Using a mobile in the US - HELP!

JohnnyMan · 31-01-2007, 15:12

Here's a good one.

I've brought my personal UK Vodafone mobile (a Nokia 6310i) over to Washington DC and am unable to MAKE calls. I'm registered on Vodafone's preferred partner network, Cingular. I can receive calls as well as send and receive texts, but when I make calls (using the +44 code and the UK number, without the zero) I get the dreaded triple tone.

The other network I can see is T-Mobile and I have the same problem on that.

I have a business mobile with me - a Nokia 6230 on 02 - and that works fine on Cingular and T-Mobile. I've swapped the SIM cards between phones and the problem follows the SIMs.

I spoke to Vodafone in the UK yesterday and they could see that my phone was registered on Cingular and all they could think of was that the network was busy. Hardly likely as my O2 phone works fine here on the same network. Vodafone say there is no barring on my phone.

Incidentally I've also tried inserting the 011 international access code from the US, instead of the +, but that makes no difference either.

Any ideas?? Both Vodafone and I are stumped! I've travelled around Europe and Scandinavia many times and have never previously encountered this problem.

dj1471 · 31-01-2007, 15:57

It's clearly a Vodafone problem, since you've tried multiple networks and those same networks work OK with your O2 phone.

Keep bothering them until they sort it out. If you can't get anywhere you could try calling Cingular (most networks have a customer service number for international roamers to use), but I'll put money on them just blaming Vodafone.

andybno1 · 31-01-2007, 16:47

sorry to go off topic but do u need to let vodafone know ur goin to the states to make and recieve calls?

JohnnyMan · 31-01-2007, 17:20

Thanks dj1471. It definitely seems like Vodafone's problem. I'll keep on trying them and threaten to transfer to O2 when I return to the UK.

I don't see Cingular being interested as I'm not their customer.

I don't see any need to inform Vodafone that I'm going to the US or anywhere else. It certainly doesn't mention it on their website. The onus is on the customer to get international roaming enabled and to ensure you have the right type of phone for the country, ie tri- or quad-band.

dd68 · 31-01-2007, 18:07

I am with Virgin and roaming is automatic in the US

JohnnyMan · 31-01-2007, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd68

I am with Virgin and roaming is automatic in the US

Presumably because Virgin use the T-Mobile network which also has a US presence.

Anyway, I managed to get through to someone at Vodafone who knew his stuff.

Outgoing calls work on a ringback principle depending on the network used. It is certainly the case on the Cingular network here. The way to do it is:

1. Dial *#123*01144{plus UK number without leading zero}#

2. Press "send"

3. Message comes back on screen saying that you will shortly receive a ringback.

4. Vodafone mobile rings

5. Called UK number rings

...and hey presto!

What a kerfuffle! Apparently it's down to the way the billing works.

I told the man I wasn't impressed as I could treat my O2 mobile like it was stilll in the UK - no international codes needed, 901 for voicemail etc.

If Cingular is a preferred supplier for Vodafone, I'd hate to be connected to a non-preferred one!

Thanks for your help everyone.

quinnyyy · 01-02-2007, 14:24

Thats madness!!! It might be something to do with their billing but what they are making people do to make calls. You had to try and try to find that information out, think of all the vodafone customers over seas that can't use their phone cause they don't know that. What a useless operator.

vanyablue · 01-02-2007, 16:51

What a bizarre system. It must be an American thing, because Vodafone works normally (+44 and all that) everywhere else. (Well, Tenerife, Singapore, France and New Zealand I can vouch for).

lincsat · 01-02-2007, 17:26

I have used vodafone in the states although it was a few years back so I can't remember the network. Calls went through fine with +44

hobbes79 · 01-02-2007, 18:58

I assume you have, but have you had a go at dialing a UK number without the +44... just dialing it as you would in the UK? For some networks when abroad, it does the trick. Something to do with the network alreday realising you are using a UK SIM. Worth a try.

JohnnyMan · 02-02-2007, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes79

I assume you have, but have you had a go at dialing a UK number without the +44... just dialing it as you would in the UK? For some networks when abroad, it does the trick. Something to do with the network alreday realising you are using a UK SIM. Worth a try.

I've tried all options, including the one you mention. The only one that works is the convoluted one above.

My O2 business phone works in the way you suggest. The network realises it's a UK SIM so I can dial out in just the same way I can can in the UK, including all the shortcodes.

I think I'll transfer my personal phone to O2 before I come to the US again.

