Activate Vodacom VoWifi while overseas

Spizz

Spizz

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I read a post by @whatwhat on the eSim thread about a dual sim phone being able to have your sim 1 (Vodacom) using the data on an overseas local sim 2 as the WiFi and so enabling VoWifi all the time when travelling.

So I’m wondering if it’s possible to activate VoWifi while I’m overseas?

I don’t seem to have a button to activate VoWifi anywhere so I’m wondering if I have to actually be on a Vodacom network to activate it before travelling? Then when activated the button will remain activate.

At the moment I’ve got my Vodacom sim in sim 1 slot of a Samsung A50 and it’s roaming on a Myanmar network, so I’m assuming I can’t activate it here. Or does anyone have an idea how I can do this from here?
 
Hi Spizz,

I am also interested in getting VoWifi working to avoid roaming charges but continue to keep a presence in two countries.

I have tested it here in South Africa using a German O2 SIM and it works but some problems which I would also like to overcome.

Firstly what you need:

1. A phone that supports VOLTE.
2. A provider that supports it (and allows overseas use)

I am using a Huawei P20 lite which supports dual SIM.

I selected the German SIM to provide data. The I select VOWiFi, you can also select volte but will need to pay roaming fees for the data which are high in my case so I have disabled this. I also disabled data roaming.

With this setup I can dial German numbers using VOWiFi when connected to a WiFi network. It works great and I am charged as if on the network in Germany.

What would be really great would be to be able to use volte on the foreign SIM using data from the local SIM when WiFi is not available. This does not work in my scenario.

Not all VOLTE phones are equal though. I am using a Huawei P20 lite as I mentioned. The alternative SIM only supports 2G and no data. Therefore as soon as I leave WiFi no data on the phone.

There are phones that support lte on both SIMs simultaneously. I would be interested to know if they world support the above scenario.

Hope this helps some..
 
Jzl said:
Hi Spizz,

I am also interested in getting VoWifi working to avoid roaming charges but continue to keep a presence in two countries.

I have tested it here in South Africa using a German O2 SIM and it works but some problems which I would also like to overcome.

Firstly what you need:

1. A phone that supports VOLTE.
2. A provider that supports it (and allows overseas use)

I am using a Huawei P20 lite which supports dual SIM.

I selected the German SIM to provide data. The I select VOWiFi, you can also select volte but will need to pay roaming fees for the data which are high in my case so I have disabled this. I also disabled data roaming.

With this setup I can dial German numbers using VOWiFi when connected to a WiFi network. It works great and I am charged as if on the network in Germany.

What would be really great would be to be able to use volte on the foreign SIM using data from the local SIM when WiFi is not available. This does not work in my scenario.

Not all VOLTE phones are equal though. I am using a Huawei P20 lite as I mentioned. The alternative SIM only supports 2G and no data. Therefore as soon as I leave WiFi no data on the phone.

There are phones that support lte on both SIMs simultaneously. I would be interested to know if they world support the above scenario.

Hope this helps some..
Click to expand...

The problem I have with the Samsung A50 is that I’m overseas already and I need to be on the Vodacom network to activate VoWiFi initially. I’ll do that when I’m home next.

But I’ve got it working on a dual sim iPhone now and reading your notes one thing that is strange is that in South Africa you have enabled the data on the German sim? Shouldn’t you be enabling data on the local sim to avoid roaming data charges and then have the German sim use that local data to enable VoWiFi?
 
You need to enable data on the SIM you want to use for VOLTE or VOWiFi. Effectively data is disables since I disable roaming data so no charges.

If I enable data on the SA SIM I cannot select VOLTE/VOWiFi on the German SIM.

I would love to use SA data and German VOxxx but not possible with this phone, unless I'm doing something wrong.

I am hoping someone could advise if this is possible with a Dual SIM 4G+4G phone where both SIMs can access LTE.
 
1) Re: I need to be on the Vodacom network to activate VoWiFi initially

Vodacom often seems to have special Gotchas, but I had no problem setting up VOWiFi while connected to a WiFi network here in SA!!

Select data, disable data roaming to avoid charges, select VOWiFi, deselect VOLTE again to avoid roaming charges.

2) Re: But I’ve got it working on a dual sim iPhone now

Are you able to use local data from one SIM and VOWiFi on the other? Without roaming charges :-)
 
Jzl said:
1) Re: I need to be on the Vodacom network to activate VoWiFi initially

Vodacom often seems to have special Gotchas, but I had no problem setting up VOWiFi while connected to a WiFi network here in SA!!

