-calling-vowifi-and-volte

    It looks like 3 have blocked the use of WiFi calling when roaming. This is one of the major benefits of WiFi calling - to avoid high roaming charges, particularly outside EU. They also make no mention of whether texting is supported (important for 2FA messages), so I suspect that they haven't got it working? The list of supported handsets is very limited. Launching 5 years later than Eir, and they still only offer a half-baked service!



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    #3
    Cork981
    Registered Users Posts: 757 ✭✭✭Cork981


    They also say that calls with fail if you leave WiFi while on a call.

    This is not the case with Eir and Vodafone, both translation seamlessly (1 sec loss) from WiFi calling to 4G calling.


    This would be a big problem if you leave your house while on a call.



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    #4
    cena
    Registered Users Posts: 10,015 ✭✭✭✭cena


    vodafone started vo wifi this week



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    #5
    Kenny Powers
    Registered Users Posts: 980 ✭✭✭Kenny Powers


    Was enabled for me today, not working on Xiaomi as yet, not listed as supported either to be fair. Vodafone and Eir both work.



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    #6
    not1but4
    Registered Users Posts: 262 ✭✭not1but4


    Interesting thread on it over on Three's forum https://community.three.ie/t5/Ideas-Board/VoLTE-and-WiFI-Calling/idi-p/771535/page/5#comments



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    #7
    Cork981
    Registered Users Posts: 757 ✭✭✭Cork981


    It’s starting to look like a very half baked solution compared to what Eir are providing.

    It took them 3 years longs than Eir so would have expected a few improvements.



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    #8
    Kenny Powers
    Registered Users Posts: 980 ✭✭✭Kenny Powers


    After all the delays and planning I expected more and full device support Samsung and iPhone listed at least support all the phone currently in their own store.

    Sales rep telling me sense April they are taking their time to make sure they don't make the same mistakes as the other operators 😂



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    #9
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119522227#Comment_119522227

    I have been using Eir's WiFi calling service since they launched it in 2017 - 5 years ago! It didn't have all the bells and whistles at the start, such as handover to VOLTE - but roaming & SMS have always worked.

    I don't really see the advantage of VOLTE without handover to WiFi because I doubt that there are any locations which have 4G or 5G coverage that don't already have 2G or 3G coverage. Voice will fall back to 2G or 3G, so there is no major advantage to the consumer in having VOLTE alone. If the networks eventually switch off 2G, then VOLTE will be important, but I suspect that is some time off, because of the number of embedded IOT devices, cars, alarms etc that have 2G only.



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    #10
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119521753#Comment_119521753

    That thread is hilarious! They must be geo-blocking either on IP address or (last known) roaming network. They can't deny both and yet admit that they are geo-blocking the service. This could be particularly important for customers in Ireland who are near the border with Northern Ireland.



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    #11
    jdon72
    Registered Users Posts: 244 ✭✭jdon72


    Anyone know if this also applies for the mvnos under three like tesco and 48?



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    #12
    Micky 32
    Registered Users Posts: 6,556 ✭✭✭Micky 32


    Interestingly i was in Wales a month ago and wifi calling worked on the hotel wifi. I’m with Vodafone that’s supposed to be geo locked.



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    #13
    dmcg90
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭dmcg90


    Gonna be a while yet until Three Ireland support iPhones with Wifi calling. How is this so hard given for most other networks, it'll work on a range of phones?



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    #14
    Cork981
    Registered Users Posts: 757 ✭✭✭Cork981


    Yeah it’s ridiculous how long it’s taken to implement compared to Eir and Vodafone.

    It was supposed to launch late 2022 now saying early 2023.

    Really need Wi-Fi calling before I move my primary number to 3 due to poor indoor coverage at home.



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    #15
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120157221#Comment_120157221

    Not making excuses - but the operators need to co-operate with different handset vendors to get their WiFi calling server settings embedded in the handset firmware. This differs from most other operator settings for mobile services, which are carried in the SIM card. Eir probably had a head-start by launching back in 2017, and Vodafone in 2019, although Vodafone's service still lacks SMS, and doesn't work when roaming (probably a business decision by them to limit losses of roaming revenue). Three probably weren't able to launch earlier because of too much incompatible legacy equipment in their network, and they probably couldn't keep the handset vendors on board if they didn't have the service working in their network.

    There is also likely to be a different business driver for the different networks. Eir had the greatest incentive to launch WiFi calling because it fits well with their Fibre Broadband home and business bundles. Three probably don't like admitting that fibre networks provide better indoor coverage, and they like to pretend that mobile can do everything on its own. Vodafone are likely somewhere in between.



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    #16
    GIMP
    Registered Users Posts: 1,072 ✭✭✭GIMP


    I now have 5g access but no wifi calling or volte access on Xiaomi handset



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    #17
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    Coming back to this old thread to moan about how bad Three WiFi Calling still is. It only works whilst in Ireland, though I have found that disabling location services for WiFi Calling and turning on a VPN connected to Dublin does the trick. There's also no SMS support. I don't understand why it's so difficult for Three to enable simple features and functionality.



