Wifi Calling

@vehicross100 declared in earnest:

So I went to my settings turned it on and tried the Bank number. To my surprise it rang and someone picked up and I was able to handle my business. The call should be free since it used my unlimited Wifi plan.

Not sure how it would work for someone trying to call me or a Call Back.

For the Code I just had a relative in the states forward it to me using the US # I have on file.

WIFI calling here confuses me. I have a Samsung and I turn it on for both sim slots, one for Globe and one eSIM for Google Fi. For international calls, I still get charged by Google Fi at the normal rate even with WIFI calling on. I have my data paused with Google Fi (I only use globe data on that phone, and wifi where available). Supposedly, Google Fi supports WIFI calling at least in theory but perhaps not on my phone. For the Globe postpaid sim, Globe claims WIFI calling is available, I think that one works. I call landlines all over the Philippines and there is some logo in the upper right that says "VO" with a partial Wi-Fi symbol So I think Globe gives me Wi-Fi calling free throughout the Philippines, otherwise I would be charged for calls to Manila. In both cases the calls are super clear.

On getting the Codes, I would have a problem with expecting relatives/family to cooperate in sending me codes. My wife and I are often using online banking, and I also have a few other accounts that use US-based sim card SMS phone codes as one of the options for 2FA.

2FA = "2 factor authentication". Normally the 2 factors are your password (hopefully very strong) and some code sent to or generated by your smartphone.

2FA codes seems to be handled slightly different for everybody. And different still for countries outside the USA. For my institutions I have no choice: They only use SMS text to a US-based phone number. To deal with that, I primarily use a  Google FI eSIM with data on pause. Google Fi seems to say there is no time limit to return to the US for using phone and text although data is throttled after 50 days (obviously I don't need their data).

More recently, I have heard of expats using Tello for the codes. It is supposed to work very well, at least at the moment. Whatever you do, always have a backup sim number or google voice if it works because it just takes one business decision and a company can arbitrarily turn you off in the Philippines. I use Google Voice which I also used when 2FA first came out and it still works for us. This has been for several years but I keep hearing stories about institutions rejecting google voice (which by the way is highly secure, more so than a Sim card). But it may or may not work you. Only about 40% of banks accept google voice. So currently we have one USA cell phone number plus a working google voice.

If you have a Schwab account, I heard they let you sign on with an authenticator app rather than a phone call or text. Google authenticator is damn convenient. No phone call, just a time based 6-digit code from an app on your phone, type it and you're in. That really solves a lot of expat problems in getting phones that receive/produce texts reliably. You don't need a sim card phone number anymore and in fact, you don't even need to be connected to the internet for the authenticator to work.  There are even better secure apps as well, but it will be years before bank employees understand how to use them. I don't see much hope for them to understand authenticators for years to come but Schwab gives us hope.

danfinn said . . . . More recently, I have heard of expats using Tello for the codes. It is supposed to work very well, at least at the moment.

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If you are referring to Ooma Tello which I'm using with my stateside number, it does not receive sms or callbacks with authorize codes.

@Enzyte Bob

If you are referring to Ooma Tello which I'm using with my stateside number, it does not receive sms or callbacks with authorize codes.

I used to have that in the USA as it was such a great deal as a VOIP landline. However, I was talking about a different "Tello" that many expats are excited about on tello.com. So far it works as a real cell phone SIM for 2FA and you can install it from the Philippines quickly as an eSIM that you download. They have a reasonable price with no contract. Right now I have Google Fi plus working Google Voice set up in the USA (works for some expats like me but not for all) but this Tello product looks real good with excellent reports from other expats:

From the Tello site:

https dot slash slash tello.com/us_phone_number_for_abroad

How to keep your US phone number while abroad and why is it important?

Keep your US identity and don’t lose your number while away

Stay in touch with your bank and other institutions that have your US number

Receive calls from customers, connections, and other people on your US number

Save time and money without having to worry about any extra set-ups

Verification texts from several companies to confirm your identity

You might want to check it out, Sp.. If my Google Voice  backup stops working I will use Tello if it continues to work. I am pretty happy with google fi, just a bit more expensive.

