Forum Discussion
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 able to, but a t-mobile rep on your 611 number said I'd still be charged 25 cents a minute, and I didn't understand this document correctly. What is the correct answer, and does connecting to the WiFi with a VPN effect this? Thanks for any information that could help me with this.
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:
- 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).
- Be connected to Wi-Fi network
- 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.
Thanks. Have good travels.
Hi Robj, Thank you for your wonderfully detailed response to my question. It's the answer I was looking for, and is a confirmation of what I thought. As opposed to what the customer rep was telling me. Thank you again
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:
- 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).
- Be connected to Wi-Fi network
- 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.
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.
Thank you for your response, I’m thinking when I’m connected I should see on the top left of my iPhone screen an airplane symbol followed by “T-Mobile Wi-Fi” and the WiFi symbol, is that what you see?
Personally, I have never been charged for WiFi calls made to the US or answering WiFi calls while abroad. While abroad though, I keep my device in Airplane Mode and then turn on WiFi to make sure calls can't be handed off to cellular. WiFi calls should be treated as if they are a call answered or placed in the US, but this changes as soon as a call is handed off to cellular.
