đ§ Things to know: What is Wi-Fi Calling and why does it matter?
This is not the first time we circle around the subject, but Wi-Fi Calling is a topic that has people itching for an update, here we go again. A rundown on everything you need to know about how Wi-Fi Calling works on Tello Mobile and more, coming right up!
đČ Tello Mobile rolls out Wi-Fi Calling. But first things first: what does Wi-Fi Calling do?
If youâre not sure what Wi-Fi Calling is, why you need it and how it works, youâre not alone.
Wi-Fi Calling connects your calls and texts via a Wi-Fi network instead of using the mobile network. Itâs basically a way to get around dead zones and poor coverage by allowing you to place calls over Wi-Fi (the one you have at home or whatever Wi-Fi hotspot you are on at the moment). Or when you travel abroad. If you have a good Wi-Fi connection, youâll be able to make and receive calls just like you would on our 4G LTE/5G network.
đŹ Wi-Fi Calling has a handful of advantages – no wonder people have strong feelings towards it:
- It helps you connect to a phone call or message function when cellular service is weak â Wi-Fi Calling becomes the natural and much-needed backup if your cell coverage is not reliable or not existent.Â
- Phone calls are made using your regular phone number â no additional number needed
- Itâs easy to set up and once enabled, it works automatically â no need for special hardware or an extra app
- Stay connected anywhere, with the help of nearby active Wi-Fi networks (they come in handy in signal-blocked location, your favorite basement bar or coffee shop, and of course, when traveling outside of the US)
- It saves battery life â if you find yourself in poor cellular coverage areas, but with a decent Wi-Fi signal, Wi-Fi Calling will help save some power juice
- Itâs included in your plan â some carriers charge extra for it. Thatâs not the case for Tello Mobile, but weâll get there in a minute.Â
đïž Does Wi-Fi Calling work on Tello Mobile?
YES, on both Androids and iPhones.
Bye-bye spotty reception or extra costs when traveling abroad!
When you, a handsome Tello GSM customer, are traveling overseas, you can use Wi-Fi Calling to make or receive calls and send/receive texts, as long as the following conditions are met:
- Your device supports this feature – Wi-Fi Calling is a device-dependent feature. The majority of Tello GSM-compatible phones do, no worries! Remember, you are free to bring your own phone to Tello, provided it’s an unlocked VoLTE compatible model.Â
- You have enabled Wi-Fi Calling on your device and registered an E911 address in your online account (or through the phone menu) â this is needed in order for emergency services to determine the phone’s location in case an emergency call is placed. It must be accurate and updated if you use Wi-Fi calling from a different address. Taking the time to do this is *literally* a lifesaver.
- The Wi-Fi network and router/equipment you are using allow Wi-Fi Calling – FYI: this is out of our control, guys. Since we have absolutely no way to verify this, it falls entirely in your, er, the customerâs responsibility.
Making sure things go smoothly for our users is essential. Hence, the following note: If you have an iPhone, and youâve been missing this Wi-Fi Calling feature until now, please know that youâll need a new generation SIM from us. Once you get your hands on that and provided that your phone has the latest software available, everything should be fine. Weâll provide the new SIM free of charge, read more about it here.Â
From a billing perspective, Wi-Fi calls are treated exactly like regular ones. They come from your balance.Â
How to activate Wi-Fi Calling on your Tello phone?
âȘ To activate Wi-Fi Calling on iPhones go to Settings â Cellular â Wi-Fi Calling â Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling.Â
âȘ To activate Wi-Fi Calling on Android phones, youâll generally find Wi-Fi settings under Settings â Networks & Internet â Mobile network â Advanced â Wi-Fi Calling â Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling.Â
How to ensure you get the best voice quality while calling via Wi-Fi?Â
 âȘ Get close to the router. The closer, the better :)
âȘ One thing at a time: Wi-Fi should not be simultaneously used for other data-intensive tasks (e.g. simultaneously streaming)
âȘ there are apps for measuring the quality of a Wi-Fi connection – like Open SignalÂ
đž Does Wi-Fi Calling on Tello cost something extra?
No, absolutely not.Â
Wi-Fi Calling is offered for free and the calls and texts come out of your monthly allowance, as normal.
If youâre using Wi-Fi calling anywhere in the US, making and receiving calls via Wi-Fi costs the same as via the regular cellular network.
You can also use Wi-Fi Calling while abroad, on a local Wi-Fi connection. In this case, you’ll be charged the same as if you were in the US using your regular plan minutes.
Hereâs another example for international calls aficionados: if you have a plan with minutes and also Pay as you Go balance, youâll be charged:
âȘ from your minutes’ balance, if you receive any calls (no matter where from) or if you call the US or any of the 60+ included international destinations â basically, youâll be skipping high international rates altogether!
âȘ from Pay as you Go balance if you call international destinations that are not included in your plan, such as Egypt â the tiny rates come out of your Pay as you Go credit allowance.Â
đ Are there any downsides to using Wi-Fi Calling?
The call quality is directly impacted by the performance and signal strength of your Wi-Fi Network. At times, if you encounter issues, you may need to temporarily deactivate this feature.
đ As you see, Tello treats your Wi-Fi calls as though you were making or answering a regular cellular call in the US. No roaming charges. Â
Wi-Fi Calling makes a huge difference for people that telecommute, people who live in old buildings where the walls are too thick, thereâs too much metal or wiring, in rural areas where the signal is weak, or in any place with lousy coverage.Â
Itâs the perfect feature to rely on when youâve just arrived at your destination abroad, donât have an international line, but do have access to the airportâs Wi-Fi. Â
How about Tello-to-Tello video calling?
If a video call is placed over wi-fi is it charged as minutes or “free” like other uses of data over wi-fi?
Hello, Mike,
I’m not sure what you’re really asking, so this is me, covering all the bases:
– Tello does not offer video calling as part of the service, but thanks for the feedback
– if you are using any app to make video calls, then you will be charged from your Data balance, unless you are connected to WiFi, in which case, no charge :).
Hope it helps, thanks!
T-Mobile has built in video calling on some phones
“First, T-Mobile Video Calling works right out-of-the-box from your smartphoneâs dialer. Thereâs no need to search out, download, configure and register additional apps.”
I’m trying to find out if there is any charge when T-Mobile Video Calls are placed over wi-fi
Hiya, Mike,
I did some digging about the feature you’ve been talking about and it seems like it’s only available for the big operator’s customers. So, it’s a no for Tello, at this point, at least.
Thanks and take care!
I have a question, I have a Galaxy S20+ and I have figured out how to call over WiFi on the app but how do I receive calls over WiFi or text over wifi
Please be advised that the App is used only to make calls. You cannot receive calls or send/ receive SMSes on the app.
In order to receive calls and text you will need to enable your Wi-Fi calling.
With Wi-Fi calling, you can make/ receive calls and send/ receive SMSes.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team for further assistance.
So being a newbie what your saying is if we have WiFi turned on a video call can be made, correct?
Hi Jackie, YES that is correct!
Aloha,
I was very excited that Tello offers wi-fi calling already, however when I try to turn it on I receive a message: ” To allow Wi-Fi calling on this account, contact Sprint”. How should I activate my wi-fi calling on iOS? Thanks!
Hi there,
Unfortunately, Wi-Fi Calling is only available for our GSM users. If you want to use it we kindly ask you to check if your phone is GSM compatible (https://tello.com/bring_your_own_phone) and start the GSM migration. Since you’re a Tello customer, you’ll get the SIM for FREE.
¿Qué pasa con los que tienen eSim?
Hola Diaz! ¿Qué quieres decir? ¿Necesitas ayuda?
Thanks so much for the new sim card to get wifi working on my iPhone. I live in an area where the cell signal is very weak inside my home.
Having wifi inside my home and cell outside makes for a complete package.
Our pleasure, Joe!
When I try yo enable WiFi calling on my iPhone it tells me âto to allow WiFi calling on this phone contact Sprintâ.
Hi Michael,
Unfortunately, Wi-Fi Calling is only available for our GSM users, if you’re still on the CDMA network then it won’t work.
I have a Motorola E4 phone with Android 7.1.1 software ⊠is this phone capable of WiFi calling?
Hi Butch,
Unfortunately, we can’t tell for sure just by the phone model and software.
Wi-Fi Calling is a device-dependent feature. Please check its Settings and you should see if it’s available or not: Settings â Networks & Internet â Mobile network â Advanced â Wi-Fi Calling â Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling.
Hope this helps!
Hi. I have a Motorola Moto E4 phone (Android 7.1.1). Wi-fi calling works perfectly with this phone, provided you have migrated from CDMA to GSM/T-Mobile.