Always have a back-up for financial processes here.

@danfinn

Thank you for explaining some of those terms and your advice is very helpful.

I was ready to download and sign up on google voice, but then I seen some advising that it would be better to set up in the US before coming here.

I do not understand this or know why, but I will be going in October so figured I would try creating an account while Im there.

Does anyone know if this is true ?

Is there any reason or advantages to signing up for google voice in the US vs Phils ?

WIFI calling here confuses me. I have a Samsung and I turn it on for both sim slots, one for Globe and one r. - @danfinn

Same here, wifi calling confuses me. I still get charged calling from Philippines on my Tmobile phone. I thought it would be free. Text messaging is free. Internet data is free up to 4.5 GB. On WiFi, I think data is not billed. I pay 120 for 4 phones. I'd likely keep this phone. (1.5 years to go b4 I pull the the rip cord or trigger).

@danfinn
Thank you for explaining some of those terms and your advice is very helpful.
I was ready to download and sign up on google voice, but then I seen some advising that it would be better to set up in the US before coming here.
I do not understand this or know why, but I will be going in October so figured I would try creating an account while Im there.
Does anyone know if this is true ?
Is there any reason or advantages to signing up for google voice in the US vs Phils ? - @vehicross100

I also heard that GV had to be signed-up for while in the USA. However, before I heard that for the first time, I had already set it up while in the Philippines based on my MagicJack USA VOIP number which I has access to while here. Go figure. You will need some USA-based number one time to set it up, such as your USA number that you mentioned or a friend's or relative's number, temporarily, and that number will be texted a code during set-up. I agree, do it the right way while in the USA to avoid any chance of TOS violation with Google.

I wanted to repeat that Google Voice works a lot of the time but remember that *not all* institutions accept it for their codes. Google Voice is "VOIP", most institutions reject VOIP numbers, but many allow an exception for Google Voice VOIP because they recognize that GV is very secure within the Google account environment. My institutions accept Google Voice numbers do but some do not.

@danfinn

Just curious your experience with GoogleFi in the Philippines?  I’m thinking of getting the Flexible Plan (ie., $20/mo + $10/GB data) and turning data off while there.  I doubt I’ll need international calling, except for the occasional SMS codes sent from my financial institutions (with the hope that it actually works).  Like you, I plan to get Global eSim while there as well for local data needs.  I currently have AT&T and it costs something like $12.95/day for international use, so that’s definitely not an option.  GoogleFi lets you transfer your US number, which is what I ultimately plan to do, since I got so many things tied to it already.  Thanks.

@danfinnJust curious your experience with GoogleFi in the Philippines? I’m thinking of getting the Flexible Plan (ie., $20/mo + $10/GB data) and turning data off while there. I doubt I’ll need international calling, except for the occasional SMS codes sent from my financial institutions (with the hope that it actually works). Like you, I plan to get Global eSim while there as well for local data needs. I currently have AT&T and it costs something like $12.95/day for international use, so that’s definitely not an option. GoogleFi lets you transfer your US number, which is what I ultimately plan to do, since I got so many things tied to it already. Thanks. - @mati_steve

My experience with Google Fi since October 2024 has been very good. I have the flexible plan and I have paused the data plan while here, rather than have them throttle me after 3 mo. In fact, the major reason I have it is for banking SMS codes since it always works. Another reason I have it is for reliable calling to the US. There are other ways to do this but I chose Google Fi as it is an established carrier in the US which I thought most likely to be accepted by the greatest number of banks.

My experience with Google Fi since October 2024 has been very good. I have the flexible plan and I have paused the data plan while here, rather than have them throttle me after 3 mo. In fact, the major reason I have it is for banking SMS codes since it always works. Another reason I have it is for reliable calling to the US. There are other ways to do this but I chose Google Fi as it is an established carrier in the US which I thought most likely to be accepted by the greatest number of banks. - @danfinn

Awesome - thank you!