Select data, disable data roaming to avoid charges, select VOWiFi, deselect VOLTE again to avoid roaming charges.

2) Re: But I’ve got it working on a dual sim iPhone now

Are you able to use local data from one SIM and VOWiFi on the other? Without roaming charges :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, it seems like we have two different things going on. I'm confusing the VoWifi situation in this thread, with setting up my iPhone on another thread :)

Vodacom launches eSIM support in South Africa

I do believe RICA is the main kak and uniquely South African at that. RiCA in various guises is in every country I’ve visited.. I’ve yet to see a place that gives me a sim without requiring passport copy etc
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

Read from post 135.

But yes, that's what I have going on now. The Vodacom sim is using the other local sim as data and so enabling VoWiFi while roaming. So any call I make is from my Vodacom monthly minutes quota. No roaming charges for using Vodacom overseas.
 
So to be sure... no WiFi connected, data from local SIM, VOWiFi on "foreign" Vodacom SIM works?
 
Jzl said:
So to be sure... no WiFi connected, data from local SIM, VOWiFi on "foreign" Vodacom SIM works?
Click to expand...

On dual sim/eSim iPhone, yes. I don't know about other types of phones though.

It's switched on and working now as I type.

Ooredo is the local Myanmar sim on 4G. I bought 10gb for R100 (cheap as chips here)

Vodacom is in the second sim slot using another network to "roam", but instead of traditional roaming, it is using the Ooredoo data as "wifi" and hence I have VoWiFi at all times I have Ooredoo signal.
 
Screenshot I took just now for clarity.

7dcf6081ee6a1ff8c18f807748ad0502.jpg


Note WiFi is switched off. If I switch on WiFi at the hotel or somewhere, Vodacom immediately connects to that and changes to traditional VoWiFi.
 
Excellent thanks. Now to see whats available on Android :)
 
Anyone following, just a little update on my situation.

Vodacom VoWFi works really well on both a WiFi connection and when it’s piggybacking data from the local sim. Nice clear calls with no delays.

I’ve been using WhatsApp for a long time to call home from overseas, and while it works great for what is is, the Vodacom VoWiFi is so much better with regards to clarity and the aforementioned lack of delay in voice.

Only thing worrying me is that I’ve used it maybe 5 times in the last few days and I’m trying to keep the calls short because I don’t seem to be getting any deductions from my monthly minute allocation on my contract.

So I’ll use it sparingly in the meantime because knowing Vodacom I’ll get hit with a huge roaming bill next month.

Otherwise, it’s a huge thumbs up.
 
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Reactions: Jzl
Thanks for the update. Can't you access you account balance on Vodacom? Telkom gives me a current balance in Rands and the data/ minutes balances. There could of course be a delay between roaming charges and your balance update but VoWiFi would be a Vodacom only transaction.

It would be interesting to see how this pans out. How it is without extra costs. Theoretically at least they could also charge for Wi-Fi calls although most providers don't. I burnt my fingers with Vodacom early on and have avoided them for the past 15 years.

My VoWiFi calls from South Africa to German numbers using my German prepaid O2 SIM are free. The prepaid balance has not changed. I can also confirm excellent voice quality on both incoming and outgoing calls.
 
Jzl said:
Thanks for the update. Can't you access you account balance on Vodacom? Telkom gives me a current balance in Rands and the data/ minutes balances. There could of course be a delay between roaming charges and your balance update but VoWiFi would be a Vodacom only transaction.

It would be interesting to see how this pans out. How it is without extra costs. Theoretically at least they could also charge for Wi-Fi calls although most providers don't. I burnt my fingers with Vodacom early on and have avoided them for the past 15 years.

My VoWiFi calls from South Africa to German numbers using my German prepaid O2 SIM are free. The prepaid balance has not changed. I can also confirm excellent voice quality on both incoming and outgoing calls.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I’m checking on the app and the minute, data, sms and “bill so far” are not changing and haven’t changed since I’ve been checking since the weekend.

It should take from my monthly minutes, at the moment I have 118 available, so that’s what I’d expect to see reduce after a call, but it hasn’t changed since I left South Africa on the 1st Jan.

Neither has the amount of money owed so I’m keeping my eyes on it like a hawk.
 
Jzl said:

Vodacom Wi-Fi Calling/VoWiFi Terms and Conditions | Vodacom

Vodacom Wi-Fi Calling/VoWiFi Terms and Conditions
www.vodacom.co.za www.vodacom.co.za

No roaming rates for VoWiFi calls with Vodacom according to this.

Only possible with postpaid SIM, fairly common. I wonder how it is with other prepaid SIMs in S.A.
Click to expand...