Go to Settings >> Wireless & networks >> More >> Wi-Fi calling
Unfortunately, the T-mobile network does not allow Wi-Fi calling on older phones using Wi-fi Calling 1.0 which means my S-5 along with other phones. Are you talking about Tello having something that works with that because I have always used Wi-Fi calling on Tello prior to this June
Hi Richard,
In order to use Wi-Fi Calling to make or receive calls and send/receive texts, the following conditions need to be met:
Please note that in order to enable Wi-Fi Calling, an E911 Address is required. If you call 911 over Wi-Fi Calling we may transmit your E911 Registered Address to the 911 Communications Center. This will help emergency responders locate you when you are unable to provide your contact information and current location. Please remember, you will need to update your E911 Registered Address if you plan on using the Wi-Fi Calling service from a different location.
Here’s how you can activate Wi-Fi Calling from your Samsung Galaxy S5 phone: Settings â Networks & Internet â Mobile network â Advanced â Wi-Fi Calling â Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling.
You said, “If you call 911 over Wi-Fi Calling we may transmit your E911 Registered Address to the 911 Communications Center.”
My registered address is my home. If I am away from home, and I call 911 using WiFi calling, you are saying that you will send my home address to the 911 operator even though I am not at home. It would be much better if you sent my phone’s location. My phone has a GPS sensor in it so just use that sensor to know my location and send it.
What if I am having a heart attack in an unfamiliar area of the city and I don’t know my current address so I can’t tell the operator my address. Sending the ambulance to my home will do no good.
Jacob, I understand what you’re saying, but this is not something we can control.
In order to use Wi-Fi Calling your Tello line requires an emergency address to be configured in My Tello » My Settings.
This is needed because if you call 911 over Wi-Fi Calling we may transmit your E911 Registered Address to the 911 Communications Center. This will help emergency responders locate you when you are unable to provide your contact information and current location. Please note, you will need to update your E911 Registered Address if you plan on using Wi-Fi Calling at a location different from the E911 Registered Address saved in your Tello account.
Thanks for writing!
One more question on the registered address: if you are abroad. I can’t add an address abroad only in the USA, while on the website is written that it’s possible to use Wifi-calling abroad as well. Could I keep my original address in the USA as 911 address when travelling?
Hi, Job,
Yes, that’s exactly right, please add your US address – Before you can use Wi-Fi Calling, you need to set up an e911 address on your account in case your location doesn’t show up automatically to a 911 dispatcher. You don’t have to change it when you’re abroad.
Thanks!
Appreciate your engaging with us. Getting into the weeds on e911 and travel abroad: Will dialing “911” while abroad dial local emergency services in that country or would I be connected to a 911 operator in my US home city? Also, what happens in countries that use different emergency numbers, e.g. in Japan “110” (or “119” depending on the type of emergency), would dialing “911” automatically connect with local emergency services in Japan? Would dialing “110” in Japan work?
Hi Glenn,
This is a good question indeed! When traveling abroad, you will need to dial the local emergency number and not the US emergency number; Also, Wi-Fi Calling must be disabled when calling the local emergency number, to make sure you are connected accordingly.
Hope we answered your question!
Believe Richard you have something there, older phones are evidently not supported for Wi-Fi calling on the T-Mobile network. I’ve contacted Tello CS twice to get the wi fi calling enabled. Still no “buttons” in my phone anywhere to turn it on. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy J3, so not exactly the state of the art. However it USED to do wi-fi enabled calling, both incoming and outgoing when the handset was used on Consumer Cellular (AT&T). NOT planning on upgrading my handset anytime soon for wi fi calls nor 5G. Do keep the trusty land line for most calls. Tello though is the real value deal for my cell phone needs!
I live in an area with poor GSM cell reception for your network… But, can I activate a new Tello SIM/service via a wifi connection, or does the initial service activation have to be via your cellular network connection, before wifi calling can be used on a compatible GSM device? Thanks!
Hi JFC,
To use Wi-Fi Calling in an area with no coverage, you would first need to activate the Tello GSM service while located in an area of good network coverage.
If you live quite close to an area of good coverage, (check our Coverage page), then you can enter that address in the “Confirm Delivery” section and physically go to that general area to activate the service and enable Wi-Fi Calling & Text.
You will then be able to use Wi-Fi Calling & Text when you return to your own location that has no network coverage.
If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Support team, available 24/7 by chat & email.
Does using wifi for calling use my data bucket? The MyTello app seemed to say it did.
Hi JP,
Wi-Fi Calling uses the Wi-Fi data, so your plan’s data allowance shouldn’t be affected.
If you still have questions about this, don’t hesitate to write us: https://tello.com/contact, we’re here 24/7 by email & chat.
When abroad and on WiFi, how do I know when I make a call if I am on wifi calling (free calls) or direct call (roaming charge)?
Hi Odil,
A lot of people are wondering… So thanks for bringing it up! First of all, we don’t offer Roaming, so if you’re travelling outside the US (or in areas where we don’t have coverage) the only way to use our network is through Wi-Fi Calling.
Plus, please note that while using Wi-Fi Calling, all calls/texts either incoming or outgoing are charged from your plan’s balance, so there are no “free calls”, only calls that come out of your minute balance.
Hope this help, thank you so much for using Tello!
Hi, Right now I am in Mexico city, wifi callling and sms works perfectly, IÂŽve received all sms codes confirmation from my bank and I can call to my house without problem … Great!. My phone is a tiny Palm PVG 100 with wifi-enable
Does WiFi calling uses up one’s data?
Hi Jon, thanks for asking. I bet a lot of people have doubts about this.
Wi-Fi Calling uses the Wi-Fi data only, so your planâs data allowance shouldnât be affected.
If you still have questions about this, donât hesitate to write us: https://tello.com/contact, weâre here 24/7 by email & chat.
Sometimes I think I start a call over Wi-Fi and then drive away and lose the call. Should calls automatically switch back to the cell service during a call without being dropped?
Hi Eddie,
If you’re using Wi-Fi Calling and for any reason, you lose the Wi-Fi signal, you shouldn’t worry!
The phone will switch back to its cellular signal without dropping the call. Indeed there might be some interruptions for 1-2 seconds, while the switch takes place.
My problem is the reverseâI am talking on VoLTE service (which I prefer, now that my CMDA service was ripped away from us [donât get me started!]) and suddenly I am disconnected. The last time it happened, I checked Airplane Mode, and sure enoughâout of the blue, there I was in the dark! I have both cell/data and Wi-Fi turned off on my Alcatel phoneâthough I have unlimited voice/text, I have minimal data, as I use my laptop for everything else. This did NOT happen with my previous phone; how can I stop it? What is blocking my VoLTE signal for no reason? Is âunlimitedâ not real?
Sally,
It’s my understanding that you’ve already received support from our team, hope everything is working fine now.
Just in case, I’m leaving this here for you: we recommend resetting the APNs and restarting the phone. Should there be any more issues, please contact us anytime, thanks!
I have an iPhone XR and turned on Wi-Fi Calling. If the wifi signal becomes poor or is lost, will the phone still be able to make calls through the usual cellular signal automatically or do I have to turn off Wi-Fi Calling again in Settings? Thanks.
Hi Aris, you don’t have to worry about switching your Wi-Fi Calling OFF if you lose the Wi-Fi signal. The phone will automatically switch to the cellular signal. Thanks for asking!
Just a note on WIFI calling issues with some phones. If the WIFI calling options are not showing up and you have updated your phone’s software and exhausted all other options, call customer service and ask for a new SIM card.
I ordered 2 SIM cards off Amazon a couple of weeks ago since they would arrive same day. The ones I received were 4G/LTE GSM SIM kits. Neither SIM would allow WIFI calling on either of my 2 phones. In fact the options for WIFI calling in settings menus did not even show up to configure.
One phone is an iPhone SE (1st gen) and the other a Samsung Galaxy s9 (unbranded) running Android 10.
Customer service said the iPhone problem was definitely SIM related and sent out an updated SIM free of charge. They sent me a 5G/LTE SIM and it did fix the issue for the iPhone.
After a series of back and forth chats with customer service about my Android phone with no fix, I took the 5g SIM from the iPhone and put it in my Android phone and WIFI calling was suddenly available (but the phone number was from the other phone).
I then contacted customer service again and insisted they send me a second updated SIM as it also corrected the issue when I used it on the Android phone.
They did send out another updated SIM (free) and now both phones have WIFI calling enabled.
Hi, Does Tello number work for text bank two verification?
Nelson, all good with us in this matter, everything should work fine, thanks!
Any two-step verification process will work just fine. You have a regular cell phone number (not a VOIP number) operating over the T-Mobile GSM network. The only difference is that you are charged and billed per your Tello phone plan.