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    #18
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122038321#Comment_122038321

    Three might have made a business decision not to destroy roaming revenue for their branches in other countries? Vodafone also don't support WiFi calling while roaming - perhaps for the same reason?. Eir (including their GoMo brand) are the only network in Ireland to support WiFi calling when roaming, and they also support SMS over WiFi calling. Perhaps it is time for you to change to a network that fully supports WiFi calling?



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    #19
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    I would switch if Eir or GoMo supported eSIM. I have a US model iPhone with no physical SIM slot.



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    #20
    roadrunnermick
    Registered Users Posts: 241 ✭✭roadrunnermick


    Hi all

    Any ideas how to enable wifi calling on a P30 pro with three Ireland

    Many thanks

    Michael



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    #21
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    Since updating to iOS 18 Beta, I’m now able to send and receive SMS via WiFi Calling on Three. I confirmed this by toggling airplane mode and messaging. No MMS, but this is a step in the right direction!



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    #22
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122250039#Comment_122250039

    That's interesting. Are you certain that you are able to receive "native" SMS, and not just RCS? Most person-to-person texting is already on RCS, which is already possible over WiFi without WiFi Calling, whereas most 2FA and B2C texts from businesses are still native SMS. Have you tried getting a 2FA message over WiFi Calling?



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    #23
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122250130#Comment_122250130

    Yep, I’m sure. As far as I can tell, RCS still is not active on iPhone yet. I first noticed this because an An Post notification delivered while my phone was in airplane mode.



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    #24
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122251453#Comment_122251453

    Apple iMessage is similar to RCS, in that it works over WiFi as well as mobile. However it only works within the Apple walled garden. Apple are supposed to be modifying it, so that it will work properly with RCS, so that you can interwork with Android. If you are able to send text messages to other iPhones, they could be going over iMessage? If you can send text messages to Android phones over WiFi Calling, then Three have definitely got text messaging working. Eir have had this since they launched in 2017, but Vodafone still don't have text messaging working. While person-to-person text messaging is in decline, Business to consumer text messaging is still very important - for 2FA messages etc. It will be interesting to see if Apple now list Three as having WiFi Calling - the Apple site currently only lists Eir and Vodafone in Ireland as supporting WiFi Calling.



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    #25
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252143#Comment_122252143

    I’ve had WiFi Calling on Three for at least a year now. The Apple website also only lists Vodafone for eSIM, but I’ve had a Three eSIM for a while now too.

    I understand the difference between SMS, RCS, and iMessage. I specifically tested SMS messages between an Android phone on GoMo while my iPhone on Three was in airplane mode and connected to WiFi calling. That is how I was able to determine I can send and receive SMS, but cannot send or receive MMS over WiFi.

    I also tested logging into revenue.ie and was able to receive the 2FA SMS code while my iPhone was in airplane mode and on WiFi!

    Looking good so far. Now, if only Three would allow WiFi Calling to activate while outside of Ireland.



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    #26
    babelfish1990
    Registered Users Posts: 632 ✭✭✭babelfish1990


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252494#Comment_122252494

    That's good if they finally have SMS working properly. You clearly understand the different scenarios.

    Three's issue with not allowing use while roaming is probably a business decision rather than a technical failure like their problem with SMS. Since they operate in other markets, they may not want to trash their own roaming revenues. None of the UK networks allow WiFi calling when roaming, and most of the major business policies are probably determined on the "mainland". The local Three office in Ireland is unlikely to be allowed to deviate from policy in UK. Eir likely has more autonomy, and they don't have to worry about roaming losses abroad, hence they have allowed use abroad from the start, as do the US networks such as ATT & T-Mobile.



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    #27
    Glaceon
    Registered Users Posts: 2,085 ✭✭✭Glaceon


    Should be able to verify it by going to Settings > General > About and tapping twice on Network Provider. It will change to IMS Status and show what services are enabled. Vodafone only shows Voice, no SMS (as we know).



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    #28
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252565#Comment_122252565
    IMG_6910.jpeg

    Yep, both my US and IE SIMs have Voice & SMS now!



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    #29
    Glaceon
    Registered Users Posts: 2,085 ✭✭✭Glaceon


    image.png

    Here’s Vodafone for comparison. So they now have the worst WiFi calling implementation of all three networks.



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    #30
    PH0NER
    Registered Users Posts: 32 ✭PH0NER


    It’s so strange Vodafone isn’t faster to implement things. Being the big global brand that they are, I expect more.



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    #31
    Ah-Watch
    Registered Users Posts: 1,769 ✭✭✭Ah-Watch


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122252890#Comment_122252890

    I can't get Wifi calling on either of the esims I have with Three and I've logged multiple tickets with them without any success. Enabling wifi calling has been the least hassle on Eir by far. Vodafone not so bad but 3 drive me nuts with it and it's been how long at this stage? Eir have improved dramatically in recent years but their roaming packages just don't stack up vs Vodafone or 3 which is what stops me from switching to them from Vodafone.



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