Can 4G calling be used on devices that were not bought from 02?

[OfflineBloke]

I have replaced a Samsung Tab Active 2 (which O2 told me was not capable of making 4G calls) with a Tab Active 3 (Which the O2 IMEI check said was compatible.)
However, it now appears that not only can I still not make 4G calls (the option does not show up in Settings>Mobile Networks>Network modes), reading around on here it seems that only devices with pre-installed O2 firmware can be used for 4G calling.

Is it really the case that I have to buy  a device from O2 to be able to use the network for 4G calls? A sim only package can't be used with an unlocked device?

Thanks for any help, this whole thing seems to be just a scam.

[Enlli]

O2's 4G calling tends to work well with most Samsung products.

What SIM are you using as 4G calling is not available on PAYG?

None of my devices were bought from O2. Galaxy S20, then S23 and now Pixel 9 have all worked fine 

[OfflineBloke]

The sim is a contract pay monthly account.

The "guide" here https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-and-international/wifi/wifi-and-4g-calling
States to go to My o2> Device Details to check compatibility but I just get a pop up saying "You can't access this page right now please choose another account or mobile number to open this page"
I don't have another account or mobile number and in any case it is this one I need to know about.

[Enlli]

Came across this

https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tablets/volte-in-samsung-galaxy-tab-active-3/td-p/2328996

I think it would be worth contacting Samsung

[OfflineBloke]

I have seen that and did wonder if it was an earlier version. Checking with o2 it is compatible. (See below)
In fact, it makes no sense that a device can have an LTE connection  but not be able to use Voice over LTE as this can only be a software application. If o2 state that this device IS suitable for VoLTE that should be good enough. They just appear to be a joke company that is running a scam operation, trying to force people into buying new devices from them by taking advantage of an infrastructure change that they were involved in setting up to fiddle money out of people. I remember the old days of Orange and Nokia when things just worked.
I am looking into finding another operator and will definitely switch before I buy a new device from O2. They don't deserve my business.

[Mod edit: Image rejected due to it containing private information.]

[Enlli]

Things today are a lot more complicated than the Orange / Nokia era to which you refer.

Further checking definitely confirms that 4G calling (VoLTE) is not available on your device. It was one of the last of the Tab range not to include it.. Whichever network you choose won't change that fact. The TAB can still use 4G for data but it will still do calls and text when 3G closes but using 2G.

Guide: Cancelling Your Contract 

[japitts]

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@OfflineBloke wrote:

They just appear to be a joke company that is running a scam operation, trying to force people into buying new devices from them by taking advantage of an infrastructure change that they were involved in setting up to fiddle money out of people. I remember the old days of Orange and Nokia when things just worked.

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3G switch-off is an industry-wide process, O2 are actually the last to this particularly party and it's absolutely not a fiddle as you put it.

Ah yes, the old days of Orange - networks are a lot more complex these days, and I dread to think how some of the modern-day internet-based functions would cope over 2G....

[OfflineBloke]

They certainly are more complicated. Back then I paid for a service and got it. Now I have to deal with this bunch of clowns. They don't even seem to have a customer service team who can be contacted, notwithstanding the long list of "self-help options" that another poster on this forum sent a link to.
Samsung also state (via X) that this device is not suitable for VoLTE which begs the question as to why O2 stated that it was. They must just think that people have got money to chuck about buying up all this far-east crap that doesn't work here anyway.
Seems there isn't even a UK standard for interoperability of 4G calling  - yet the Government is insisting that the 3G system that does work be closed down.

[japitts]

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@OfflineBloke wrote:

Seems there isn't even a UK standard for interoperability of 4G calling  - yet the Government is insisting that the 3G system that does work be closed down.

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VoLTE is an industry-standard. VoLTE supports both "HD" & "HD+" calls, there is full interconnect between each network for HD-calling. So I've no idea what you mean by lack of standards.

3G does indeed work. But there's nothing it does, that isn't done better by 2G or 4G.

[Enlli]

@OfflineBloke You can rant all you like here but nobody from O2 is going to read your missives

There are presently 4 main networks and a bunch of MNVOs ....Take your choice