Hi, extending the question, does this text verification work over WIFI Calling when abroad?
Victor,
If Wi-Fi calling is working for you while abroad and you’re receiving SMS, there should be no problem for you to get the texts for verification. Thanks!
Hi, I am not yet a Tello customer, but I have questions, I am a frequent traveler between the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Are there roaming charges when making and receiving cellular based calls within the USA, outside of my home area, Houston TX? Also,when I am using WiFI to make and receive calls and text messages in either Canada or Mexico, the ISP I would be using. would identify as being in a foreign country. Does the ISP’s location make any difference in the ability to make and receive calls using Tello over WI Fi?.
I think your plans and pricing are a fantastic value.
Maurice F,
Hi, Maurice, thanks for reaching out, glad you’re liking how Tello looks!
Here’s the thing, we don’t have roaming, so we couldn’t possibly talk about a charge for it.
Regarding the next aspects of your inquiry, if the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to allows Wi-Fi calls, you should be good, if not, there’s no way for us to control this.
Hope this helps, thanks!
Is there a charge for using an application like: WhatsApp.com or Telegram.org using my home network?
I live in Baltimore MD
Hi, Tony,
The answer is no, there are no extra charges for using those apps. Thanks!
I can confirm. I use Telegram and have made voice calls using the Call feature, while connected to wi-fi. There is no charge or data usage.
After over a week of not having phone service (starting with the day my phone service renewed for the month) and back and forth emails with Tello, my own research and troubleshooting, and one Tello chat later, my service has been fixed. It would have been nice if they listed in the multiple troubleshooting emails that I needed to log in to Tello and add my info for the E911 service then restart my phone. They claim their customer service is great, but it’s not. I’m so disappointed with Tello right now even though my problem has been fixed. My family and I have been Tello customers for a while now and I was *this close* to switching providers. They need to up their customer service game.
Dear Kate,
Thanks for trusting me and sharing your experience here as well.
After seeing your message, I’ve talked to my colleagues over at Customer Support and it seems like we did everything we could to help you. They’ve sent an email with troubleshooting steps and a follow-up asking if you were able to follow them. Did you get those?
Please know that we’re looking into your case, that these types of issues are a learning experience for our team as well, and we want to thank you for your patience and feedback.
Best,
Maria
Sorry for your experience, everyone can have a bad day once in a whileâor not be âupâ on the latest. My experience with Tello customer service has been good (admittedly limited). I may be calling again soon regarding weird drops as Airplane Mode occasionally turns on without notice during a phone call.
I just added an e911 address to my account. When I enable wi-fi calling on my Samsung Galaxy a10e, it keeps giving me a message “preferences update for wi-fi calling” or something like that, repeating the message over and over.
When I try to make a call, then it says “not registered on network”, and I can’t make any calls until I turn off wi-fi calling.
Is there something else I need to do here?
Hi, Nathan,
Thanks for the question.
Please check your phone’s settings and, if needed, contact our Customer Support team on this matter. Also, I’ve found this: https://piunikaweb.com/2020/11/14/heres-some-workarounds-for-the-t-mobile-samsung-galaxy-wi-fi-calling-preferences-updated-to-optimize-network-experience-notification-issue/. Maybe there’s something to it, thanks!
If i use a hotel’s wi-fi or my home wi-fi while on a Tello SIM, why are you deducting my data? I’m not using your service at all. Basically you’re just finding every possible way to squeeze my money.
Hi, Jane,
Thanks for bringing this up so I can clear the air.
“Squeeing money” out of people is no our MO. We’re more into providing great value without a premium price tag, letting people take control of their phone plans and so on.
This being said, please note that Wi-Fi Calling & Texting has no additional charge.
It’s simply taken from your existing plan balance or your Pay As You Go balance, whichever applies to the activity. Wi-Fi calling is great when you don’t have super strong signal or when travelling abroad and we’re so happy to offer this to our customers.
Have a great day!
Having WiFi calling is super useful.. It was working with me abroad just fine. But when I restarted my iPhone it just disappeared and still showing âNo Serviceâ .. I tried disable/enable WiFi calling, updated e911, restarted the iPhone but still not fixed
I am in Bolivia, I tried and fallow up the instructions on How to activate Wi-Fi Calling on my IPhone but still its not working
Hola, Fernando,
Please check to see if the Wi-Fi network you’re using allows for Wi-Fi Calling. Obviously, this is not within Tello’s control or responsibility. Thanks!
It seems wifi calling needs to be set up for the first time while connected to Tello’s cell network, which means from the USA. This doesn’t seem to work (first-time set up) while overseas because Tello does not offer international roaming. If you are first connected Tello’s network, the right menu options will appear on your phone for wifi calling setup.
I believe you are right with this. I have the same problem. I am trying to set up wifi calling for the first time while I am in Germany. Wifi calling is not displayed as an option under settings on my phone, although it is displayed for another SIM. I have a dual SIM phone and the other SIM is from a German carrier. I asked customer support, and I am surprised that they did not tell me what you are saying. I still believe this the reason for my problems.
In this forum a person from UK reported the same as I am observing.
What is the charge for a wifi call to B.C. Canada?
Wi-Fi Calling is offered for free and the calls and texts come out of your monthly allowance, as normal.
If youâre using Wi-Fi calling anywhere in the US, making and receiving calls via Wi-Fi costs the same as via the regular cellular network.
You can also use Wi-Fi Calling while abroad, on a local Wi-Fi connection. In this case, youâll be charged the same as if you were in the US using your regular plan minutes.
Hereâs another example for international calls aficionados: if you have a plan with minutes and also Pay as you Go balance, youâll be charged:
âȘ from your minutesâ balance, if you receive any calls (no matter where from) or if you call the US or any of the 60+ included international destinations â basically, youâll be skipping high international rates altogether in your case, since Canada is on the built-in destinations’ list.
Thanks!
Hi Maria,
I like to ask what difference does a supposedly “Free” Wifi Calling make when call minutes are still deducted from our monthly allowance? I ask because if I turn Wifi off and make a cellular tower call, minutes are properly taken from my monthly allowance.
So despite the fact that no additional costs/charges are incurred by Wifi calling, a Tello user’s minutes are still deducted from our accounts. Hence, one has to ask oneself is this truly “FREE?”
Granted I love what you guys do with your plans-account flexibility and customization options, but this is one area where minutes are deducted regardless of Wifi status.
Best regards,
Kvit
Hi, Kvit,
Sending love & appreciation back, we’re so grateful that you chose Tello.
Here’s some extra context if needed: instead of using your carrier’s network connection, your phone can make a voice call via a Wi-Fi network. It can be is especially useful when you’re in an area with weak coverage r when you’re traveling. While I can understand your concern, Wi-Fi Calling & Texting has no additional charge at Tello. It’s simply taken from your existing monthly plan balance or your Pay As You Go (PAYG) balance, whichever applies to the activity.
Hope this helps, thanks!
I live on the borderline between two T-Mobile cell towers and the cell signal here is pretty much unusable. I’ve been using the Tello app to make outgoing calls via Wi-Fi, and that has been working very well. I have two questions.
1. Are calls made via Wi-Fi secure enough to be safe for calling banks and government agencies (etc.), sending passwords to them, and for discussing sensitive personal information?
2. I’m using a Tello SIM that I bought on Amazon about six months ago. The option for Wi-Fi Calling does not show up in the Network & Internet settings on my Android phone. Thus, the only Wi-Fi calls I can make are outgoing Wi-Fi calls, made via the Tello app. If I get a new SIM, is it likely that I’d then have Wi-Fi Calling show up in the Network & Internet settings on my Android phone (thus allowing me to also receive calls via Wi-Fi)?
Ted, you’ve addressed some Bond-like issues here, I’ll do my best.
1. We don’t record or listen to our customers’ calls, but when they use Wi-Fi calling, please keep in mind that the calls connect via another network. If that one is secure and not public, it shouldn’t be a problem – and that concludes my super-spy knowledge.
2. WiFi calling showing up is not affected by the SIM. The device has to support WiFi calling. Unfortunately, if you can’t find that option in your device settings, it might be because your phone doesn’t have it.
Hope this helps, thanks!
In fact, even on unencrypted wifi networks the calls are secure, because the connections made for wifi calling are automatically encrypted with industry standard encryption.
My personal opinion is that nothing but a landline, wired computer, or WiFi through a VPN are good for sensitive calls. I do compromise with a cell-phone call occasionally, but realizing that I should limit that.
Hello,
I am currently in the UK. My phone does wi-fi calling with a UK sim. But when I put my Tello sim into the phone, wi-fi calling disappears from the settings menu. So the problem is not my phone or my wi-fi network. Any other ideas?
