T-Mobile USA, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back activations for Non-VoLTE phones

D_G wrote:

Although there isn't a date for the shutdown, it's rumored to be on December 31, 2022. The activation block started happening in mid-2021 so why did you guys do this?

The 2G network won't shut down on Dec 31 2022 because that was rumored and set by T-Mobile back in February of 2021, and they changed their minds on a date set and don't have one now. Dec 31 2022, that is waaaayyyyyy too early now and T-Mobile would have kept the Dec 31 2022 shutdown date in their network evolution page if that were to really happen. T-Mobile knows that so many M2M machines require the use of 2G especially since they shut down 3G and all of those 3G modules can downgrade to 2G. Some areas now receive better 2G service after the 3G sunset.

T-Mobile PLEASE DO NOT SHUT DOWN 2G EVER!!!!! ALSO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ALLOW ACTIVATIONS FOR NON-VOLTE DEVICES AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Yep, 100%. This would be amazing. Seriously, this would be great! Plus, I think T-Mobile would be the only one offering this right now, and that would make them super unique and likely bring in thousands of new customers (yes, literally thousands). The number of folks out there who are interested in dumb phones and older phones is growing. This isn't to compete with smart phones; smart phones are in a league of their own, and that's ok. But this is something unique that can't truly be replicated on a 4g LTE flip phone or modern candy bar device. This is different. I do seriously hope T-Mobile listens to us. Come on, T-Mobile! Please…? 🌷

cappuccino.hermit wrote:

Yep, 100%. This would be amazing. Seriously, this would be great! Plus, I think T-Mobile would be the only one offering this right now, and that would make them super unique and likely bring in thousands of new customers (yes, literally thousands).

 

The number of folks out there who are interested in dumb phones and older phones is growing. This isn't to compete with smart phones; smart phones are in a league of their own, and that's ok.

 

But this is something unique that can't truly be replicated on a 4g LTE flip phone or modern candy bar device. This is different. I do seriously hope T-Mobile listens to us. Come on, T-Mobile! Please…? 🌷

EXACTLY!!!!!!!! T-Mobile will LITERALLY get thousands more customers if they start adding 64k support to SIM cards again. There are already 100s of thousands in the country accessing 2G network but there will be thousands more coming to T-Mobile that will access the 2G network including me, and once 2G support will be added again! I will then come and activate all my phones within a heartbeat!

To be honest, while I am not against 5G, and I in fact would like to try 5G by T-Mobile since I heard it’s pretty good, but I hate to be forced to us it, and I would like be able to have the freedoms to use my old Nokia 3390s, 5190, and my Nokia 3395 too.

Also, there is seriously nothing unique about these big button 4GLTE phones that young people like us and many elderly that currently don't have a mobile phone are forced to activate since ALL Non-VoLTE activations are blocked. I mean, these monochrome Nokia phones I have are all so unique to me, and that is extremely sad in my opinion that since 2G is a digital network and T-Mobile has yet switch it off for M2M and IoT, so why not we as new customers have the rights to activate and use these phones too? T-Mobile, PLEASE listen to us! You guys have potential customers and money if you guys are looking for that?!

Edit: Also, PLEASE T-MOBILE, BRING BACK 32K SUPPORT AS WELL for the vintage early 1990s GSM phones to also be able to latch on the network!

Dear T Mobile USA,
I'm not happy that T Mobile shutdown, retired, decommissioned, or sunsetted their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022 because I want to use Classic BlackBerry phones and Non-VOLTE phones or older phones on the T Mobile network. It's disappointing that T Mobile shutdown, retired, decommissioned, or sunsetted their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022 because I want to use the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10, and Samsung Galaxy S4 on the T Mobile network. I'm disappointed that T Mobile shutdown, retired, decommissioned, or sunsetted their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022 because I want to activate or transfer my service on the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10, and Samsung Galaxy S4 on the T Mobile network. T-Mobile USA, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back activations for Non-VoLTE phones. T-Mobile, PLEASE BRING BACK ACTIVATIONS FOR NON-VOLTE DEVICES!!!!!!! There are many people in this country that want to use their older 2G- as well 3G capable phones along-side their LTE or 5G capable devices, and that is including me! I want to state that it is very bother some when I want to use my T-Mobile branded BlackBerry Z10 STL100-3, BlackBerry Q10 SQN100-5, and Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-M919 that they keep disconnecting with modern SIM cards I activate! It is very greedy of T-Mobile to do this to block new customers from using not just 2G devices, but also older 4G LTE smartphones or older 4G LTE devices such as:

BlackBerry Z10

BlackBerry Q10

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Apple iPhone 5S

Apple iPhone 5C

Apple iPhone 5

And many more early Non-Voice HD LTE devices that are kind of rendered useless because of this forced VoLTE that new SIM cards are programmed on. ALSO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ALLOW ACTIVATIONS FOR NON-VOLTE DEVICES AGAIN!!!!!!!! New customers too when allowing activations for Non-VoLTE phones will happen again.

