VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL
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@atarilinux said in VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL:
To be honest and perhaps more specific, a Linux phone can be a daily driver that can make and receive calls. I actually do have one that is a daily driver at the moment. However, the Google Pixel 3a with Ubuntu Touch can't be my daily driver as the phone system is too unreliable. As a Pocket PC/Media Player it is great! It is just not a great "phone."
Ubuntu Touch as a system is A LOT more user friendly than other systems I've tried so far. I can see where they are going with it, and I really like the direction for the entry-level Linux user. Similarly, it is good enough for a developer too...though some choices can be controversial to some. If I would recommend a normal user a Linux phone, Ubuntu Touch would probably be the first one I would go with.
The main focus right now would be to get the phone part reliable, not in the short term, but in the long term. If 4G goes down and 5G isn't working, we are back to where we were a couple of years ago with a Pocket PC and not a true smartphone alternative. I'd hate to see that happen again.
I think that is the main reason why I wrote what I did. I'd hate to see all the time, effort, and development go to waste simply because someone else decided to pull the plug. A Pocket PC is a fine thing on its own, and I love the idea with convergence, etc. However, I think most are going to judge it as a smartphone instead of a Pocket PC. They will look at it and say "It's a phone. Why can't I call, etc.?" A number of people will complain abut having 2 devices, etc. They will rate the operating system as a whole unfairly.
I'm definitely going to use the Google Pixel 3a. I'm going to test things out and see what what I can do with it. I'm still going to support Ubuntu Touch. However, development towards making it a daily driver seems like it would be a lot of cost for only a very short term gain. That is the most unfortunate part of this. If 4G was left running for a while or if the phone's hardware could be updated in some manner, we wouldn't have this issue.
the definition of "phone" has broadened over the last decade. when your average user thinks of a "phone", they aren't just thinking of basic phone capabilities like making and receiving calls. our expectations of what a "phone" is capable of doing is so much more.
for the average user who is looking for another operating system to use rather than android or iOS, I would definitely NOT recommend UT in its current form exactly for the reason above.
when that user looks at what other "phones" are capable of our of the box, said user is gonna be like "why do i have to jump through these hoops just to do what so-and-so can do with their device?". for you and I, it might not be so much of an issue, as for other tinkerers, hobbyists, because we know how to deal with it.
UT lacks polish and the devs are aware of this (the "smooth edges" project, in fact, appears to be designed so that these rough edges and workarounds would be corrected so potential users don't get scared away). i am watching this initiative because that's what it needs to happen.
i would feel terrible recommending a new user to UT in its current state, even on a newer device.
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@zakafx said in VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL:
i would feel terrible recommending a new user to UT in its current state, even on a newer device.
I would not, as long as the user has the right mindset and enough knowledge of the limitations and possible pitfalls. If someone is going into this adventure with open eyes and a clear view, I don't see a problem.
In fact I've helped two people transition to UT recently and they seem to be happy about the experience. -
@Moem yes, the average user doesn't have that in mind and wants something that just works out of the box. UT doesn't "just work" for this category of users without lowering expectations. i think i was pretty clear on this on my previous reply.
for myself: I went in full knowing that this is a work in progress operating system. for the time that I did spend with it, I did get used to the quirks and bugs, but then I started noticing that it takes me longer to perform certain tasks in UT compared to Android. this became tiresome and eventually switched to Lineage to test out. if waydroid integration was improved (waydroid notifications to UT notification window, always running, seamless app launching without having to wait for waydroid to boot), it probably wouldn't be that big of a deal in that aspect.
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@zakafx Since Waydroid seems to be important to you, maybe UT is simply not the best fitting OS for your needs?
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@Moem I think you are missing the point. I don't want to rely on Waydroid, but this is the offering we (the users) get in order to retain some sort of "compatibility" with what we know and with what works (and proves my original point that you seem to be deflecting on, that UT isn't ready for the average user, if we have to rely on workarounds just to use UT).
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@zakafx Or we may be different people with different needs. I'm not sure which of us is the 'average' user. We might both be. I'm not sure that I'm deflecting either... what I'm sure of is that UT meets enough of my needs to be daily driveable (for me).
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"Average user" and "Daily Driver" is a bit hard to define once we bring in apps. For my case, I'll just define it as can I use my phone as a phone with anticipating some app or web functionality. Similarly, I would also look at how easy is it to break the phone functionality or the OS.
For me, if the phone actually worked, the Google Pixel 3a Ubuntu Touch would be 95% daily drivable for me. The camera would be the only other main issue. I define "daily driver" if I can use the phone for personal, work, and travel.
I think this type of average user would be more aware of what life was like before smartphones or wants to detach from the current things whatever they may be. Maybe they just want something different too or are more developer focused? Ubuntu Touch meets most of these points.
Now, if I'm a person who needs a lot of apps because I grew up with apps and that is my expectation and what I am used to, any Linux phone could potentially be a hardpass....unless it is a Steam machine or latest social media thing or something I guess. Not sure what is all popular these days.
As for me, if the phone works, I know a number of people who may be interested in Ubuntu Touch. I may have to help them with general setup and how to use the phone to get what they need though. A number of the "main" apps people use have web-based ways to use them or have an alternative in the store, a way to use the app with Waydroid, etc. I think the smooth edges initiative could help with this.
In time, we can expect more apps, etc. However, that does not mean it can't be daily driveable for an average user. It just might be those who have to wait a bit more till it can meet their needs. Those needs kind of depend on the person and how they satisfy those needs can happen in different ways.
I can see both sides, and both sides are right. We just have to look at a target population first and then see where and how we can get population growth.
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@atarilinux
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.Brax Technologies is working with developers on both sides to bring Ubuntu Touch to the Brax3 phone for US and European users. It's in the alpha stage currently. Beta testing will be announced in the near future.
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@atarilinux said in VoLTE Implementation For Google Pixel 3a/3a XL:
For me, if the phone actually worked, the Google Pixel 3a Ubuntu Touch would be 95% daily drivable for me.
Well, as always there are no guarantees, but that device may in the near future be getting a new maintainer, who is US based.
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Hi
I have some news from Sweden regarding VoLTE
It's not enough to have VoLTE working on the phones. They need the capability to make emergency calls too.
This means that for example the pixel 3A, the Pinephone(Pro), will be blocked from calls/sms,mms because the lack of emergency calls. This effects these carriers:
Tre
Telenor
Tele2Telia will keep their 2/3G networks until the end of 2027.
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I am using Tele2.
I installed Lineageos nightly on two of my phones and in the beginning I could make volte calls, but yesterday(I thinK) it dropped to 3g during calls.
I have checked in my pages at Tele2 and they have blocked the pixel 3a to use volte.
I am able to make volte calls on my pinephone using Mobian. But it is red-listed on my pages on Tele2, this means that the pinephone will be blocked 1 february 2026, I guess, it could be dropped 9 december too.
I heared somewhere that hey are doing the same thing in Australia, I have little to none information for the rest of Europe, how they implements volte emergency calling, or how they rules out the unsupported devices.