Hi, Nicholas,
Thanks for reaching out. Here’s the thing, this should not be a problem, so there must be something fishy. We need more details.
Please contact Tello’s Customer Support team again and let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this.
Fingers crossed,
M.
Does WiFi calling support natively receiving SMS text messages? I have two financial services that still use SMS for 2nd factor authentication (in spite of NIST recommending against SMS-based 2FA since 2016!), and I periodically have reception issues receiving the text messages. I’m curious if WiFi calling might help with this.
Yes, Wi-Fi can help with that – It shouldn’t be a problem, you’ll be able to receive SMS. Thanks!
Can you send and receive SMS Texts with WiFi Calling while you are Abroad? In the description it says you can make calls using the App, but its not clear if you can receive Text messages while abroad and on Wifi. (this is assuming that Yes, the country allows Wifi calling)
Dan, it’s a YES, of course. Wi-Fi allows calls & texts. Thanks!
Dear Tello,
I would have a simple plan for mostly being available in Europe (codes sent in text messages for authentication, or verification calls).
As I understand from the FAQ, I would need to activate the Wi-Fi call.
Please confirm that it will work for both voice and text messages as long as I am connected to a WiFi network.
Additional question: Besides of configuring the phone, I need to specify an address for E911. Can I give any address in the US while I am not there (family, friend)?
Thank you in advance!
Hi, Akos,
Thanks for writing.
– yes, Wi-Fi allows for both calls & texts
– you can add any address you wish to the 911 setting
Great day!
After reading this blog and the help, it’s my understanding that if I’m traveling abroad with a Tello SIM installed and WiFi Calling enabled, I would be able to make calls when WiFi is available. However, I don’t see anything about receiving calls. Will I receive calls made to my Tello number?
Since my phone has only a single SIM slot, I’d probably replace the Tello SIM with a local SIM. In that case I’d need to install the Tello app to make outgoing calls using Tello? And that doesn’t support receiving calls on my Tello number, correct?
Hello,
Yes, if you have you’re Tello SIM and Wi-Fi calling is enabled, you can receive calls.
If you use your local SIM, then it’s only possible via the My Tello app and for outgoing calls.
Thanks!
Nice that Wi-Fi calling has been added, but can someone explain why Wi-Fi calls are deducted from my plan’s minutes? Doesn’t make sense since Tello isn’t providing the service i.e. Wi-Fi here.
Hi, Cal,
Wi-Fi Calling is offered for free and the calls and texts come out of your monthly allowance.
If youâre using Wi-Fi calling anywhere in the US, making and receiving calls via Wi-Fi costs the same as via the regular cellular network.
You can also use Wi-Fi Calling while abroad, on a local Wi-Fi connection. In this case, youâll be charged the same as if you were in the US using your regular plan minutes.
Hereâs another example for international calls aficionados: if you have a plan with minutes and also Pay as you Go balance, youâll be charged:
âȘ from your minutesâ balance, if you receive any calls (no matter where from) or if you call the US or any of the 60+ included international destinations â basically, youâll be skipping high international rates altogether!
âȘ from Pay as you Go balance if you call international destinations that are not included in your plan, such as Egypt â the tiny rates come out of your Pay as you Go credit allowance.
Hello,
I’m currently in Austria, and my Tello sim card is not able to connect to any GSM network. I have enabled wifi calling, but I still can’t make any regular calls, only through the app. Also, no texts are coming in or going out. The phone does work when I insert a local sim card tho.
Any advise what to do?
Hi Borislav,
Since we don’t offer Roaming, the only option to call and to receive calls/texts while in Austria is Wi-Fi Calling.
You can use Wi-Fi Calling with Tello if the following conditions are met:
If all these are met and you still can’t make a call through Wi-Fi Calling, please email us and we’ll get back to you in a few hours. Or, if possible leave us a phone number where we can contact you and we’ll give you a call.
Hi !
What about Wifi-calling activation… Does Wifi-Calling need to be activated inside of the US before travelling abroad ?
Or let’s say it would be ok to use Tello sim inside of the US for regular phone calls but it would be ok to activate and use Wifi calling for the first time when I am already abroad ?
Hi Paul,
Good question! It’s not mandatory to activate and use Wi-Fi Calling for the first time while you are in the US. However, to make sure Wi-Fi Calling is properly working on your device, we recommend activating it before you travel abroad.
You can use Wi-Fi Calling with Tello if the following conditions are met:
Hope this helps, if not we are here for more details ;)
Any update on support for Visual Voicemail and 5G on iPhones?
Pawel,
Please contact our Customer Support Team and they’ll help you with these issues. 5G is not supported on iPhones yet, but in terms of Visual Voice Mail, we have you covered. It’s important to know all the details of why they are not working for you in order to solve the case, asap.
Thanks for reaching out & happy holidays!
Hi guys. Love the WiFi calling feature since I live where there is spotty coverage.
Small (sometimes big) problem with incoming texts and Voicemail while on the WiFi calling mode. All texts send out fine, but I don’t get group text replies if there is an Android phone in the group. iPhone iMessage (blue) group texts come in fine, but any SMS group text (green) does not come in. If I leave the house, turn off WiFi calling (turn on Cell Tower data), then all the SMS texts start rolling in.
Same problem on voicemails. They only show up on my visual VM if I’m on cell tower data. So if someone calls me while I’m on WiFi, I never get their VM until I leave the house and I’m on cell phone towers.
I’m using an iPhone SE with the current iOS 15.2
SMS texting is enabled on my Tello dashboard.
E911 is entered on my Tello dashboard.
Mobile carrier settings are current. (Asks me to update settings about every week.)
Hi, Lon,
So good that you’ve reached out. Please contact our Customer Support Team to further troubleshoot the issue and get to the bottom of this.
Thanks and fingers crossed!
Hi I tried to enable wifi calling from my Moto G7 Power but Everytime I do it gives me an error saying that it’s unable to connect even though I have a full connection on my phone. Can you please help me out with this?
Hi, John, please contact our Customer Support team and they’ll assist you with this issue, thanks!
Hi, I am travelling abroad and had my E911 address setup. But when I turned on my wifi call from Iphone SE2 (wifi calling was active before), a page directed me to T-mobile E911 set up, and no matter how many times I tried: 1) Wifi-call is not activated; 2) T-mobile E911 page pop up.
Hi, Tony,
Please follow up on the conversation you had with our Customer Support Team if you still have issues with this. Thanks!
I got a KG K51, because I thought it had wifi calling support. It supposedly has it for Verizon and T-Mobile, but there doesn’t seem to be any option to enable wifi calling on Tello network. I would really like this feature, is there any chance that Tello will support wifi calling on this phone in the future?
Hi, Caleb, thanks for writing.
Hm, this is tricky, because, on our side, there should be absolutely no problems with Wi-Fi. So please check to see if your device is unblocked. We have no possibility of influencing the phone’s capabilities. Hope it works out, great day!
What exactly do you mean by ‘unblocked’? I have the same phone, LG K51 and it’s not offering me the wifi calling option as I sit here in Canada connected to wifi.
Hi Ed, if your phone has the feature and these instructions are not helpful, please contact our Customer Support Team and inform them about your situation. They will gladly help, thanks!
I did all of the above and it still doesn’t work :/
Daniel, in this case, please contact our Customer Support Team and inform them about your situation. They will gladly help, thanks!
I am about to buy a Tello phone and I will want to be using it overseas. I have a mobile wifi. If I purchase a SIM card for use with an ISP in a foreign country and use that in the mobile wifi will I then be able to use my phone with the Tello SIM for calls, text, and internet connection as long as I maintain my Tello plan subscription? I would pay for data for internet connection with the foreign SIM account and for calls and texts using my Tello account. Is this correct? And another question. In the Tello plans, how is minutes of texting calculated? Is it that as long as the app is open you are counting minute?
Hi,
Wi-Fi Calling feature allows you to call & text via the closest available Wi-Fi network or even a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, it is important to check that the Wi-Fi network you are using allows for Wi-Fi Calling, which is not within Tello’s control or responsibility.
Wi-Fi Calling & Texting has no additional charge.
It’s simply taken from your existing monthly plan balance or your Pay As You Go (PAYG) balance, whichever applies to the activity. Note that calls are billed in increments of one minute, with fractions thereof rounded up to the next minute.
Hope this clears the air, thanks!
Thanks for the reply. I am just getting started with my new Tello phone and plan. It has 100 minutes of calls, but I see that after only one day I now have only 88 minutes left. I didn’t make or receive any phone calls, nor did I send or receive any texts. How would those 12 minutes get used up? Is it related to setting up the phone, or do I have to expect this to continue? Thanks for your help.
