Make Voice Command Calls Without Data

[Sa21]

Just moved from windows phone 8.1 to Android 10 (Samsung A21 phone). We only have talk and text (no data plan). With the windows phone, I can use voice command to make calls without the need to enable data. When I say "call Bob", the phone will automatically dial Bob's number 800-800-0000.

In Android 10, I can launch Google and say "call 800-800-0000 and Google will dial that number (no need to connect to the internet). However, with the command "call Bob", Google will ask for access to the internet. Is there a fix to this problem? Is there another app that I can use that will access CONTACT and dial out without the need to connect to the internet?

TIA,
F

 

[mustang7757]

Hi, welcome to AC , does phone have bixby ?

 

[Sa21]

Thank you for the greetings. Yes. But I believe Bixby also require that I log in to the internet and sign up. I could create a Bixby account at the library, but I don't know if Bixby will permit voice dialing if the phone is not connected to the internet.

 

[mustang7757]

Try setting it up with wifi then test if it can , I think it should, also Google assistant should have offline mode but you have to dig through its settings

 

[Sa21]

Thank you. Is Google assistant = Google? I see Google Assistant under Google's settings, but it also requires a Sign in. Per my previous post, Google will dial out if I call out the numbers. Therefore, I think the voice command along with Google Assistant is working.

TIA

 

[mustang7757]

For Google assistant you need at least wifi , I'm going try bixby

 

[mustang7757]

Same for bixby

 

[Sa21]

Thank you for confirming my hypothesis. It appears that with Android, these companies will track your activities if you use these convenient features. Google wants to associate a contact with a name and phone numbers. I was hoping that there would a 3rd party that can access the CONTACT list and dial out without the need to create a user account and connect to the internet when you make the call.

 

[mustang7757]

I thought at one point you were able to do this , might of been changed through updates , we can still see if any other members have a workaround.

 

[Sa21]

Thanks again for your input!

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks again for your input!

Your welcome!

 

[smvim]

Well, there is another way to look at things where companies, like Google, do rely upon data mining our personal info in order for us to also rely upon services they provide without having to pay them money -- i.e. you have an expectation to use the services that Google Assistant provides for free. But there's a lot going on in the background that can't be ignored. Google monetizes the collecting of our data as an indirect payment, so in essence while we don't pay anything like a subscription fee to Google to use services like Gmail or Google Assistant, we do pay with data about our online presence.

As for your situation with voice calls, keep in mind that your phone is getting online connectivity in two ways. One is WiFi, so depending on your carrier and your plan with them it might be a matter where your phone calls are going through WiFi Calling. The second one is cellular, and if you have a plan with a cellular service carrier that's a given and includes connectivity using the cellular network your carrier provides, and things like voice phone calls and SMS. Mobile data is just the higher capacity service that goes through cellular connectivity. Also note that phone calling itself is a pretty low-bandwidth technology. It involves a highly compressed, low bit-rate, mono signal so phone calling can still be done through the basic cellular connection, mobile data is not required. By default, if you've installed a SIM card from your carrier, your phone has that base cellular connection established, mobile data is just an optional extra that you've apparently passed on. Some apps just can't work within the limited bandwidth of that very low bandwidth base cellular connection so either WiFi or mobile data is required.