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move to BT Mobile or stay with Tesco?


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Old 29-11-2015, 09:48
ihatemarmite
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I'm a SIM only customer with Tesco mobile, £10 a month for 1GB data (don't need more at present), 500 mins, unltd texts. The 30 day rolling contract suits me.
I'm tempted to move to BT Mobile's £8 offer (have BT BB) although it's a 12 month contract.

What I'm trying to find out about is wifi calling. I have a lot of friends abroad, both in and outside the EU, so this is a big attraction for me. So are free texts to them. I use whatsapp a lot but sometimes texts are better (some of them have no data contract and are on PAYG phones). I also travel to see them regularly so use roaming.

I can't see anything on BT Mobile about wifi calling, or even roaming rates. On Tesco, they seem to have a slightly complicated Tesco International Calling App which *seems* to offer free texts (not sure if this applies when I'm abroad), but not really wifi calling as it's chargeable calls.

Can anyone help please? BT's offer is until tomorrow I think.
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Old 29-11-2015, 10:20
Gigabit
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How did you get unlimited texts with Tesco?
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Old 29-11-2015, 10:27
-GONZO-
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BT don't currently offer wifi calling.
They do however have BT SmartTalk which you can make calls over WiFi which uses your home phone package.
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Old 29-11-2015, 10:55
ihatemarmite
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not sure I have a home phone package as only use the landline for 08 calls (including override to foreign numbers).
So with either, am I basically stuck with skype? Friends in France and Norway try calling me on wifi calling to my mobile and get irritated when I tell them it's not activated here. It's routine there on contract.
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Old 29-11-2015, 10:56
ihatemarmite
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How did you get unlimited texts with Tesco?
special offer, years ago now.
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Old 29-11-2015, 11:03
ba_baracus
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not sure I have a home phone package as only use the landline for 08 calls (including override to foreign numbers).
So with either, am I basically stuck with skype? Friends in France and Norway try calling me on wifi calling to my mobile and get irritated when I tell them it's not activated here. It's routine there on contract.
I am not sure what they are doing, but this is not how wifi calling works. There is not some wifi to wifi calling system that allows free calls. Possibly they are using some app other than Skype to do this.

All wifi calling does is allows you to make a normal call from your package over a wifi connection, rather than the usual cellular connection.

As for the BT SmartTalk app, if you were to use this the call would be added to your landline bill. If you don't have a calls package, you would be charged at the normal rate.
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Old 29-11-2015, 11:44
ihatemarmite
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thanks for explaining.
The norwegian friend called me using whatsapp. The French use Viber. I know the latter should work, but Tesco charged me for calls to France last time I used viber on wifi.
Skype is ok.
I haven't worked out google hangouts or Facetime on the iPad.

I might try the Tesco International calling app as at least texts seem to be free, instead of 20p + VAT.

I don't understand why Tesco charged me a full call rate using Viber, or why I can't seem to get WhatsApp calls to work. My friend called, I could see the green 'answer' button and it rang, but the call wouldn't connect.

I just read this. It doesn't say some networks don't allow it
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/pho...al-phone-calls
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:04
d123
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thanks for explaining.
The norwegian friend called me using whatsapp. The French use Viber. I know the latter should work, but Tesco charged me for calls to France last time I used viber on wifi.
Skype is ok.
I haven't worked out google hangouts or Facetime on the iPad.

I might try the Tesco International calling app as at least texts seem to be free, instead of 20p + VAT.

I don't understand why Tesco charged me a full call rate using Viber, or why I can't seem to get WhatsApp calls to work. My friend called, I could see the green 'answer' button and it rang, but the call wouldn't connect.

I just read this. It doesn't say some networks don't allow it
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/pho...al-phone-calls
With Whatsapp, if you have a compatible phone (most smartphones) then Whatsapp calling between whatsapp users is free (just the data cost). It sounds more like you have some basic ignorance in its use rather than it not working, don't you have someone with more tech knowledge to give you a lesson in use?

If you made a Viber to Viber call and were charged it would seem you didn't actually make it as a Viber call and somehow used the the cellular network for the call.

WifiCalling is just a process to use your standard network calls allowance over a wifi network, as has been said, you are rather confused in what you think WifiCalling is.

The MSE article appears correct to me, I don't see any obvious errors, nor do I know of any network that charges for Skype, Viber, Whatsapp etc (other than the obvious data use that could be chargeable).
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:21
ihatemarmite
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I'm aware of the basics of how it works via the 3rd party apps. I last used Viber calling 3 years ago, then uninstalled when got charged. I'm going to use WhatsApp although have heard that calls drop. Maybe that's what actually happened instead of me being thick (granted )

Only q: if I call a friend on WhatsApp, they have to be on a wifi network or they'll get a data charge if they answer? Can you call using data if no wifi connection and how much does a short call use approx? Sorry guys, this is new to (older) me. thank you
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:30
mrMick
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WhatsApp to WhatsApp is a data call, yes. Whether it's over wifi or mobile network data doesn't matter as long as both parties have a good, reasonably high monthly data allowance.
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:32
ihatemarmite
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I have 1GB a month. I'd only call using wifi, either at home or an open network coffee shop etc.
I've found whatsapp blocked at airports though, even for messaging (?).
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:35
mrMick
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They may have certain ports blocked over the wifi preventing whatsapp use. I'm sure someone here will know how to get around it though lol
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Old 29-11-2015, 12:54
d123
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I have 1GB a month. I'd only call using wifi, either at home or an open network coffee shop etc.
I've found whatsapp blocked at airports though, even for messaging (?).
I wouldn't be too scared to use it over mobile data, it's less than 1MB per minute (one test found it as low as 0.2MB per minute), even at its best quality.

Taking the average of these figures taken from Data Monitor and the Android system, AndroidPit came up with 780 KB for a minute of voice calls. At this rate, a user on a 1 GB plan will have a total of 1,282 minutes or just over 21 hours of WhatsApp calls each month.
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/52...-regularly.htm
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Old 29-11-2015, 14:36
ihatemarmite
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thanks guys
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