I already have this function activated but I am in the USA, soon I will travel to Europe (Italy, Spain and France). With Wificalling can I receive SMS from my USBANK or PayPal? Has anyone tried it in another country?
Hi, John, thanks for writing.
Thanks to Tello’s Wi-fi calling, this shouldn’t be a problem, it works just fine and you should receive texts.
I used my new Tello SIM happily and successfully on my phone from Sept-Dec 2021. But I did not try out the wifi during that time, because I didn’t need it. However, But now I am in the UK, so I would like to take advantage of the Tello wifi calling feature. I have followed all of the steps on this page. I have a GSM-compatible phone and have enabled wifi calling on my Tello SIM. I am near the wifi router. I have added an E911 number. My wifi allows wifi calling via WhatsApp, Zoom, and other apps. However, when I try to use the wifi calling via Tello, I see a message saying that there is no signal for Tello. What’s going wrong?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Fran, please send an email with this issue to my colleagues at Customer Support – https://tello.com/contact, thanks!
Lets say I’m in Canada and trying to use WiFi calling. Once I’m connected to WiFi and try to make a local call within Canada, it is considered as a call I make from the U.S to Canada and its basically free, correct ? (And thus these minutes are not counted against my plan as an international call)
Karthik,
Wi-Fi calling means you are connected to the Tello network through Wi-Fi instead of a cell tower.
However, you are still using the Tello cellular network and your calls still use minutes and so normal billing applies.Thanks!
WiFi calling stopped working. I am overseas and cannot make use of the service
Abdul, I’m told you got an email from my Customer Support colleagues, hope everything is sorted out, thanks!
Hello. I am a new customer, I am trying to set up the wifi calling. I have a Samsung Galaxy S9+ it does wifi calling feature. I have a plan with Tello, I also paid the “pay as you go” balance. I cannot get to work the wifi calling for answer and receive calls, either to send and receive sms… Can anyone help me? I also tried to check the APN configuration, but unfortunately, nothing happened and I am afraid the actual APN setting is wrong. Please, I really need your help. Thank you.
David, I’ve looked for your account based on your email address, but no luck, so please, contact our Customer Support and they’ll take it from here – https://tello.com/contact. Thanks!
I am planing to move to India my requirement is get unlimited text/SMS , can you please confirm which plan will work for me.
Anand, if you’re planning to move to India, please know that we do not currently provide Roaming on our GSM network – either domestically or internationally, so I’m not sure that Tello plans are the thing for you.
However, we do have 2 great alternatives for calling and texting when you are traveling abroad or simply in an area of poor coverage at home.
Wi-Fi Calling & Text
This is a feature available on the vast majority of Tello GSM-compatible phones and you can check your phone settings to confirm.
It allows for calling & texting via the closest available Wi-Fi network which could be at a hotel, your office, at home, or even a Wi-Fi hotspot.
If you have set up Wi-Fi Calling & Text correctly, it does not use up data from your Tello data plan, it just uses minutes from your calling & text plan as normal. You can read more details about Wi-Fi Calling in our blog article.
“My Tello” App
You also have the option of using our free “My Tello” app to make calls through Wi-Fi.
You can not receive calls via the App and texting is also not available via the App – it is only to make calls.
The “My Tello” app is free to download for iOS and Android users.
When calling from the Tello app in the USA using your own Data plan, the costs are higher than if you were using the regular Tello calling service because the App uses your Data allowance.
On average, the app uses 1 MB/min. Therefore, please use the App over a Wi-Fi connection if possible.
To make a call, simply dial the destination number from the keypad (always include country code) or choose from your phone “Contacts” tab (ensure the number is in international format).
I have the same question as this request, and tried using the method to enable WIFI calling from both my Android Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro, and my wife’s iphone 6+, both of them I cannot enable the Wifi Calling.
For my Poco F2 Pro, I cannot find the WiFi calling button to enable it from my Google dialer.
From my iphone, i found the Wifi calling button, but when i turn it on, it tells me to contact my service provider and will not enable me to turn it on.
Please help. It will be really wonderful if I can get call and text through Wifi calling and this for sure will be my permanent SIM card, and I am sure many of us who travels to USA a lot will love to have this service to stay connected with our friends and relatives in USA, and text messages necessitated by the banks.
Thanks,
Franklin
Hello & thanks for your patience!
I’ve talked to my colleagues over at the Customer Support department and it looks like they need to do some further digging.
If you’re still having trouble, please contact them and they’ll sort you out, thanks!
All the best!
Is there any limit on how much time I can keep the number outside US?
Does the number have to come back in US service zone to remain active?
It doesn’t matter where you’re located, so no, the number does not have to come back to the US to remain active.
The only thing that matters is that your Tello services (phone plan or Pay as You Go Credit) are still active.
If there are more than 10 days after your plan is no longer active or more than 90 days since your last PAYGO credit order, you’ll receive an email notification from us informing you that in 7 days your number will expire. Thanks!
I’ve been through the ringer with assistance from Tello and I still can’t place a phone(Moto E6) call using wifi in airplane mode with Tello. I even purchased a new phone in the hopes of it working as it did not with my older Moto G4 Play phone that DOES make Republic Wireless wifi calls in airplane mode. Yes, wifi calling is enabled and preferred. I modified all the network settings as suggested by Tello support. I dialed *#*#4636#*#* and yes it’s “wifi calling provisioned”.
So can ANY reader here actually place a phone call from wifi while in airplane mode with Tello, I’d like to know ?
If you can’t, I don’t see the point in advertising wifi calling being “fully supported” because it wouldn’t be. The whole point of airplane mode is to turn off the wireless receiver, but retain wifi capacity.
When I try to call a number I see a brief “radio off” message beneath the number, then pops of a notice to “turn off airplane mode or connect to a wireless network to make a call”. That’s a redundant statement, as turning off airplane mode DOES connect to a wireless network ! DuH. I’m just going round in circles here and frustrated that it won’t work.
Garth, I’ve tried searching by your email, but I couldn’t find much, so, in order to get to the bottom of this, please contact our Customer Support and let them know about the issue. Sorry I couldn’t be of much help. Great day!
I still can’t get wifi calling to work in airplane mode, and mu comment is not posting. Tello help has tried all it can do. I have new phone, up to date, no apps installed. Unlocked. Cell calls work. At home I speak on wifi exclusively, wifi calling is non-negotiable with the cell radio OFF. It works perfectly with my other phone with Republic. Please reply, somebody ?
Question…. Does anyone, or has anyone, in airplane mode, ever made a successful wifi call on Tello network ?
Garth, Tello’s Wi-Fi Calling works in airplane mode, but it all depends on your device specifications. Thanks!
I am in Portugal and cannot get the Wifi calling to work I am on a Google Pixel and in the settings it looks super easy; just say ‘yes’ to wifi calling. Cannot find any other settings. Can you help?
Michael, thanks for your patience.
You can use Wi-Fi Calling with Tello if the following conditions are met:
-your device supports Wi-Fi Calling which the majority of Tello GSM-compatible phones do.
-you have enabled Wi-Fi Calling on the device.
-you have registered an E911 address in your Tello online account
-the Wi-Fi network you are using allows Wi-Fi Calling. Obviously, this is not within Tello’s control or responsibility.
Make sure that the above steps are followed, especially the registered address. If you need assistance, please call our Customer Support anytime, thanks!
Hi,
How do i receive OTP messages or receive text messages when i travel abroad?
Thanks.
Sampath, that works with Wi-Fi Calling & text, thanks!
I can make a phone call with watsapp already if I have wifi abroad. Does the Tellos phone service work with the phone data abroad? can I surf the internet abroad using cellphone data not wifi? thank you
Hi Raquel,
Since we don’t offer Roaming, you won’t be able to use your cellular data when traveling abroad (no browsing, no Whatsapp, no YouTube etc). Also, you won’t be able to make/receive calls or texts. You will basically have NO service while traveling abroad.
You can call over WhatsApp from outside the US (or browse the internet) only if you are connected to a Wi-Fi Network.
The only way to receive or make calls/texts while abroad is by using Wi-Fi Calling. When referring to Wi-Fi Calling, we are talking about a feature offered by Tello. In order to use its advantages your phone needs to have the feature built-in (you can check your phone’s settings).
here is more info on Wi-Fi Calling and Texting: https://tello.com/help_center?qid=1163
Hope this helps ;)
Tello
Tello
I try to setup wifi calling g on my Samsung A51. Activated the future while I am abroad abd trying to make a call, but always same thing: You are not registered on the network.
It tries to use gsm not the wifi to make a call. What did I miss?