31-01-2007, 15:12	#1
JohnnyMan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Reading Posts: 49	Using a mobile in the US - HELP! Here's a good one. I've brought my personal UK Vodafone mobile (a Nokia 6310i) over to Washington DC and am unable to MAKE calls. I'm registered on Vodafone's preferred partner network, Cingular. I can receive calls as well as send and receive texts, but when I make calls (using the +44 code and the UK number, without the zero) I get the dreaded triple tone. The other network I can see is T-Mobile and I have the same problem on that. I have a business mobile with me - a Nokia 6230 on 02 - and that works fine on Cingular and T-Mobile. I've swapped the SIM cards between phones and the problem follows the SIMs. I spoke to Vodafone in the UK yesterday and they could see that my phone was registered on Cingular and all they could think of was that the network was busy. Hardly likely as my O2 phone works fine here on the same network. Vodafone say there is no barring on my phone. Incidentally I've also tried inserting the 011 international access code from the US, instead of the +, but that makes no difference either. Any ideas?? Both Vodafone and I are stumped! I've travelled around Europe and Scandinavia many times and have never previously encountered this problem.

31-01-2007, 15:57	#2
dj1471 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 173	It's clearly a Vodafone problem, since you've tried multiple networks and those same networks work OK with your O2 phone. Keep bothering them until they sort it out. If you can't get anywhere you could try calling Cingular (most networks have a customer service number for international roamers to use), but I'll put money on them just blaming Vodafone.

31-01-2007, 16:47	#3
andybno1 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 6,065	sorry to go off topic but do u need to let vodafone know ur goin to the states to make and recieve calls?

31-01-2007, 17:20	#4
JohnnyMan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Reading Posts: 49	Thanks dj1471. It definitely seems like Vodafone's problem. I'll keep on trying them and threaten to transfer to O2 when I return to the UK. I don't see Cingular being interested as I'm not their customer. I don't see any need to inform Vodafone that I'm going to the US or anywhere else. It certainly doesn't mention it on their website. The onus is on the customer to get international roaming enabled and to ensure you have the right type of phone for the country, ie tri- or quad-band.

31-01-2007, 18:07	#5
dd68 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Posts: 16,810	I am with Virgin and roaming is automatic in the US

31-01-2007, 18:35	#6
JohnnyMan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Reading Posts: 49	Quote: Originally Posted by dd68 I am with Virgin and roaming is automatic in the US Presumably because Virgin use the T-Mobile network which also has a US presence. Anyway, I managed to get through to someone at Vodafone who knew his stuff. Outgoing calls work on a ringback principle depending on the network used. It is certainly the case on the Cingular network here. The way to do it is: 1. Dial #12301144{plus UK number without leading zero}# 2. Press "send" 3. Message comes back on screen saying that you will shortly receive a ringback. 4. Vodafone mobile rings 5. Called UK number rings ...and hey presto! What a kerfuffle! Apparently it's down to the way the billing works. I told the man I wasn't impressed as I could treat my O2 mobile like it was stilll in the UK - no international codes needed, 901 for voicemail etc. If Cingular is a preferred supplier for Vodafone, I'd hate to be connected to a non-preferred one! Thanks for your help everyone.

01-02-2007, 14:24	#7
quinnyyy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bedford, Bedfordshire Posts: 600	Thats madness!!! It might be something to do with their billing but what they are making people do to make calls. You had to try and try to find that information out, think of all the vodafone customers over seas that can't use their phone cause they don't know that. What a useless operator.

01-02-2007, 16:51	#8
vanyablue Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 1,030	What a bizarre system. It must be an American thing, because Vodafone works normally (+44 and all that) everywhere else. (Well, Tenerife, Singapore, France and New Zealand I can vouch for).

01-02-2007, 17:26	#9
lincsat Forum Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Lincoln, UK Posts: 1,459	I have used vodafone in the states although it was a few years back so I can't remember the network. Calls went through fine with +44

01-02-2007, 18:58	#10
hobbes79 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK Posts: 337	I assume you have, but have you had a go at dialing a UK number without the +44... just dialing it as you would in the UK? For some networks when abroad, it does the trick. Something to do with the network alreday realising you are using a UK SIM. Worth a try.

02-02-2007, 15:21	#11
JohnnyMan Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Reading Posts: 49	Quote: Originally Posted by hobbes79 I assume you have, but have you had a go at dialing a UK number without the +44... just dialing it as you would in the UK? For some networks when abroad, it does the trick. Something to do with the network alreday realising you are using a UK SIM. Worth a try. I've tried all options, including the one you mention. The only one that works is the convoluted one above. My O2 business phone works in the way you suggest. The network realises it's a UK SIM so I can dial out in just the same way I can can in the UK, including all the shortcodes. I think I'll transfer my personal phone to O2 before I come to the US again.

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Using a mobile in the US - HELP!