Vodacom VoLTE & VoWiFi on non-Vodacom bought phone

Orbiter

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Background:

I know this have been mentioned in bits and pieces in other threads, but with no definate answer.
Before throwing in the towel, I wanted to post a dedicated thread and see if this can be resolved.

I hope to get the attention of the likes of @jannievanzyl @Ockie @faniebraai to give some suggestions as how to proceed.

Jannie confirmed that both the S7 and S7Edge is supported on Vodacom for VoLTE and VoWiFi here:
https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...ng-Vodacom?p=19889494&viewfull=1#post19889494

What I want to do:

Get VoLTE and VoWiFi activated on my TELKOM bought Samsung Galaxy S7Edge.

What I did - Sim:

My sim is provisioned for both services according to Vodacom.
I tested the sim in a Vodacom S7 and VoLTE did show up.
This was before VoWiFi were activated, thus did not test it at the time.

What I did - Software/Firmware:

Putting the sim card into my phone did nothing.
Now, this can be due to it running non-Vodacom software (XFA).
So I flashed numerous versions of software downloaded from Sammobile, including the SA Vodaphone (naming on Sammobile) software.

But I could not get VoLTE to show, nor get the setting to activate VoWiFi in phone settings.

What I did - Knocking on Samsung's door:

So I thought that maybe the software on Sammobile being Vodafone, is not the actual Vodacom software, thus I consulted the Social media team, as well as Vodashop technicians.

They advised that I need to go to Samsung to load the Vodacom software.

So off I went to Samsung at Constantia Office Park next to 14th Ave.
They looked up my phone details on the system, and said that it cannot be done, since my phone is a Telkom XFA phone. They use a device and it will not 'cross-flash'. They do not use ODIN anymore.

So after 2 hours and having all the technical brains and the manager on this, the conclusion is that Samsung cannot flash the Vodacom software.

But, even if they did, they said it will not work, since the phone's IMEI number is not linked as a Vodacom phone.

The Question:

So it this the end of the road?
Is the only option to buy a phone from Vodacom?
If so, it sounds really unfair.

I am on the VIP package.
 
Very interesting post. I have a S8 on Vodacom. Flashed XFA firmware with odin in my investigation into why Cellc 4G+ is not showing up as I initially thought it was a firmware limitation or issue. That did not solve the issue with Cellc 4G+

So read about VoLTE on Vodacom and flashed back to Vodacom firmware and updated to the latest version but still can't get VoLTE.

So what does this mean. Once you removed Vodacom firmware VoLTE and WoWifi is gone or is it just a coincidence?
 
cavedog said:
Very interesting post. I have a S8 on Vodacom. Flashed XFA firmware with odin in my investigation into why Cellc 4G+ is not showing up as I initially thought it was a firmware limitation or issue. That did not solve the issue with Cellc 4G+

So read about VoLTE on Vodacom and flashed back to Vodacom firmware and updated to the latest version but still can't get VoLTE.

So what does this mean. Once you removed Vodacom firmware VoLTE and WoWifi is gone or is it just a coincidence?
Click to expand...

From what I have seen, you have 2 options:

1. Flash the German Vodafone sofware from Sammobile (there is another thread where this worked for a buddy of rubber_otter) - https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...Activation?p=20196828&viewfull=1#post20196828

2. But best option is to go to Samsung, they will reflash the XFV software without an issue (as long as the phone was originally a XFV Vodacom phone)

Hope this helps.

Edit:

I just remembered, in my testing a while ago on a Vodacom S7, I flashed BTU software, then later back to Vodaphone (could be UK one), and VoLTE worked again.
 
I can try that and see if it will work. Will report back. :)

EDIT:

So flashed the latest Vodafone Germany firmware now. Still see the Wifi Calling slider. Tapped it off and on but still no VoLTE.

My simcard has been provisioned but nothing..... :confused:
 
Last edited:
As explained you can't cross-flash from one Samsung version to another. I've been caught out by this myself. One would think it's technically possibly but turns out, not so.

You need to have the original XFV firmware and will then get the latest version that supports VoLTE pushed OTA. Also check with 111 that you're provisioned for VoLTE.
 
jannievanzyl said:
As explained you can't cross-flash from one Samsung version to another. I've been caught out by this myself. One would think it's technically possibly but turns out, not so.

You need to have the original XFV firmware and will then get the latest version that supports VoLTE pushed OTA. Also check with 111 that you're provisioned for VoLTE.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Jannie.

Is this confirmation that only a Vodacom bought phone, with the XFV branding will work?

Via ODIN I can flash XFV (official firmware on Sammobile site).

The network seems to not recognise my phone as a Vodacom original XFV, thus it is not only firmware.
 
Orbiter said:
Thanks for the reply Jannie.

Is this confirmation that only a Vodacom bought phone, with the XFV branding will work?

Via ODIN I can flash XFV (official firmware on Sammobile site).

The network seems to not recognise my phone as a Vodacom original XFV, thus it is not only firmware.
Click to expand...

Yup, my understanding is that it won't work. Samsung explained it to me when the S6 launched, something with how the flash process works.

Basically you can never change the original 'family' of the phone.
 
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