Hi Kamram,
There are a lot of things that you need to check. Here is more info on how to set Wi-Fi Calling: https://tello.com/help_center?qid=1163
Please send an email to our Customer Support if you still encounter issue, we’d love to help you with this: https://usmvno.keepcalling.net/contact
Hola si compro una lĂnea y la llevo a venezuela puedo recibir estando allĂĄ mensajes de texto del banco por ejemplo?
Hola Giovanni,
Actualmente no brindamos roaming en nuestra red GSM, ya sea a nivel nacional o internacional, tenemos 2 excelentes alternativas para llamar y enviar mensajes de texto cuando viaja al extranjero. Wi-Fi Calling and Texting es una funciĂłn disponible en la gran mayorĂa de los telĂ©fonos compatibles con Tello GSM y puede verificar la configuraciĂłn de su telĂ©fono para confirmar. Permite llamar y enviar mensajes de texto (enviar y recibir) a travĂ©s de la red Wi-Fi disponible de en un hotel, su oficina, su hogar o incluso un punto de acceso Wi-Fi. Si configurĂł las llamadas Wi-Fi correctamente, no usa datos de su plan de datos de Tello, solo usa minutos de su plan de llamadas normalmente.
Usando Wi-Fi Calling & Text en Venezuela, se pueden recibir cĂłdigos cortos y mensajes de autenticaciĂłn de dos factores (incluidos los cĂłdigos cortos de su banco) en su lĂnea Tello.
Tello
I have a Samsung S20+ 5G. Unfortunately, tello cell phone coverage is limited at my house, which is why Wifi calling would come in handy. Unfortunately, it only seems to work for outgoing calls. All incoming calls always go straight to voice mail. Is there a fix for this?
Hi Carl,
There are a handful of settings you need to check in order to make sure everything is working properly.
Here is some useful info on how to set Wi-Fi Calling: https://tello.com/help_center?qid=1163.
Of course, if this doesn’t help please contact our Customer Support, they are available 24/7: https://tello.com/contact
If I travel abroad and buy a local eSIM for data and install it on my dual SIM phone, and set the local SIM as the default for data only, but leave the default for calls and texts to the Tello SIM, and set up my phone for WiFi calling (which works right now), will the Tello SIM be able to work with the installed local data SIM to allow me to get calls and texts on my Tello number? Or is it required for me to connect to an external WiFi connection to get the Tello SIM to work abroad?
Hi Margaret,
Wi-Fi Calling only works with a Wi-Fi connection, so it won’t work with the data provided by the local SIM.
Thanks. So, does Tello have plans to solve that situation soon? As dual sim is so popular now, and some of us living abroad need a solution such as tello and we get internet from the local sim card we buy abroad, I think it would be A HIT if you do so. Any plans? Timeline? Thanks
Hi Rafael,
Unfortunately, I can’t say this will happen any time soon. The Wi-Fi Calling feature is meant to work with the Wi-Fi network, therefore we can’t provide any timeline on when this will change.
Hi, Tello. Some phones, like iPhones, can take the data connection from other SIM inserted in them while Tello SIM has Wi-Fi calling feature enabled. It is wonderful!. Read about it, here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044 and https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253660132
Regards :D
Do I need to turn on Roaming in under my Tello SIM settings in order for Wi-Fi calling to work? I’m on Android Pixel 6 and trying to receive SMS.
Hi Taylor, No. You don’t need to turn on Roaming. Here are the steps for Wi-Fi Calling & texting: https://tello.com/help_center?qid=1163.
If you still need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Support team: https://tello.com/contact
I am working abroad at the moment and would like to know if the Telco SIM be activated abroad via
the roaming network or WiFi calling & texting network?
Hi Bruce,
Unfortunately you will not be able to activate the SIM if you live abroad. You need to be in the Coverage area. Sorry!
While roaming abroad, if I have access to mobile network data via my second sim (non-tello) in my dual sim mobile phone, if I do not have wifi connected, can I still access tello network and do regular calls?
Hi PK,
Unfortunately no, you won’t be able to access the network, make/receive calls if you are not connected to Wi-Fi.
While in Japan, I will rent a portable device âpocket WiFIâ that I will connect to my iPhone 13 Pro. My iPhone uses a Tello eSIM, but maybe thatâs not relevant. The point is that I will make Voice calls and use data while connected to the âpocket WiFIâ device, which is really a router, keeping my same U.S.A. Tello phone number. Question- while inside Japan, this arrangement, placing and receiving voice calls and using data over any Wifi connection is Free, correct?.
Hi Robert,
Yes, there is not extra charge for Wi-Fi Calling.
The minutes/texts used will be deducted from your plan balance. If you have a plan with unlimited calls/texts then you have nothing to worry about.
I was under the impression that wifi calling worked like data, so that when connected to wifi vs mobile it doesn’t use plan data or minutes. I turned airplane mode on and then wifi and made wifi phone calls, but later I saw the minutes deducted from my plan, which isn’t unlimited. Is there a way to avoid being charged minutes when not using the mobile network?
Hi Timmy,
Unfortunately not, even if you use Wi-Fi Calling the minutes will still be deducted from your plan balance.
There’s no way to go around this.
On wifi calling I can make a call but I can’t receive a call it goes to voicemail directly, please help
Hi Sami,
Please contact our Customer Support team, I am sure they will be able to fix it asap.
I’m currently in the US using my Tello phone line and it works great for Calling and Texting but I will soon be heading out of the country, I noticed that on the Tello App there’s only the option for calling which I can use with a WiFi connection but I don’t see an option to receive text message (on the app) can I simply send a regular text message (outside the app) and it will go through?… and same for receiving SMS?… is that how it works when it comes to SMS?
Hi Enrique,
Since we don’t offer any Roaming, the only option to make/receive calls and texts while you travel is through WiFi Calling & Texting, but you will need to be connected to a WiFi connection at all times.
That works for me, thank you!!
When I am in China, I have enabled wireless LAN calls and VoLte, but I do not see any signal display, nor can I make calls or receive SMS messages.
Hi there,
Sorry to hear this. If you followed all the instructions listed here and it still does not work, then please contact our Customer Support team (email/chat) and I am sure they will be able to assist you.
Unlike Tello APP calling, the Tello WiFi calling allows me to both make outgoing calls and answer incoming calls, correct?
While abroad if I connect my phone to WiFiâŠCan I receive text and OTPs?
Hi Nagendra, yes! Only while connected to Wi-Fi and having all the settings enabled for Wi-Fi Calling ;)
I have the wifi calling, or not.
Why would it be that I cannot receive incoming calls when I am out and about ? All calls go to voice mail. When in the phone I turn off wifi calling, then I get the calls fine.
Got a Google 3A phone on Tello
Hi Sam, this sounds like an issue our Customer Support should look into. Please contact them at: +1-866-377-0294 and I am sure they will be able to help.
I am not able to receive text messages abroad …… What should I do ?
Hi Mario,
Sorry to hear this! This sounds like an issue our Customer Support should look into. Please contact them at +1-866-377-0294 and I am sure they will be able to help.
Can I receive verification codes via text for two factor verifications using wifi calling? Is the service voip?
Hi Mike
You can receive verification codes with Wi-Fi Calling, but you need to make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi when you’re expecting the SMS.
Hello , i installed eSIM in my device and i’m currently in france and i tried to use wifi calling and texting , but it dose’t work , is it possible with eSIM ?
Hi Ben,
Here are a few instructions on how to set Wi-Fi Calling: https://tello.com/help_center/how-can-i-use-wi-fi-calling?_language=en
If you still need help, send us an email and our Customer Support team will get back to you asap: https://tello.com/contact
Can I use home WIFi and whatsapp to call anyone on whatsapp?
Will it reduce from my Tello minutes?
Hi Ishwar, sure you can.
As long as you make a call through Whatsapp you only use Data. If you are connected to a Wi-Fi Network then you won’t be charged from your plan balance: neither minutes nor data.
Hi! My family and I just returned from Scotland, U.K. My son and I both have Pixel 3 with Tello sims and WiFi calling enabled on our phones. We could each text each other over WiFi, but when we tried to phone each other over WiFi, we would get messages saying that we needed to have a PayAsYouGo balance in order to complete the call, which is not what I understood from reading on your web site about using Tello phones over WiFi in other countries. Any thoughts?
Hi Peter,
Thanks for notifying us about this. We can see that you have minutes included in your Plan so you should be able to use Wi-Fi Calling for calls. However, to be able to help you with the issue, we will need more details.
Our Customer Support agents will contact you right away as you need to help us troubleshoot the situation.
Thank you for your patience!
Hello. Since the roaming isnât supported, I was looking for ways to be able to use my tello number to text and call with people in the United States while iâm in Azerbaijan. Is wi-fi calling and texting supported in Azerbaijan. If not, what can I do?
