VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL
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@Eric-H the pixel 3a is a slot a/b device. Just at work but will investigate the things you mentioned this evening. Thanks!
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@atarilinux much appreciated. Thanks!
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I've been searching, but finding a successful port is bit hard to find. I did come across these things if they may be helpful! If I find anything else, I will let you know.
Same Issue (But Unresolved):
https://xdaforums.com/t/halium-12-build-for-sm-t290-need-help.4605123/Old Porting Method (Unfortunately):
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/11131/halium-12.0-lineageos-19.1-ubuntu-touch-focal-20.04-for-samsung-galaxy-s10-beyond1lte-build-rootfs-from-scratchAnother Halium Build with some Troubleshooting:
https://dev.to/ar2rworld/how-i-installed-ubuntu-touch-halium-on-the-xiaomi-redmi-4a-rolex-full-step-by-step-ubuntu-3l4mHalium 12 Upgrades and Ubuntu Touch on Q&A
https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/ubuntu-touch-q-a-161-3956 -
I also found this and thought it was interesting. It is regarding Mobian, but does mention the Google Pixel 3a working and receiving calls.
https://blog.mobian.org/posts/2025/02/early-2025-news/
Also, Droidian has a Halium 12 port for Volla Phone.
https://github.com/droidian-images/droidian/releases/tag/droidian%2F101.20250906
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@atarilinux That (VoLTE on P3a w/ Mobian) is with q6voiced and 81Voltd. Last I read it is broken again. Although, P3a is almost complete with mainline linux (especially with PostmarketOS - has patches not yet upstreamed). Might want to talk to Oren (maintainer of the Pinephone) if you want to try making a mainline port of UT for the P3a. OP6 is functional with VoLTE with mainline (with occasional hiccups) and OP6T can also call, but still has audio issues w/VoLTE last I read. Considering the OP6/6T is unmaintained with UT, it could benefit from a new maintainer - halium or mainline.
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@atarilinux thanks for all the links! I just got back from vacation so will have a read through them soon and see if a way forward jumps out.
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Thanks for the information!
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Hope you had a great vacation!
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Just an update. I haven't really been able to find that much on Halium 12 and the Google Pixel 3a. Perhaps a mainline Linux build would be better? However, it looks like we may have some bad news on the way again. 4G may shut down in a couple of years or less, or at least T-Mobile plans on dropping it soon.
https://www.phonearena.com/news/t-mobile-4g-lte-shutdown_id174676
Overall, there is a lot to love about Ubuntu Touch...especially the Google Pixel 3a port. However, it increasingly seems more like a form of "Pocket PC" than an actual daily driver phone capable of making and receiving calls...mainly due to things outside of the work the Linux community has been doing, such as T-Mobile's decisions.
I'd hate to waste development time on something that might not last more than a year if we get everything up and running. Also, I'm not entirely sure "new phones" without an existing Ubuntu Touch partnership would always be a permanent solution either if the hardware is not replaceable and if development happens after the release date.
Supporting a phone with upgradable software and easily upgradeable hardware (modem, etc.) might be ideal for the Linux phone community to get behind. It seems we keep hitting a long development time and a short reward time as far as phone support unfortunately.
In this sense, Ubuntu Touch's partnership with Fairphone seems like a good match if it can be expanded upon and if development can happen on a phone before release. That way it works out of the box for the longest amount of time without many issues. It will also unite the community around similar hardware.
I'm unsure of Ubuntu Touch's plans for the US. With Volla and Fairphone, it seems European users will get the most support. If Fairphone and Volla decide the US is a good market for an "Ubuntu Edition" phone, I'm sure many users would be happy. However, as if currently stands with import fees, etc. I can't say this is a viable option for most US users. For those in the US, we may have to look at alternative phone providers that will have phones supported long enough for the development time to be worth it if we are looking for a daily driver.
Again, I appreciate everyone's hard work, creativity, thoughtfulness, and experimentation. I love Ubuntu Touch and still plan on using the Google Pixel 3a. I have learned a lot during this process and hope to continue learning more. With the recent news, it just seems like to me that the opportunity window for this device to be a daily driver or main phone has already passed. Instead, based on factors outside of the Linux community, I will use this as a Pocket PC/Media Player. I have decided that it might not become a viable daily driver or "main phone."
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@atarilinux I agree with a lot of your points. I tried to daily drive it for a couple of weeks but there are a lot of things that are unpolished and require workarounds, workarounds that I don't feel like doing as a user TBH. I am not a dev.
I keep my eye on the project every couple of days to see what is new, as well as the live q&A videos every second Saturday.
With the announcement of the "smooth edges" initiative, I'm hoping that it does get some polish in the 20 week time frame that is being proposed. Until then, I am back to my S24.