Forum Discussion

jTooker's avatar
jTooker
Network Novice
Hace 5 meses

Use T-Mobile Wi-Fi from a foreign country to call back to a US number for no fee.

Determine if I could use t-mobile Wi-Fi to call a US number from a foreign country from my phone for no fee. To me it looked like from this T-Mobile document "Wi-Fi Calling from T-Mobile" I should be...
t-mobile
  • RobJ's avatar
    RobJ
    Hace 5 meses

    You can call at no charge using Wi-Fi calling to US numbers and also allow free sending of SMS/MMS messages. I do this constantly on "Connect by T-Mobile" a prepaid plan, also from Mint. You must following the following steps:

    1. Have Wi-Fi calling set on your device, on my Google Pixel phone it on menu for T-Mobile SIM card. You might need to register your emergency location to enable Wi-Fi calling. This might have to be done on carrier(T-Mobile).
    2. Be connected to Wi-Fi network
    3. MUST, MUST be set to modo avión, which will prevent T-Mobil charges (as necessary; make sure your phone is configured to allow Wi-Fi while in airplane mode, alternatively can manually reconnect Wi-Fi after going to airplane mode). T-mobile will charge you international if you are not in airplane mode, and this is costly. However T-mobile Connect prepaid does not have international travel (calling outside US), so there no chance of being charged.
      https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/wi-fi-calling-from-t-mobile

    Other notes:

    • Puedes recibir SMS/MMS while traveling with out charge, with out  using above procedure.
    • You CANNOT try to do this through second SIM (like trying to use data on second SIM).
    • You might also try setting up WhatsApp for you and your amigos/momentos in USA, in this way you can use Wi-Fi or second SIM data, like international SIM) and also be more or less independent of carrier.
drnewcomb's avatar
drnewcomb
Fiber Fanatic
Hace 5 meses

I've never been charged for calls to the USA made over WiFi. I won't say that it's not possible, just that it hasn't happened to me. The safest thing is to use a 3rd-party VoIP app, like Google Voice, to make calls. If you have $5 in your Google account, that's the maximum they can charge you. No big, nasty surprises.

Having said that, you generally do not want to make international calls via WiFi. These calls go back to the US where they are treated like US-originated calls, which for most people end up costing $3/min.