I meet all the criteria, but as the minutes I use are not being deducted, I remain sceptical they won’t hit me with a bill of some kind.
 
Spizz said:
Yeah, I’m checking on the app and the minute, data, sms and “bill so far” are not changing and haven’t changed since I’ve been checking since the weekend.

It should take from my monthly minutes, at the moment I have 118 available, so that’s what I’d expect to see reduce after a call, but it hasn’t changed since I left South Africa on the 1st Jan.

Neither has the amount of money owed so I’m keeping my eyes on it like a hawk.
Click to expand...

This thread is rather interesting, will wait for you to update us when you are billed for January usage as I currently have an iphone XS Max with dual sim (eSim and 1 Sim Slot), if this works as described it won't be necessary for me to travel with a secondary device.

Currently I use my S10 with a local sim for foreign calls and hotspot to my iPhone with a Vodacom sim(stays on Airplane mode/ Wifi Calling) when I need to call SA.
 
R_Factor said:
This thread is rather interesting, will wait for you to update us when you are billed for January usage as I currently have an iphone XS Max with dual sim (eSim and 1 Sim Slot), if this works as described it won't be necessary for me to travel with a secondary device.

Currently I use my S10 with a local sim for foreign calls and hotspot to my iPhone with a Vodacom sim(stays on Airplane mode/ Wifi Calling) when I need to call SA.
Click to expand...

When you are overseas and do a VoWiFi call, do you notice if you look at your app that your minutes allowance reduces immediately or does it take time, or not at all even?

I made my first call on Sunday and have done half a dozen now since then, and so far minutes available and “bill so far” remain the same.
 
I tried to confirm Huawei support this morning. All the new dual SIM Huawei's support dual LTE as far as I could see from their settings menu. The problem with testing in-store, they tell me, is that they loose insurance on the phone as soon as a SIM is put in, LOL. Even the in-store Huawei expert had no clue, he claimed to be Sales and not Technical!!

I have contacted the Huawei Mobile Hotline number 0027 860 861111 as well as via On-line Chat with a nice lady called Nonnie. They both confirmed that VOxx on SIM1 (foreign for our purposes) using data on SIM 2 (local) was NOT POSSIBLE. I am not sure that they really understood as this is a bit of a niche question.

They did suggest that try their local service center to try to arrange a test device. I am waiting for them to call me back.
 
Spizz said:
When you are overseas and do a VoWiFi call, do you notice if you look at your app that your minutes allowance reduces immediately or does it take time, or not at all even?

I made my first call on Sunday and have done half a dozen now since then, and so far minutes available and “bill so far” remain the same.
Click to expand...

Can't really give you a clear answer on that unfortunately coz I am on an unlimited minute package. However I was getting quite anxious about my bill since I had family on Vodacom Travel Saver calling me on SA number calling me quite frequently so I thought I would be taxed quite heavily just by receiving those international calls with me being so called " local " ( WiFi Calling only) .

No matter how many days I would wait and refresh the MyVodacom App my bill would remain absolutely the same.

Came home in January to no bill shock so I hope this works out for you as well.
 
Spizz said:
On dual sim/eSim iPhone, yes. I don't know about other types of phones though.

It's switched on and working now as I type.

Ooredo is the local Myanmar sim on 4G. I bought 10gb for R100 (cheap as chips here)

Vodacom is in the second sim slot using another network to "roam", but instead of traditional roaming, it is using the Ooredoo data as "wifi" and hence I have VoWiFi at all times I have Ooredoo signal.
Click to expand...


forums.macrumors.com

eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

This post is a wiki, so if you have an eSIM, see a question and know the answer, feel free to add the question and the answer. This WikiPost will focus on all the questions not covered by Apple in the support documents below. Table of Contents General Info Support documents from Apple about...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

I think you are onto something of a gem here my friend, if we go by this link at least. Apparently Apple changed things up quite abit with the launch of iOS 13 to make this magic happen. Wasn't possible when the iphone XR/ XS range launched eSim compatibility on iOS12


If this works perfectly in this manner it turns the latest iPhones with eSim/ dual sim into a total beast of a " world phone " so to speak.

You don't even need much local minutes if you're travelling with family/ associates that use networks with VoWiFi Support. Just contact the others on their SA numbers using your standard minutes. Only need to load a sufficient data bundle on the local eSim and you're away for cheap.

That's until Vodacom pulls up their socks and launches eSim locally, physical slot always available for foreign countries/ rain unlimited data when local. Although I suspect they may never launch it due to lost revenue.
 
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