topic Re: Re: Activate my USA roaming in Mobile Services

Re: Activate my USA roaming

SMILER1611_HOT — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:21:41 GMT

I had the same problem on a recent visit to NYC. Eventually I found out why when I went in to an AT&T shop . The assitant there says he gets about 3 Brits a day walking in with the same problem. He explained that AT&T recently completely shut down their 3g network in the USA. For some reason all Apple phones pre 6 and a large proportion of Android phones (inc my Samsung A40) just don't work on the remaining 4g/LTE networks. For some reason no one at EE seems to be aware of this (or are pretending that don't know so that they can still charge customers for roaming!).

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/plan-ahead-phase-out-3g-cellular-networks-and-service#:~:text=Plans%20and%20timing%20to%20phase,network%20by%20December%2031%2C%202022.

Re: Re: Activate my USA roaming

SMILER1611_HOT — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:37:43 GMT

See this article which adds more detail: https://uk.pcmag.com/old-wireless-carriers/138961/the-3g-shutdown-how-will-it-affect-your-phone

"However, gray-market devices that weren't designed for US networks, including international variants of popular Samsung phones, are getting cut off. For more on that, see our story on why your AT&T smartphone may suddenly stop working."

There is a particular issue with Samsung phones that are sold in the UK (& look exactly the same as similarly branded US models) but which aren't configured for the US:

"The folks getting a nasty surprise are people who bought smartphones not designed for US networks. Some of them aren't sold here, like Huawei and Xiaomi models. Those were always living on borrowed time. The really tricky ones, though, are Samsung models that look exactly like phones sold and supported in the US, but aren't."

WHY DON'T EE'S CUSTOMER SERVICES & TECHNICAL SUPPORT KNOW ABOUT THIS ???!!!

Re: Re: Activate my USA roaming

SMILER1611_HOT — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:00:12 GMT

If you have an older phone or any Samsung phone bought in the UK this may be the reason.
I suspect EE are deliberately playing dumb on this. I can't believe that they don't know. Might be something to do with a huge stock of phones they are selling in UK that won't work in the USA?

https://uk.pcmag.com/old-wireless-carriers/138961/the-3g-shutdown-how-will-it-affect-your-phone

"The iPhone 6 and all newer iPhones are all fine; ditto for the Galaxy S5 generation of phones and later. In general, smartphones that launched after 2014 and flip phones that launched after 2017 should continue to work."

However, gray-market devices that weren't designed for US networks, including international variants of popular Samsung phones, are getting cut off. For more on that, see our story on why your AT&T smartphone may suddenly stop working."

"The folks getting a nasty surprise are people who bought smartphones not designed for US networks. Some of them aren't sold here, like Huawei and Xiaomi models. Those were always living on borrowed time. The really tricky ones, though, are Samsung models that look exactly like phones sold and supported in the US, but aren't."

https://uk.pcmag.com/old-wireless-carriers/138436/why-your-att-smartphone-may-suddenly-stop-working-soon

"Samsung makes several different variants of each of its phones, for different countries. Carriers in the US sell the "U" model; Samsung.com and Best Buy sell the unlocked "U1" model. Both have been approved for 4G calling use by all the US carriers.

But several Amazon sellers, as well as B&H Photo, sell other international models to US buyers—models ending with "B" "F" or "M", for instance. Those models haven't been verified by the US carriers and may not be supported."

Re: Re: Activate my USA roaming

Christopher_G — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 17:33:51 GMT

Hi @SMILER1611_HOT

If you have a 4G/5G phone, it should automatically connect to those network modes if 3G is not available.

We have a page on our website that explains what's happening with this and with our 3G network:

We’re Switching Off Our 3G Network

Chris

Re: Re: Activate my USA roaming

SMILER1611_HOT — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:13:05 GMT

If you have an older phone or any Samsung phone bought in the UK this may be the reason.
I suspect EE are deliberately playing dumb on this. I can't believe that they don't know. Might be something to do with a huge stock of phones they still have to shift in UK that won't work when roaming in the USA?