Hello Meeple,
Welcome to the community!
@meeple wrote:
...I wonder if you can get MMS over wifi?
In general, MMS do not get transmitted over Wifi. That is, without Wifi-calling, MMS will still transmit via cellular towers, even though the device might be connected to Wifi. If travelling outside of Canada, the data within a MMS (incoming and outgoing) would be considered roaming data.
@meeple wrote:
...Which is silly because the whole reason you'd be using it is to avoid having a phone call over a roaming connection to foreign cell towers, because that's obviously what triggers the expense. When it goes over wifi, it should be free....
Hmm, now I think I misread it - it sounds like wifi calling would actually let you call _Canadian_ numbers, and send SMS to Canadian numbers for free, without the $15/day roaming charge?
It should be noted that while using Wifi for regular internet access will not incur Fido Roam charges, there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding Wifi-calling. I'm not sure how people have gotten the impression that Wifi-calling does not use the networks. However, that is not true. While the calls and messages do not transmit via cellular towers, they still use the networks via the internet gateway (see image here). The cellular towers and Wifi are merely alternate means of accessing the networks. Calls and messages would not be able to complete or get sent/received without the networks. As such, using Wifi-calling is technically using Fido services. However, they have allowed certain usage to be free from additional charges. All the messages and calls you receive (from anywhere in the world) will be taken from your plan's voice minutes and messaging limits. As well, all Wifi-calling messages and calls you make to a Canadian phone number while abroad won't incur long-distance or roaming charges (see link above).
**edit** You can find additional information regarding Fido Roam. If you did not wish to avail of the feature, you would need to opt-out of the service. In doing so, any usage abroad would be on a pay-per-use basis. You can view those rates here.
In addition, it is generally recommended to disable data and roaming data in order to prevent unintended roaming charges. However, some manufacturers might allow some data usage to occur despite those settings (see here). One would believe that disabling data and roaming data should prevent the device from using any data. Yet, some manufacturers seemingly allow some data usage despite those settings disabled. Therefore, it is further recommended to enable Airplain or Flight mode for the duration of your trip abroad. You can manually enable Wifi if required. **
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello again,
@meeple wrote:
....I already pay the bill and it's primarily paying for that cell tower access. ...
Not exactly. You're paying for access to their network. As explained in my earlier reply, the cellular towers and Wifi are merely alternate means of accessing their network. Without the internet gateway to their network, calls and messages would not transmit.
In addition, the CRTC defines roaming as: The use of wireless services outside the service provider’s network area (see The Wireless Code). Using your Canadian phone number beyond Canada's border would clearly be outside of the providers' network area.
@meeple wrote:
....Google offers those services for free, and probably so do others....
While I'm not familiar with Google's service, the Google Fi website notes: Afforable Wifi-calling in 200+ Countries. Note that it does not say free Wifi-calling...
In addition, I don't think the other providers even allow for Wifi-calling abroad. As far as I am aware, neither Bell nor Telus provide Wifi-calling outside of Canada. If the feature is not available from the parent companies, I'm doubtful it would be available from their subsidiaries.
@meeple wrote:
...
- I want the option to pay the amount (I'd like a bit less than $15, but whatever) for 24 hours of the same voice/text/data that I would have like in Canada. I will try to avoid using this, but if I was desperate, fine, I'll pay. Meanwhile, I want to do the following with no risk of paying:
- I want to get my incoming texts, and unanswered incoming calls, for free. I appreciate that they offer this, but...
- I want to get more things free on wifi, such as internet browsing (easy), and
- if Wifi calling exists and there are no downsides to enabling it, I would want to use it accept the free voice calls to/from Canada, and MMS messages (if indeed those are included over wifi), and sending SMS messages (to Canada) all for free, as advertised.
.....
Firstly, you should note the Fido Roam charge covers each calendar day of usage until 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time (ET), regardless of which time zone you are roaming. In addition, the charge will only incur if your phone uses services -- make or receive a call, send a text message or use data abroad.
As mentioned previously, receiving SMS does not incur roaming charges. As far as I am aware, having calls go to voicemail and/or rejecting calls to send them to voicemail should not incur roaming charges (see here). However, checking your voicemail would be considered roaming as one must call the voicemail service.
As also mentioned above, with regards to Wifi-calling, all the messages and calls you receive (from anywhere in the world) will be taken from your plan's voice minutes and messaging limits. As well, all Wifi-calling messages and calls you make to a Canadian phone number while abroad won't incur long-distance or roaming charges
@meeple wrote:
...I think what mostly worked for me in Hawaii (on Rogers) was to enable roaming, but disable data roaming. ...
