Why is Vodafone blocking phones from WiFi calling when they are capable of wifi calling?

[ajosborne]

I've just purchased a Samsumg Galaxy S20FE phone after checking it was on the Vodafone compatibility list for wifi calling. It's also on the list of business phones compatible with WiFi calling. However Vodafone will not enable WiFi calling on it? Why?

I've contacted Samsung who say the phone does support WiFi calling, so Why is Vodafone denying me the WiFi calling from my plan? Enabling WiFi Calling is down to the carrier and Vodafone aren't doing it for my IMEI. but will happily do it for the same phone that they sell.

To say I am 'annoyed' is a huge understatement. There is no way of knowing if Vodafone will support WiFi calling or not until you've purchased it and can check the IMEI OR BUY IT FOR TWICE THE PRICE FROM VODAFONE?

I feel this one could be going to Consumer Standards... but thought I'd ask on the forum just in case anyone has a way to make it work. Thanks.

[ajosborne]

Thanks for the info. Still seems like Voadfone could enable this if they decided to. Where could I get vodafone software for this phone from as that sounds like it would work? I will call customer services this week when I get time, but am fully prepared to move to EE.

[mdc1983uk]

@ajosborneI'm not sure what they actually do different to everyone else to make it so awkward. My Xiaomi phone worked fine for WiFi/4G calls for 2 months then started dropping calls at 29mins yet it works fine with a EE SIM. They told me everything from the phone being faulty to it being because I brought it off network was the cause so I got a Vodafone branded handset and it still had the same problem. I think with with 5G rollout, the changing of the network to prepare for the 3G switchoff some problems have been caused along the way.

For software sammobile.com is where you would go. By entering your model number downloading the VOD software instead of the BTU will do what you want. You'll need a PC and program called Odin, search up 'flashing sammobile' as well and follow the instructions CAREFULLY. If you get the wrong model or tick the wrong options it will brick your phone. Odin is more of a service centre type flash so it pays to read and reread while you do it

[WelshPaul]

Pretty sure one has to change the CSC code on a Samsung in order to flash different firmware.

[chistery]

Have you tried enabling it yourself without calling Vodafone?

Is the menu option showing on your phone or not?

Are you using the Samsung phone app and not a third party dialler like Google Phone?

[ajosborne]

Hi, no the wi-fi option does not appear on the phone app or under connections.

Yes I'm using the standard samsung phone app.

[chistery]

ok, so go to MyVodafone and remove wifi calling/VoLTE from your account. Wait till you get the text to say it's been removed, then add it again, and wait for the text again. Then check your dialler app settings and see if the menu option has appeared.

[ajosborne]

yes that's a good idea. I wanted to do that, but there is no option to remove WiFi/4g/VoLTE calling from the account? I just double checked and there is no 'Turn off' button ??? Maybe too many people trying this.

[chistery]

Vodafone don't make it easy do they.

Well, you may have to call and ask them to remove it then, they should be able to do that easily enough, then hopefully you can enable it from MyVodafone, or by texting calling to 97888

[phils20-]

Not sure if this helps, but I had exactly the same problem, after much searching I finally figured out that my router setting had 'Randomised MAC' address type selected.

If you change this to 'Phone MAC' then wifi calling works again!!