Finally a solution to wifi calling not working on Sky Mobile.

[Hogshawrabbit]

Yes that ROAMING in the EU was a pain for us too. 

Just walk away use ASDA or SMARTY both work a treat.

The ASDA mobile app still has glitches though like you can't top up correctly at times but they do answer the phone quickly and sort things out. 🙂 

Out of the two I really liked SMARTY on the 3 Network but their coverage was not as good as Voda.

[Hogshawrabbit]

Here's a question I asked the AI Gemini about this issue. How did mobile phone companies limit Wi-Fi calling on their own branded phones. What method do they use to identify their own supplied phones?
Gemini states....
There are a couple of ways mobile phone companies might have limited Wi-Fi calling on their branded phones in the past (this practice is becoming less frequent):

Custom Firmware:

Carriers sometimes customize the software (firmware) on the phones they sell. This firmware might include settings or configurations specific to their network. These modifications could potentially disable Wi-Fi calling functionality unless the phone detects it's connected to the carrier's network (through hidden network identifiers or other checks).
Provisioning App:

Carriers might pre-install a provisioning app on their branded phones. This app could configure various settings on the phone, including enabling or disabling features like Wi-Fi calling. The app might check for specific identifiers on the phone (not necessarily IMEI) to determine if it's a carrier-supplied device and activate Wi-Fi calling accordingly.
Identifying Carrier Supplied Phones:

Here's how carriers might identify their own supplied phones (without necessarily relying on IMEI):

Device Provisioning Data: During the initial setup process, the phone might communicate with the carrier's servers. This exchange could involve data specific to carrier-supplied phones, allowing them to identify the origin and potentially restrict features.

Unique Identifiers (not IMEI): While IMEI is a unique identifier for the phone itself, some manufacturers might include additional identifiers within the phone's firmware that carriers can access. These could be model numbers with carrier suffixes or internal codes pre-programmed by the manufacturer during production for the carrier.

It's important to note that these are potential methods, and the specific approach might vary depending on the carrier and phone model. Regulations and market pressure have generally pushed carriers to be more open to Wi-Fi calling functionality regardless of the phone's origin.

[PappaPete]

That's a great explanation how it works, I was pretty sure the problem was not anything to do with IMEI numbers, this confirms it. If only SKY were as honest. Operator settings are sent out by the provider when you first register the SIM to the phone, I am sure this is when the services are either activated or deactivated. Perhaps when Sky lose more users they might realise and do something about it.

[DanBaiUK]

The issue that related to Pixel phones and wifi calling appears not to have been a Sky issue.  Pixel phones could not recieve the network config that sky pushes out.  If you bought a Pixel via Sky they updated firmware but this could not be done for people who bought there phones direct from Google for example.  The second I intall the June feature pack on my pixel 8 I could then turn on wifi calling via the sim option.  This was not linked to anything Sky had done.  We have 4 Pixel phones in our family the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 7 all started woring as soon as the June feature pack was installed.  Unfortunately it did not seem to work on the Pixel 6 Pro!  If you want to force the June update go to Settings, System, Software updates.  System update and click check for updates.  You may need to click a couple of times.

[Hogshawrabbit]

Here's a statement about the June 24 Pixel update I have found.

Google Pixel update.

June 2024 update: There were reports of Wi-Fi calling issues with Pixel phones on various networks (not just O2) that were supposedly fixed with a June 2024 update. If your Pixel phone isn't updated, you might have encountered issues before the fix.

This begs the question would these Pixel phones have work with WiFi calling on ASDA / SMARTY or an other MVO (Mobile Virtual Operator)? Or was this issue specific to the MVO SKY and its O2 partner?

Was the Pixel issue separate from the other customers where there phones work perfectly with other providers just not on SKY?

[DanBaiUK]

It appeared to be specific to certain networks, I have multiply sims in my Pixel 8 Pro and it has always worked with wifi calling on EE, the June update fixed an issue with certain MVO networks on Pixel phones.  Saying that though it does not appear to have fixed in on the Pixel 6 and Sky.

[Hogshawrabbit]

Just out of interest regarding the Pixel 6Pro. Have you checked the SIMS APN setting where the network configurations are stored? 

I had a problem on my mums Samsung that did not work but mine did as we had the exact same phones. I checked her APN settings and they were different. Once edited her's then worked.

Maybe check the Pixel 7Pro APN settings and compare them to the 6Pro you could be lucky.

[DanBaiUK]

Will try and let you know, thank you 

[--Tony--]

I have a rolling £5 plan on 100mb, I took it because I had so much data banked from years ago, as long as you keep rolling, it does not expire, mine was/is years old. People think it expires after 1 year but the expiry date refreshes each time you roll the data, so as long as you keep rolling it all, it never expires.

Anyhow.... as I only had a few GB left, for the last 6 months I have a Lebara £1/month sim in slot 2 for data but got no wifi calling.

Yesterday I fitted a 24GB / 24 month 3 sim for a one off payment of £35 in slot 2 and noticed  wifi calling showed up, this is an amazing setup for me 24GB is way more than I will use in 2 years, the 3 data sim gives me free EU roaming, unlike their contract or PAYG sims and I get WIFI calling to boot.

Nothing to worry about for 2 years now, all the data I need (3), free calls and texts (sky), Free EU roaming and WIFI calling (3). Plus i'm banking that 100mb a month over the next 2 years and will have 2.4GB banked in 2 years time.

[--Tony--]

I'm going to correct myself here, it appears on Android you can't route calls from sim 1 to wifi calling on sime 2 but apparently you can on an iPhone. Oh well!
I tested it and it only allowed me to use the sim2 on 3 network which I dont have calls included in my plan, sim1 was greyed out.

[Gemma50]

I purchased my phone from Sky and have found out only this morning it doesn't work on WiFi calling DESPITE my phone being set to this mode AND my other sim receiving calls on WiFi. I have an iPhone and as it works on my other network provider can't be the phone!

Anyone able to help at all please? Thanks 

[PappaPete]

If you read the thread you will see what the solution is! Unfortunately the only solution as stated earlier is to STOP using Sky, they will give you every reason why your phone is at fault, it quite simply is Sky will not send the operator settings to your phone to activate WiFi calling, swap provider and it will work immediately along with better 5g coverage.

[wm65]

It seems to really be hit & miss. I DIDN'T purchase my Moto g13 phone from Sky, but WiFi calling has been working perfectly on my Sky SIM.. From one of the last Android updates, it's also working perfectly on a Lebara SIM in the second slot. I'm pleased, but totally baffled 🤪 

[wm65]

I'm not sure @--Tony-- and I'm FAR from an expert 🤭, but surely wifi calling is just that - calling over wifi...?

I have a dual SIM Moto g13 - Sky in SIM 1, Lebara in SIM 2 - and when I have wifi calling switched on (and am connected to home wifi / broadband), both SIMs appear to dial out using wifi calling.  

Apologies if I misunderstood your point 🥴

[Gemma50]

I don't believe the answer is in the thread! Unless of course you can explain to me how I end my contract with Sky without penalty?! 🤷‍♀️

Surely if Sky have offered something as part of their contract and so many people complain it doesn't work they are in breach but I'm not sure that would hold its own. If everyone on here has done as you said and left Sky then please let me know how so I can of course do the same. 

I've had issues with people, particularly our doctors surgery, advising they can't get though to me. The only way my phone works at home is to use WiFi calling due to very poor signal but it took me until this morning to realise that actually it was coming through on the other network provider, O2. Works perfectly with them so the phone isn't an issue, and as others have suggested the phone was purchased though Sky, so should also work on their network. No hit and miss, just doesn't work at all.