SIMBA Telecom discussion thread

[Habrosus]

i think reliability is a series issue here.

I reckon those piggyback on the major telco networks are more reliable in terms of basic function such as calling out, where as Simba forces one to use VoLTE and does not welcome older phones (e.g., my iPhone 7 Plus). Not sure major telco still uses the conventional call service, unlike Simba where it forced network-wide implementation of VoLTE. Pls enlighten me if I am wrong.

With the reliability issue, makes me wonder, how many missed calls that I am not aware of.

Found out that a friend was having similar issue when I mentioned my encounter with a group.

He's seek Simba's help and was told that VoLTE has to be turned on.

True enough, I found mine turned off too, so I went to turn it back on and all is well.

But 1) I don't remember turning it off, as I hardly looked at it anyway. Could have happened during one of the latest iOS updates, when I found things missing and coming back as well, stuff like that. And 2) I don't see any such option to turn on/off on older iPhones...?

Anyway, will remember to check that option next time too.

Thanks, guys!

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

Found out that a friend was having similar issue when I mentioned my encounter with a group.

He's seek Simba's help and was told that VoLTE has to be turned on.

True enough, I found mine turned off too, so I went to turn it back on and all is well.

But 1) I don't remember turning it off, as I hardly looked at it anyway. Could have happened during one of the latest iOS updates, when I found things missing and coming back as well, stuff like that. And 2) I don't see any such option to turn on/off on older iPhones...?

Anyway, will remember to check that option next time too.

Thanks, guys!

Thanks for sharing. We know the root cause now, Auto-turned off VoLTE.

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

VoLTE is network level requirement, with only LTE network, traditional cellular call isnt possible on Simba, that should be known at the point of sign up, but perhaps not that obviously.

For iPhone 7 plus, it is 4 years old at the launch of Simba, Simba & Apple probably didnt see the point of including Simba's info on a phone that is almost obsolete. Yes this is 2 way, you need handset firmware support well. For the traffic light telcos those would have been in the phone for much longer. This is a disadvantage for a brand new MNO unfortunately.

Ah, no wonder. This explains a lot.

iPhone 7 Plus (a spare phone of mine) is still listed as supported device in SIMBA but then, I had to use Simba Voice app for calls.

For iPhone 15PM that I am using, no issue with Simba. Just occassional failure to make an outgoing calls.

Also, another funny thing about Simba is, when I make calls to a local number, the connecting appears to be the person is roaming in another country (you know, the Malaysian / Indonesian / Cambodian connecting tone). They were puzzled when I asked the question of "are you overseas?". lol.

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

guys, is there any drawback in enabling Wifi-calling?

 

[Habrosus]

Ah, no wonder. This explains a lot.

iPhone 7 Plus (a spare phone of mine) is still listed as supported device in SIMBA but then, I had to use Simba Voice app for calls.

For iPhone 15PM that I am using, no issue with Simba. Just occassional failure to make an outgoing calls.

Also, another funny thing about Simba is, when I make calls to a local number, the connecting appears to be the person is roaming in another country (you know, the Malaysian / Indonesian / Cambodian connecting tone). They were puzzled when I asked the question of "are you overseas?". lol.

For your iPhone 15PM, when that happened, did you check the VoLTE status? I wonder if that's really the (only) cause...

As for the overseas ringing tone, I get that from calling someone whom I know is using a Simba line. He's both Singtel and Simba, and only the latter has that. I know for sure he's still in town, and so am I.

guys, is there any drawback in enabling Wifi-calling?

*waiting to learn about this too*

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

For your iPhone 15PM, when that happened, did you check the VoLTE status? I wonder if that's really the (only) cause...

As for the overseas ringing tone, I get that from calling someone whom I know is using a Simba line. He's both Singtel and Simba, and only the latter has that. I know for sure he's still in town, and so am I.


*waiting to learn about this too*

Funny thing is, no option to enable/disable VoLTE on my SIMBA and Zero1 esim
I guess, i am safe from the special feature, Auto disable VoLTE

OH! so simba to simba, it is an overseas connecting tone?
Lion King really confusing people many many

 

[Habrosus]

Funny thing is, no option to enable/disable VoLTE on my SIMBA and Zero1 esim
I guess, i am safe from the special feature, Auto disable VoLTE

OH! so simba to simba, it is an overseas connecting tone?
Lion King really confusing people many many

Oh, strange then, coz we could see it on a 13PM, under Voice & Data. Or maybe selected iPhones, coz that's a dual SIM HK version, though I don't know if that makes a difference.

