Hello Highseektier,
Thank you for providing the information. Unfortunately, I cannot speak about all of the points you mentioned. However, I wanted to clarify some of them.
@highseektier wrote:
...5) call forwarding to a non-fido number, even if in the same area code, is billed at 20 cents a minute !!! Still cheaper than roaming....
Call forwarding had always incurred a charge. However, older plans included a certain number of call forwarding minutes (ie 2500 call forwarding minutes). Newer plans do not appear to include those minutes. Their Premium Voicemail-to Text and iPhone Visual Voicemail value pack add-ons do include 2500 call forwarding minutes (see here, under voicemail).
In addition, as far as I am aware, forwarding calls to any phone number would incur the charge. As well, I believe calls can only be forwarded to Canadian or American phone numbers (see here). If calls are forwarded to a US number, long-distance charges may also apply.
I'm not sure how you have your voicemail / call forwarding set-up, however, using your Fido phone number to access that other number from abroad would still incur roaming charges.
@highseektier wrote:
T...6) roaming charges also kick in when using wi-fi calls only, so better not use wi-fi in case geolocation paints it wrong.
It's true that some Wifi-calling usage may incur roaming charges. 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).
It is also true that Wifi-calling usage while in Canada may also incur roaming charges if VPN (or alternate service) connects via a different Country.
Hope this helps 😀
Cheers
Hey @tdj19!
The voicemail deposit number is not manually programmable. It is set by the system and, thus, when you cancel call forwarding to another number, it should default to the voicemail automatically.
Have you tried cancelling your call forwarding by dialing ##21# on your keypad? Does this change anything?
Let us know!
@FidoAmanda when you first set up the phone all that information gets programmed, certain phones show the actual deposit number (mainly the older phones from what I notice so far) on newer phones it shows voicemail:internal or voicemail because it was set up automatically.
Once you disable the three call forwarding option Forward when busy, Forward when unanswered and Forward when unreachable it will not enable with text in the field because it needs an actual number.
##21# only erases the unconditional forwarding meaning if you have your phone to forward all the time.
@tdj19 already disable call forwarding so the code won't even help because forwarding has already been disabled he actually wants to enable the conditional forwarding to voicemail now.
I have been testing all the ways to enable and disable these features for the past few days and entering the deposit number I found to be the easier way because you just have to remember one number.
But to do it by sending the MMI codes these are what you use.
Forward when busy: *67# to turn it on, #67# to turn it off.
Forward when unanswered: *61# to turn it on, #61# to turn it off.
Forward when unreachable: *62# to turn it on, #62# to turn it off.
What I found is if the three conditional forwarding option shows voicemail:internal and you use those MMI codes to enable and disable the forwarding it works and the field will show voicemail:internal when you re-enable it.
Once you change the forwarding number and use the code to enable the forwarding it will enable it but to the number, you last had in the field.
Now if I enter just the digit 1 in the field and hit update it changes to Voicemail but if I call my phone it does not actually go to voicemail it will just say the customer you are trying to reach is unavailable at the moment.
My test phones are Google Pixel 3XL and Samsung Galaxy S10 both using Android 10