Hi Rashid,
Yes, you can use Wi-Fi Calling as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi network and you have the following settings activated. Please check here some more info on Wi-Fi Calling & texting.
I used to be able to receive calls/texts even while I’m in Ecuador. Now I can’t seem to receive simple verification texts either over WiFi or over the mobile network. This used to work in Mexico as well as Ecuador, and I could use my Tello number for verification codes. For some reason I am no longer able to receive these verification messages which I desperately need to be able to do for my bank accounts, and other applications that need to be verified through a phone number. What changed, or what settings do I need to get set up in order to receive verification messages again? This is causing me a multitude of serious issues. Please help me fix this or tell me why exactly things changed.
Hi David,
You shouldn’t have any issue using Wi-Fi Calling, nothing changed on our side.
Here is some useful info on how to check if all the settings are done correctly. Also, you can contact our Customer Support team by email/chat to get the assistance needed.
Please let us know if we can help with anything else.
Hi David, I have the same situation like you described: I cannot receive bank verification code while overseas. Did you mange to be able to resolve the problem? Any tips? Thanks.
I am in Europe for the summer. I followed the instructions, registered an E911 address and switched the Wi-Fi Calling to ON.
When I try to make a call I get the following message:
Your phone is not registered on a network, so you can only make emergency calls.
What am I missing?
Hi Svetlana,
Sorry to hear this. Here are some instructions on how to set up Wi-Fi Calling, if you need extra assistance you can always contact our Customer Support team by chat or email.
Hello, I am planning to spend a few months outside US. I’m not a very technical person :(
Could you please confirm the following? if I’m using Tello and have wi-fi activated:
a) I can make and receive phone calls and basic text
b) If I’m connected to the internet, I can still use whatsapp and other messaging systems
Could you please confirm if the above is correct?
Thank you SO much:)
Hi David,
First of all, if you want to use Tello while traveling abroad you need to activate Wi-Fi Calling (not just have Wi-Fi ON).
Here’s more info on how to set up Wi-Fi Calling & Texting.
Also, here are the answers to your questions:
a) you can make and receive calls/texts while you are connected to a Wi-Fi network and all your Wi-Fi Calling settings are done
b)Tello data won;t work abroad, but when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network you will be able to use WhatsApp, browse the internet etc (using a Wi-Fi network is independent from using your Tello service).
Hope this helps ;)
Hello,
WiFi calling seems a very handy advantage.
I wonder if wifi calling has to necessarily go through wifi internet. If I have a second sim on my phone (and my phone is iPhone 14 that supports dual sim) can the mobile data from the second sim support wifi calling of Tello Mobile?
This is maybe especially helpful when outside USA.
Thank you
Hi Hayk,
Unfortunately previous tests showed us that having mobile data enabled on the same device, but with a different SIM card, will not trigger the Wi-Fi Calling functionality.
We advise you to connect to a standard Wi-Fi connection when traveling outside USA in order to enjoy the benefits of Wi-Fi Calling & Texting.
Hello,
I followed the instructions and all seems to work, but it Wifi calling keeps turning off on my phone. I use an iPhone SE.
El
I am astounded that you charge via plan minutes or international pay-as-you-go rates for wifi calling! When the calls are routed over wifi, why should you charge those calls at all? Better to use Skype then!
Hi! Does using Data while connected to WiFi count against my data plan? Thank you! </:-)
Hi Steve, no! While connected to Wi-Fi you are using that network’s data not your 4G/3G LTE data.
Hi!. If all conditions to enable are meet for wifi calling, will it works in any country when going overseas? For example in all countries in Latin America ??
Hi Leo,
Other than the limitations imposed by certain countries that do not allow Wi-Fi Calling (e.g. Cuba), there shouldn’t be any issue.
I just switched to eSIM (trying this cool new feature on my new Samsung phone), still have the previous physical sim (which was working fine); can’t I just switch to this (old physical) SIM when I want to. Was trying the eSIM feature, but now it says if I want to go back to physical sim, have to buy a new one!! ? Should it not have said that prior to me trying this out in the wizard!
Hi there M S,
If you would like to go back to your physical SIM card, you will need to Contact our Customer Support Team. Once you activated the eSIM, the physical SIM card became inactive, therefore, it cannot be used, unless it’s reactivated from our side.
Therefore, if you would like to go with the physical SIM card again, feel free to contact our Customer Support Team, they are available 24/7!
Do you intend to introduce Intl roaming, and what is the timeline, if any?
Unfortunately, we do not have any official information about international roaming, we can just say that we are working on it.
In the meantime, you can use our Wi-Fi calling feature to make/ receive calls and send/ receive text messages when you’re taveling outside the US.
We appreciate your understanding.
Do I need to activate wifi calling within tello network? I cannot find the wifi calling setting for tello. But it’s right there for the sim card from my local service provider.
Hi there!
Please be advised that firstly, you will need to set up the Wi-Fi calling from your online account – Go to My Settings – Go to Wi-Fi calling – Edit your E911 Address. Once it done, restart your phone and afterwards the Wi-Fi calling option for Tello should be there. If you will still encounter any issues, feel free to contact our Customer Support Team available 24/7.
My question/answer to/from Motorola in regard to my MOTO G PLAY 2023 phone (in the list of Tello’s suggested phones)
From Pier to Motorola:
I have completed my Forum Profile. I know also that Tello, my carrier, supports WI-FI Calling on several phones. Why Tello should not support this feature on my Motorola Moto G Play 2023 that according to Amazon support WI-FI Calling?
I would appreciate any help you can give me on this issue
Piero Bassi
From Motorola to Pier:
Thank you for taking the time to post. This device has been designed to support WiFi Calling. However, according to the phone specifications page: Tello under Other MVNOs on TMO network only supports VoLTE and does not include WiFi Calling. Please note that our devices will only support Wi-Fi Calling on carriers that choose to support that feature. Carriers require certification for phones to get Wi-Fi Calling or any other IMS service. (VoLTE, VoWiFi, etc). If the carrier does not certify a device on their network, then the phone will not get Wi-Fi Calling regardless of whether it matches every spec required from a hardware standpoint. I would suggest contacting your carrier regarding this concern.
Regards,
Elle
Motorola Support
I am traveling to India next month.
Please answer Yes/No.
Can I use Tello’s WiFi calling to call home to the US using Wi-Fi from my sister’s flat in Mumbai?
If YES, what sort of Tello service features and SIM card should I buy?
Hi there Naren,
The answer is Yes!
You can use your Tello service to make/ receive calls using Wi-Fi calling, you can also send/ receive SMSes.
You can get the physical SIM card or the eSIM – both will work just fine.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team if you need any assistance setting up your Wi-Fi calling.
I have did all the procedures described in the article, but still can’t recieve calls or texts on my Samsung Fold4 while in Ukraine.
We kindly ask you to contact our Customer Support Team for further assistance.
Alternatively:
1. Please make sure your software is up to date.
2. Make sure the E911 Address is updated.
3. Make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled on your device.
4. A restart of the device might help after settings up the E911 address.
There can be multiple reasons why it’s not working for the moment, but we are confident that our CS team can help you further.
We appreciate your understanding!
Hello, so If I am abroad and I get a message to my us number with Tello, but I don’t have wifi at that moment, does it work if my cell has data from my local network? Thanks
This feature largely depends on your device.
Certain devices permit Wi-Fi calling using local data. For more details, you can refer to the following link: Your Ultimate Wi-Fi Calling Guide.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team for more information on how it works and how you can enable the Wi-Fi calling using your local provider’s data.
Hey, doesn’t work wifi calling on my iphone 11, i have wrote my address 911, but it still doesn’t work :( says: To allow WI-FI calling on this account, contact Carrier
We kindly ask you to contact our Customer Support Team in this case.
They are available 24/7 and we are confident they’ll find a fix.
Hello and thank you for adding a great feature!
Can i activate Wi-Fi calling while abroad ? without first activating on tellos network in the US ?
Sure thing!
You can activate Wi-Fi calling from abroad as well. If you’ll encounter any issues or if you require more information in regards to the process, feel free to contact our 24/7 Customer Support Team.
Note when you use wifi calling, you still get charged for Tello call minutes.
You can also use calling apps like Signal, Telegram, etc, which also use WIFI or DATA, but don’t use ‘call minutes.’
They will work IF the person you’re calling is on Telegram, etc.
I’m a cliente abroad in Germany, I can call using myTello app, but I can’t receive or send sms or calls using my Pixel 6. For example, to make a call Im not able to select the yellow eSim because my phone says it doesn’t have signal, please help.
Luis, we kindly ask you to contact our Customer Support Team. They are available 24/7.
Most probably, you need to set up the Wi-Fi calling on your Tello service.