I would like T Mobile to bring back BlackBerry and 3G to continue to support Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, and older phones or 3G because I want to activate, transfer my service, or use the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10, and Samsung Galaxy S4 on the T Mobile network. I would like BlackBerry to continue to support their own phones like the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Classic BlackBerry phones, BlackBerry OS, and BlackBerry 10. I would like BlackBerry services and 3G services to be available for T Mobile customers because I like Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, or older phones. I like Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, and older phones because it's my preference. I like the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry Q10, and Samsung Galaxy S4 because it's my own preference. I'm not against 5G, 4G, Voice Over LTE, and Extended Range LTE because I like 3G. I miss BlackBerry and 3G because I want to activate, transfer my service, or use my old phones on the T Mobile network. I would like BlackBerry services and 3G services to be available for T Mobile customers because I like Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, or older phones. Please send my feedback and recommendations to technical support team, your supervisor, Mike Sievert, Neville Ray, Peter Osvaldik, Mattias Eriksson, John Chen, Charles Eagan, Steve Rai, engineers, technicians, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for T Mobile customers. Please consider my advice.

Thanks, Irteza

davidlikes2g wrote:

I will be suing so much if 2G really does get shut down because 2G needs to stay to keep existing and new customers happy (new customers too when allowing activations for Non-VoLTE will happen again).

New customers on 2G ?  While I did enjoy the extra range that 2G offers (even over LTE 600) , it, like CDMA and even iDEN has hit the end of its road.  Time to move to more modern infra.   RIP GSM.

Yes! T-Mobile is the last GSM network in the US that still supports 2G. It makes no sense for them to block 2G activations because if they allow them then people can use the phones they want and T-Mobile can get more customers. Although there isn't a date for the shutdown, it's rumored to be on December 31, 2022. The activation block started happening in mid-2021 so why did you guys do this?

I will be suing so much if 2G really does get shut down because 2G needs to stay to keep existing and new customers happy (new customers too when allowing activations for Non-VoLTE will happen again).

Amen! I hear ya. This would be an amazing thing, would change everything for thousands of people, and make T-Mobile truly unique. They could make a lot of money, too, improve their reputation, and allow antique 2g phone users to actually use their phones as phones. I know the signal's still "on". All they would have to do is allow us to latch on, officially, and charge us for it. I see that as a win-win.

T-Mobile MVNOs (like US Mobile) used to work, and sometimes, for some people, they still do. This depends on whether or not T-Mobile kicks the device off of the tower, though. If T-Mobile is like "nope, sorry", you're booted down to "Emergency" mode, and can only call 911. So… I really hope they allow this, make a big deal out of it, and invite all the old-school phone enthusiasts back on! That would rock. They'd definitely win me as a customer. Especially with low /cheap, talk-text only plans. 👍🏻

T Mobile shutting down, retiring, decommissioning, or sunsetting their own 3G UMTS network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry no longer supporting their own phones/Classic BlackBerry phones on January 4, 2022 is bad news for everyone/T Mobile customers. I like Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, and older phones because it's my own preference.

DruW wrote:

First off -- I HATE having my time wasted -- typing in a texted code (despise it) when not everything NEEDS to be THAT secure. (just ask for my dog’s name).

I didn’t apparently adequately describe my issue(s) with -- “Activating a bring your own device”.

My present -- current -- ancient TM phone (Note 3) to which I just added $300 in the TM account -- is NOT FULLY compatible with the NEW (greedy, selfish) LTE requirements

-- Extended LTE

-- VoLTE

and does not have them -- but works on the TM network without them.

So, could MANY (many) other devices -- as mentioned above. I just bought a new (used) Samsung Xcover Field Pro -- way, way, way better than my ancient Note 3 -- and cannot use it on the TM network -- for not having -- 

-- Extended LTE

-- VoLTE

My present phone does not have (nor do I need or am willing to pay for).

SO, if this isn’t about -- selfish TM greed (and throwing older phones in the pacific ocean) -- why not let new “Bring your own phones” operate using that part of the TM networks -- that works -- and still produces revenue (like my $600 per year)?

My question should be -- Are there any work-arounds in firmware or other “patches” to make these perfectly good phones (not yet in the Pacific Ocean) work on the TM network?

Gracias.

you might opt to find a carrier that prefers to be stagnant when it comes to upgrading their network..why make it better right?