...but overall I was able to receive SMS from Canada and not pay for it, which is nice. Does that make sense as a good way to make your settings?
To clarify, most modern devices do not have a dedicated setting to disable roaming entirely. In order to prevent roaming, you would have needed to have enabled Airplane or Flight mode.
Yes, it does make sense to be able to receive SMS without charges. Like Rogers, receiving SMS does not incur Fido roaming charges. However, the mobile providers only know usage. They do not know what settings may or may not have been enabled on a customer's device. If there is usage occurring when customers do not believe their devices should be able to do so, that usage would still incur charges. Customers would need to know how their devices behave abroad.
Personally, when I travel, I carry two devices: one with Fido, the other with local SIM. With my Fido device, I enable Airplane or Flight mode. I then manually enable Wifi. Since my plan and phone are supported for Wifi-calling, I can receive text messages (SMS and MMS), make calls to Canadian phone numbers, receive calls without additional charges.
I use the device with the local SIM for data and local calls/messages etc. I understand carrying two devices might not be suitable for everyone.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello again,
Firstly, you should note the forums are community-driven. I am a fellow customer. I have just accumulated tid-bits of information here and there.
I do find Wifi-calling to be very useful. In fact, my device is set to preferentially connect to Wifi-calling when a Wifi source is available. The only time my device connects to cellular towers is when I'm out-and-about.
I can't think of any warnings to be careful about with regards to Wifi-calling. That said, you should note that it might not be available on some plans. (ie Basic Plans and Pre-paid).
**edit** Oh, I suppose a warning to note would be with regards to location-based services and 9-1-1. Some location-based services can get confused with Wifi-calling and emergency services would use the emergency address you submit when registering (see here).
As well, a warning should also be stated for customers using VPN services. Using a VPN set to a different Country could result in possible roaming charges (see here).**
In addition, is your phone available from Fido? Devices which are not available from Fido might not support certain features (ie voLTE and Wifi-calling).
Once Wifi-calling is set-up on a plan and device, I'm not sure whether it's possible to disable it. Though, I don't think there is any need to do so.
There is no additional charge for using Wifi-calling.
Unless your current plan is not compatible with Wifi-calling, I can't think of anything you might lose by enabling the feature. However, if you have a grandfathered plan, you might need to switch to a newer plan in order to avail of the service. If that is the case, there would be the potential to lose the grandfathered plan etc.
There are minimum Wifi requirements for Wifi-calling (see link provided above). It's possible that the call may drop if a Wifi connection is unstable. However, if your device is voLTE compatible (and you have adequate cellular signal) the call could switch to the cellular networks without dropping.
If you wished to verify whether anything in your plan might change when enabling Wifi-calling, you would need to contact customer service. In addition, they can also be contacted via Live Chat, Facebook, or Twitter. Those methods can be accessed via the contact page posted above.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello Findkendwa,
@findkendwa wrote:
I understand that you camn opt in to Fido Roam when abroad (for $15 / day) OR you can just use pay per use. ...
Firstly to clarify, Fido Roam is already enabled on applicable post-paid plans. If you wanted to roam on a pay-per-use basis, you would need to opt-out of Fido Roam.
As mentioned in my previous reply here,
@Cawtau wrote:
...While receiving SMS would not incur the roaming charge, it's worth mentioning that the data contained within MMS (incoming or outgoing) would be considered roaming data and charged accordingly. You should note that MMS are not solely restricted to pictures or video messages. Messages with subject headers or group messages etc are also considered MMS...
If the text message you receive is strictly SMS, there would be no charge for receiving it. However, if the message was a MMS, you will likely incur the pay-per-use roaming data charge.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hello again,
That could depend on the settings in your device. At least for Samsung devices, there is the setting to automatically download MMS. As mentioned in your other thread, disabling that setting should allow you to receive SMS without downloading MMS. As far as I am aware, you should still be able to disable MMS on iPhones by following these instructions.
Since you have an iPhone, you should note that iMessages sent or received would be considered data (unless connected to Wifi). As well, there have been some instances where iPhones have connected to networks to use small amounts of data, despite data and roaming data settings disabled. That data usage would be considered roaming data even though you might not have intended on its usage.
In order to prevent roaming, it is still recommended to enable Airplane or Flight mode on your device. You can then manually enable Wifi when required. However, since a device is not able to connect to the networks with those modes enabled, you will not be able to receive text messages over the cellular networks. If your device and plan is supported for Wifi-calling, you could possibly receive them when connected to Wifi.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