To set up Wi-Fi Calling & Text, which is available on capable Android & iOS devices, you first need to add your E911 address on your Tello account;
(This set-up is not available on the “My Tello” App).
1. Go to the My Settings section of your online account
https://tello.com/account/my_settings
2. Under the “Wi-Fi Calling” section, click “Edit” below Emergency E911 Address.
3. Fill in your address and click on Save.
4. Now go to your phone’s settings and make sure that Wi-Fi calling is enabled.
On iPhones:
– Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling > Toggle ON Wi-Fi Calling.
– Tap Update Emergency Address.
– Enter your E911 address and tap Save.
On Androids:
Go to Home screen > Phone icon > Tap on the Menu (the three dots on the top right corner) > Settings > Wi-Fi calling > Toggle ON Wi-Fi Calling
For detailed Wi-Fi Calling & Text info see our blog at;
https://blog.tello.com/news/wi-fi-calling-is-now-fully-supported-by-tello-mobile/
Hmm, their WiFi calling doesn’t really work reliably.
I signed up for the Tello service ONLY in hopes of receiving text messages for my US phone number while traveling abroad. Unfortunately most of the (dumb) services like Coinbase, or banks in the US want to use your US phone number for their 2FA. (Yes, they have no idea of what SIM-swapping is. đ€Šââïž) So you can’t use Google Voice, or other VoIP services with them because they won’t accept it. Thus, I needed some service that supports WiFi calling and doesn’t rely on the cellular network.
I am using Tello sim card in my iPhone 13 Pro Max, which should be compatible. While flying to a country in Africa, I tried sending and receiving a text message using WiFi calling and an airport WiFi in Amsterdam. It worked. But when I landed in my destination country and tried it in an AirBnb, using their WiFi on the same iPhone. It didn’t work. There was no error message, and text messages were just disappearing into a black hole.
After a lot of pointless back and forth with the Tello customer support, I decided to try to connect my iPhone to my home Synology router via VPN and then to try to send and receive text messages that way. And it worked! It was uber inconvenient, but I was able to receive and send messages.
Unfortunately though, it stopped working shortly after.
My uneducated guess is that their WiFi calling works, unless the ISP, or anyone else, blocks the ports, or someone on the trace-route blocks the originating IP where you are connecting from. This may explain why it worked with my US home IP and then stopped (because the dynamic IP on my home router changed.)
The bottom line, is that their WiFi calling is VERY unreliable! So don’t expect it to work everywhere.
PS. If anyone figures out how to resolve the blocked IP issue, please let me know.
Indeed. You’re right. We also mentioned this in other blogs such as this one: https://blog.tello.com/news/your-ultimate-wi-fi-calling-guide-tips-tricks-from-tello/ – “There are countries where the ISP (Internet Service Provider) can block the traffic for Wi-Fi Calling. In this case, we suggest you contact the ISP.”
Our Wi-Fi calling should work fine as long as there are no blocks on the operator’s side.
The only E911 address I can add is in the United States, there is no option for any other country. Because of this Wi-Fi calling is disabled on my phone in the United Kingdom, and there is no “roaming”. So how are you meant to receive calls?
Feel free to add any E911 address from the US.
Maybe you have a friend/ relative or it can be any address.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team available 24/7. We are confident they can further assist you with this matter.
Hi
my phone does not let me use the wifi calling it is giving me the error message:
wifi calling is not available (error code:82) ER082- unable to connect or generic error message
please if someone can help me
Nathan
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team available 24/7.
We are confident they can assist you with the issue.
I noticed when I use WhatsApp to make call, Tello still deducts my call minutes from my allowance, is WhatsApp call considered Wi-Fi call by Tello?
No. WhatsApp should not be counted towards your Tello minutes. We kindly ask you to contact our Customer Support Team and provide the necessary screenshots in order to see if the balance is indeed deducted from your Whatsapp calls.
Tello supports wifi calling etc. But how do I know? Other Network Operators have a phone icon with a network symbol on the keypad or one sees wifi calling on top of the screen. Does anyone know how you can find out?
All you need to do is enable your Wi-Fi calling from your device and make sure you have the E911 address set up on your account.
If you have a Tello service and you check both these requirements, you’ll be able to see it on top of your screen – Wi-Fi calling – Tello.
I signed up yesterday and activated eSim from outside of the US. Wi-Fi calling works fine and I can receive text messages just fine as well, however, I cannot send text messages. I can’t even reply to the text messages I received. When I try sending text, the phone (Android btw) shows ’emergency calls only’ Can anybody please help?
Please be advised that if you’re trying to send MMS messages will not work, those require data.
If you’re trying to send normal text, as long as you’re connected to the Wi-Fi, it should work.
Please try to enable/ disable RCS messaging as well, this might help.
To disable RCS, the customers should follow these steps:
– Open your Messages app.
– Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
– Tap Settings.
– Tap Chat features.
– Toggle off Enable chat features.
Edit: I can make calls using Tello App only. Calling does not work using the phone’s embedded basic calling app. So basically, I can receive calls and texts fine but outgoing calls and text does not work (same error message for both “Emergency Calls Only”. Making calls only works using Tello App.
Feel free to contact our 24/7 Customer Support for further assistance. You might need to set up the Wi-Fi calling again.
I tried calling 1-866-377-0294 and the recording said no one is available and leave message.
Please be advised that our Customer Support Team is available 24/7 via chat, email or phone. We kindly ask you to try contacting our Team again.
My phone keep on No Service howâd I turn that on?
We kindly ask you to contact our 24/7 Customer Support Team for further assistance.
Is it possible to use the hotspot on my local sim for wi-fi calls and texts using the Tello esim on the same phone at the same time
Sure thing.
One mention: you do not need to enable hotspot to make your Tello service work. You just need to have mobile data enabled and if your phone is capable, you’ll get the Tello service for calls and text.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team in order to enable this feature on your device.
Why canât the SMS I send to a Chinese number be received?
Please check this with our Customer Support Team available 24/7.
Please be advised that some operators might block foreign numbers. Therefore, they cannot receive SMSes from international numbers.
I’m looking into buying a Tello eSIM since I live in Argentina and I need a US phone number for my US bank. I want to be sure that I can activate the eSim (and wi-fi calling) from outside of the US. I have an iPhone 14 pro max. Thank you!
We can confirm that Wi-Fi calling will work with an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The eSIM is very easy to install.
If you need assistance, our Customer Support Team is available 24/7.
Hi, Iâm currently in Italy but need to receive txt message from my US bank or OTP to a US number, your basic 100 mins free text for 6$ could be all I need? Donât really need to make calls, just receiving text. I understand it would only work via wi-fi calling but will I be charged for the text message I receive (if I am on the plan I mention above?). I am asking as I keep reading that youâll be charged according to the plan⊠does it mean I have unlimited text while abroad (receiving and se ding?) thanks!
Hi there!
Please be advised that you need the minimum plan, which is $5/ mo – 100 minutes and unlimited text. As long as you have Wi-Fi calling enabled you can send/ receive messages (OTPs and 2FAs included) and make/ receive calls.
We also have now international roaming which doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection. You can just purchase Pay As You Go credit and you will have service in Italy. The cost is 1cent/ minute/ message.
Thank you for your suggestion. If I get the minimum plan (5$) the unlimited text on wi-fi is free or each text I receive is somehow deducted from the 100 mins? Also Iâd like to port my current number, but itâs a work phone and I donât know how I could transition it to Tello⊠do I need to get a new number first?
The $5 plan contains either 1GB of data or 100 minutes, depending on what you need. Each plan includes unlimited minutes.
You can transfer your phone number after you activate a new line with Tello. The process can take from 2 minutes to 2 business days, depending on the information you provide.
Feel free to contact our Customer Support Team for further guidance.
I just setup my eSIM and can make outgoing calls to US (from Europe). However, I can not receive any call or text message from US. I asked couple of my friends to give me a ring and send a text… nothing comes through. What could be the reason?
SInce I can make outgoing calls and the call minutes are also getting correctly deducted from my account, I think the eSIM account is correctly setup. I have also set E911 address. So not sure what Im missing. Please help. Thanks!
Please contact oru Customer Support TEam for further assistance.
We are confident they can help you.
Also, please check if you do not have the “Do Not Disturb” button enabled.
Hello!
I recently purchased an eSIM from abroad. I’m not in the US, but I need to receive a text message on a US number. However, I can’t enable Wi-Fi Calling. I’ve updated my 911 information with my US address, but my phone still says I must contact the carrier to enable Wi-Fi Calling. So, here I am reaching out! Please help.
Hi there!
In this case we kindly ask you to contact our Customer Support Team available 24/7.
You can try to update your software of the device, you can try to reset the network settings, but our Customer Support Team will let you know exactly what you need to do.