Ya man, I'm so confused now.

 

[froztheart]

Thanks.

I am thinking whether I want to get a SIMBA S$12 per month plan to try out roaming performance for my upcoming short China trip in mid December, in Comparison to my Eight S$8 4G plan.

I only need a bit of data. Voice call is good to have so Maxx is not that suitable.

For local use, I actually feel my Maxx S$10 plan is pretty good, even with minor glitches (occasionally need to airplane mode and then get back 5G SA).

Best to have backup, then if don't want to continue can just terminate.
No harm especially if you are visiting China which recently there's reported IP/connectivity issues.

The $12 SIMBA plan is definitely a good option for China roaming now that it's upsized!

 

[froztheart]

guys, is there any drawback in enabling Wifi-calling?

None, only advantage is where it will help make your calls supposedly smoother/more stable.

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

None, only advantages where it will help make your calls supposedly smoother.

ok i enabled it.

 

[Habrosus]

None, only advantages where it will help make your calls supposedly smoother.

Am I right to say that it'd only work when the mobile data connection isn't ideal, and that we're in an environment with WiFi access?

 

[froztheart]

Am I right to say that it'd only work when the mobile data connection isn't ideal, and that we're in an environment with WiFi access?

Depends on what you set, for IOS once toggled on will utilise WIFI Calling first and fallback to Cellular if WIFI connecitivity is lost.
But for Android, I believe have option to set preference for Mobile/WIFI as priority.

 

[froztheart]

ok i enabled it.

I want also don't have.

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

I want also don't have.

why don't have leh

 

[TyL3r_DuRd3n]

Depends on what you set, for IOS once toggled on will utilise WIFI Calling first and fallback to Cellular if WIFI connecitivity is lost.
But for Android, I believe have option to set preference for Mobile/WIFI as priority.

what if i logged into a wifi where log-in is required? if no log-in, no internet one.
like airport wifi?
no call can go in or out right?

 

[froztheart]

what if i logged into a wifi where log-in is required? if no log-in, no internet one.
like airport wifi?
no call can go in or out right?

Then not going to have VoWIFI ah, since WIFI connectivity not established yet mah.
I believe calls should still work ah, as long as you have connectivity (signal).

 

[froztheart]

why don't have leh

No idea, VoWIFI not working on my device....

 

[A7997A]

Found out that a friend was having similar issue when I mentioned my encounter with a group.

He's seek Simba's help and was told that VoLTE has to be turned on.

True enough, I found mine turned off too, so I went to turn it back on and all is well.

But 1) I don't remember turning it off, as I hardly looked at it anyway. Could have happened during one of the latest iOS updates, when I found things missing and coming back as well, stuff like that. And 2) I don't see any such option to turn on/off on older iPhones...?

Anyway, will remember to check that option next time too.

Think ios 17/18 do not have volte option, is enabled by default.

 

[A7997A]

what if i logged into a wifi where log-in is required? if no log-in, no internet one.
like airport wifi?
no call can go in or out right?

Depends on the phone. Some phones keeps trying like iphone but Simba vowifi dont work on iphone. Samsung tries for a while then stops but might try later.

Restarting wifi or wifi calling will restart the retries

 

[xiaofan]

Best to have backup, then if don't want to continue can just terminate.
No harm especially if you are visiting China which recently there's reported IP/connectivity issues.

The $12 SIMBA plan is definitely a good option for China roaming now that it's upsized!

Yes, I will get SIMBA S$12 plan early December, before the short trip in mid-December.

Then I can compare the performance of SIMBA China roaming (26GB China Roaming, free voice roaming) with Eight S$8 plan (only 2GB roaming data but with voice roaming).

Not so sure if I want to try out Maxx S$10 plan or not. it has 3GB China roaming data but no roaming voice. Another possibility is to port Maxx to SIMBA to save S$10.

I believe I do not need to turn on Singtel ReadyRoam Asia (S$18 for 6GB China roaming). And it changes high fees for roaming voice call, so I will just disable Roaming Data for the Singtel line (can still receive free SMS).

History of China short trips previously.
1) StarHub Prepaid Roaming Data as backup
2) China mobile number plus VPN (that is the main reason I did not care about roaming previously). I used different VPN solutions including Wireguard VPN on the router to bypass the Great Firewall and it did work for short trips.
3) No need to turn on roaming on the main SingTel line.

Unfortunately my China Mobile number is longer not functioning. Now need to explore roaming.