Wi-fi calling unlocked T-Mo Samsung S8

[ord2koa]

I have a Samsung S8 branded to T-Mobile. Warranty is expired.

My carrier is Ting, a MVNO that uses the T-Mo network. I use Ting because I only pay for what I use. I don't need/want unlimited streaming or gigantic phone bills.

I had T-Mo unlock the phone so I could use a local SIM on my trip to Europe next month.

T-Mo unlocked the phone via the app and as soon as the phone restarted, wi-fi calling doesn't work with the Ting SIM. Wi-fi calling is not available in settings or in the phone app settings.

Tried an AT&T SIM and wi-fi calling is an option. Put in a T-Mo SIM and wi-fi calling is an option. With the Ting SIM, no option.

I tried factory re-set, nothing changed.

T-Mobile said it is impossible, this could not have happened. Well, it did. Samsung says it's a carrier problem. Ting (MVNO carrier) says it's not them, it's something T-Mobile. Tried a new Ting SIM and still no wi-fi calling.

So pretty much it's a "too bad for you" situation. I can't get anyone to help solve this problem. I don't get a cell signal where I live/work so I need wi-fi calling.

Any ideas?

 

[SpookDroid]

Did WiFi calling work with the Ting SIM before it was unlocked? Or has this always only worked on a T-Mobile SIM prior to unlocking?

 

[ord2koa]

Yes, it worked perfectly from the first day I got the phones.

 

[JHStewart1023]

I think it's an att based issue. working in mobile I've noticed with Consumers Cellular the att based sim doesnt do wifi calling but if you install the tmobile sim it does.

 

[neuronton]

I can take that cc claim and counter it to a non factor i use it. It is a carrier issue. Samsung won't show its an option when it isn't a carrier avaliable option. I have been able to provide this as my own statement of being able to have resolved it prior so I know the scenario. Samsung won't show it if carrier doesn't have. that's really the answer you need.

 

[anon(123856)]

I can also say that my S8+ had wifi calling on TMo prepaid but does not on ATT prepaid. ATT won't support it on non-ATT phones so it doesn't even show as an option.

 

[SpookDroid]

Unfortunately, as you can see from the other comments, WiFi calling IS carrier-dependent. I understand that yours worked before (which might make this sound like a Samsung issue), but the fact that this started happening after unlocking, makes it a bit more apparent that, for some reason, Ting is not allowing an unlocked phone to use WiFi calling on their network (even if they use TMo, it's still their system). The phone IS WiFi-calling-capable (as you've confirmed from using a T-Mobile SIM), but will only show said options if the SIM/network it's using allows it (same thing for the 'Advanced' section in your call settings... only carrier-supported options will show there and these might vary from carrier to carrier).

 

[freeman10]

I think it's an att based issue. working in mobile I've noticed with Consumers Cellular the att based sim doesnt do wifi calling but if you install the tmobile sim it does.

Interesting. I am thinking of trying out Consumer Cellular's T-Mobile SIM to see if WiFi calling would then work. It isn't currently working for me on my unlocked phone using Consumer Cellular's AT&T-based SIM. Have you noticed any other different features being enabled/working by using either their AT&T SIM versus their T-Mobile SIM? I was thinking the only difference would be coverage, but maybe not!