Plan to buy Can-Usa for 3 mo travel. Will full phone features work like in quebec?

Daniel_Vezina007

What do I need to do on my 5G phone to get full roaming service in US?

Upgrade to a New SIM card? (Actual is dated from 3 years old phone)

or Fizz LTE full phone service in US still not an option and need to change provider?

Was in Alaska last summer and Fizz was a disaster and left me with no service at all.....

Had to rely on friends for all my communications even trying all Fizz phone massage.

ah727

@Daniel_Vezina007

First thing you need to make sure is to take the Canada + USA plan at least 5 days before the end of your billing period so you can use your new plan in the following billing period.

Make sure you have activated roaming. You may have to restart your phone once you cross the border, do a network search, and choose US mobile provider T-Mobile. And you are all set

With the Canada + USA plan , you can use your accumulated data in the United States as you would in Quebec, and make phone calls and text messages. Data adds in each new billing period as it does in Quebec, so you use your USA plan the same way you use your Canada plan.

Fizz has not yet launched VoLTE (which will allow you to make phone calls over the LTE networks) for long time Fizz users (Fizz users before March 16, 2022), but Fizz plans to have VoLTE running for all its users by spring 2023. What this means is that data will be available from both US providers AT&T and T-Mobile, but phone calls won't be available over their 4G LTE networks. And since both providers have already shut down their 3G calling networks, the only way calls can work right now is by using T-Mobile's limited coverage 2G GSM network.

However note that social media apps like Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, Messenger will still be useful as they run over 4G LTE networks.

Before you cross the border, you should switch to the new VoLTE SIM card, so you will be ready when Fizz completes its VoLTE startup for all Fizz users.

As you already have a 5G phone, your phone should have extended connection capability. This will help you get the best access to VoLTE connection.

I'm sorry your last Alaska phone service was a deception. Hopefully your next USA trip will be better.

As I said, T-Mobile still uses its 2G network for calls. And the link to a prior post below will help you connect to the 2G T-Mobile if required.

Good luck.

Going down South soon? Learn how to manage your Android phone networks in the United States

ah727

Sep 16, 2022

Thousands of Fizz users will be driving south in the next weeks. As you probably know, Fizz is updating its calls method (VoLTE), but hasn't completed it yet. The US phone providers are shutting down 2G and 3G networks that were formerly used for calls, but still have maintained some 2G remnants. What is to expect when you cross the border? In this post I will try to help you cope with this "mess", with the help of others, as we still have some time to discuss a few issues. The first is 2G.

First of all, I have an Android phone (Samsung A52 5G) so I'm pretty familiar with Android devices. Maybe some people can help out with related IOS issues.

1. What is 2G, and why is it important.

2G is second generation networks that was, and is still used to make calls. 2G has been dropped down by AT&T in 2017. However, T-Mobile is still using 2G until January 1, 2023, and will probably continue using it after that date. If you think you can rely on the other calls network, third generation 3G, forget it, it has been mostly shutdown by both providers. And 4G calls need VoLTE, and Fizz is not ready yet.

Prepair for 2G - Try connecting to 2G in Quebec:

Fizz does not use 2G anymore, but Rogers (FizzExt) does.

HOW TO GET 2G IN QUEBEC :

a. Set Network mode to 2G:

Settings>>Connections>>Mobile networks>>Network mode

Choose GSM only

b. connect to FizzExt (in the USA will be T-Mobile)

Settings>>Connections>>Mobile networks>>Network operators

Choose FizzExt. (in the USA will be T-Mobile)

So now you should be hooked to Roger's 2G networks.

Voice network is 2G GSM and data network is 2G EDGE (very slow, to use data, set Network mode to LTE/WCDMA/GSM)

c. TO GO BACK TO 4G LTE

Settings>>Connections>>Mobile networks>>Network mode

set Network mode to LTE/WCDMA/GSM)

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Jess_i88b6

Hi @Daniel_Vezina007

Yes you need to change the SIM, for a VoLTE however, you cannot use for the voice at this point in time https://fizz.ca/en/faq/why-volte-important. You can still use the data, and the VoIP app such fongo, skype, textnow, etc

No you don't need a 5G phone, you need a VoLTE phone. check the list https://fizz.ca/en/faq/why-volte-important, that fizz certified.

From jully 2022 the calls and message are almost finish in US using the 3G

Some user reported that activating the 2G was possible to make calls in certain area.

As of July 2022, if you are travelling in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, only the LTE network is available. This means that until springtime 2023, calling may not be possible based on your situation.

When will this issue be resolved?

All depends on your situation.

 

> If you became a mobile member BEFORE March 16, 2022. 

 

Calling will be possible again by spring 2023 when Fizz offers VoLTE on its own network. At that time, using a VoLTE certified phone updated with the latest software update and activated with a VoLTE compatible SIM card will allow you to make calls when in the United States. 

 

> If you became a mobile member ON or AFTER March 16, 2022.

 

Your plan should already be activated with a VoLTE compatible SIM card. If you are using a VoLTE-certified phone updated with the latest software update, calls and texts will work in the U.S. If it is not, you will only have access to your mobile data.

See the list of certified phones

How do I know if I can use my own phone with Fizz?

https://fizz.ca/en/faq/compatible-devices#3

If your phone does not quite meet these criteria, it may still be functional but your access to certain services may be limited. If this is the case, we will contact you to inform you.

Source: https://fizz.ca/en/faq/why-do-some-calls-and-texts-when-us-not-work