<![CDATA[the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known]]>alt text

Of relevance to UT users in USA only - to date T-mobile has been the one network that has allowed UT devices to continue reliably sending and receiving calls, as other networks have already made VoLTE support a requirement for this, but I just received this notice that as of July 1, 2022 T-mobile will only enable calls via VoLTE. AT&T will also shut down its 3G network for all calls later this month on February 22, 2022.

Initial road map towards developing VoLTE support for UT can be read at https://ubports.com/blog/ubports-news-1/post/first-steps-in-volte-support-for-ubuntu-touch-3768 and at https://www.jeroenbaten.nl/UT-VoLTE-proposed-technical-architecture.pdf
Given that the core UT dev team is currently engaged in the huge tasks of rebasing UT to Ubuntu 20.04, as well as maintaining the current 16.04 release for 78+ devices - a 5 month window to enable VoLTE support seems unrealistically optimistic at this point.

Regardless of what happens with VoLTE support development, I will definitely continue to run UT devices as secondary Wifi ones, and will certainly try to contribute to the community - but on a pragmatic level, calls are a vital part of what my daily driver phone needs to do.

SIP is possibly another option for enabling calls on UT, and the Linphone app 0.9.2 arm64 beta click which has been available for testing seems to be functional, even though buggy in my tests (my connection to Linphone account only worked when Wifi was off, so mobile data on only) - but I am not sure how well this would work for receiving all calls.

Quoting UT user "rocket2infinty":
SIP integration into the dialer, or linphone (with added dialer) would be the easier solution to our problem, but no one is working on it. I'm a hardware guy, so I lack the software skills to do it myself
The UT linphone app works with a TLS connection, but no option for UDP connections (which happen to be the majority for most home service SIP providers)
I have experimented with this for the last year anticipating 3G shutdown. I have solutions, but they require some help finishing, SIP service in the dialer or linphone. Maybe that now it's crunch time, someone with the skills will give us a boost"

Anyway - I would be happy to donate into any fund that goes towards a developer working on either better SIP support (and there certainly is a good start with the Linphone app) or VoLTE support (which seems like the bigger and more difficult chore at this point) - and truly hope that if my ability to use Ubuntu Touch for my daily driver phone capable of making and receiving calls is disrupted, that this will be only a temporary interruption, as I truly prefer UT over any other mobile OS.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/topic/7384/the-definite-volte-deadline-date-in-the-usa-is-now-knownRSS for NodeSat, 16 May 2026 23:53:46 GMTSat, 05 Feb 2022 00:06:53 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 13 Feb 2022 21:33:43 GMT]]>@alter My pleasure.
Learning is a 2-ways process: first learn about something then pass it on to another curious soul.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61777https://forums.ubports.com/post/61777Sun, 13 Feb 2022 21:33:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 13 Feb 2022 21:21:15 GMT]]>@applee : Thanks for pointing this out. I wasn't aware of this.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61776https://forums.ubports.com/post/61776Sun, 13 Feb 2022 21:21:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:11:30 GMT]]>@alter
First of all sharing priorities is not really a thing when you don't have enough manpower.
Than the foundation HAS to go to 20.04 before anything else because the changes brought by 20.04 can change how to make other things work (e.g. VoLTE).

Such a consortium exists (sort of) and that's the Ofono project:
http://www.ofono.org
Also you can read the plan for UBPorts there:
https://www.jeroenbaten.nl/UT-VoLTE-proposed-technical-architecture.pdf

Be sure that everyone is aware of the urgency and of the consequences related to VoLTE

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61754https://forums.ubports.com/post/61754Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:11:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sat, 12 Feb 2022 13:52:33 GMT]]>@flohack : I understand that the move to 20.04 is a number 1 priority, and that there are no volunteers with dev skills who can work on VoLTE support now. But VoLTE support seems to qualify for a shared number 1 prio. If UT doesn't offer VoLTE soon, at least part of its users will have to leave UT because of their network providers switching off 2 & 3G (and sooner or later this will be the case everywhere). I guess all alternative mobile OS'es are facing the same challenge and need to find a solution a.s.a.p. Wouldn't it be possible to set up a 'consortium of alternative mobile OS'es' to work on a solution (for VoLTE, and maybe e-sim and other challenges too) together? And if there are no volunteer devs, perhaps start a funding campaign to hire devs. I saw that Redhat also offers software solutions to providers to offer VoLTE. Maybe such a company would be a good partner? Also, a 'consortium' could perhaps persuade phone manufacturers to cooperate in development, because the combined OS'es together represent a bigger user group than they would alone.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61708https://forums.ubports.com/post/61708Sat, 12 Feb 2022 13:52:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:14:07 GMT]]>@flohack said in the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known:

its questionable if that is a way forward for all user needs

As 3G will shut down in more and more countries, having VoLTE working wil be mandatory for more and more users.
And as you seem to say VoLTE will be years in dev time to work on halium devices... I see only one solution in meantime ^^

As you may know already i'm not in trouble with 3G myself, but i know if i was and need it and no UT phone having VoLTE, i'd go back droid...

I cannot say what we will do after 20.04 but this is still so huge that we do not start worrying today, sadly. 20.04 will keep us dramatically occupied, unless we find a way to share the work better with the community devs, a problem unsolvable it seems.

You do your best with ressources you have at UBP and that's all matters.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61579https://forums.ubports.com/post/61579Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:14:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:57:15 GMT]]>@keneda The beauty of the Pinephone is that its IoT modem can handle VoLTE in the firmware, but this modem has other challenges as we know, and its questionable if that is a way forward for all user needs. We still have to solve stability and energy efficiency on this platform, and without the help of the Pinephone community and PINE64 this likely wont be easy.

I cannot say what we will do after 20.04 but this is still so huge that we do not start worrying today, sadly. 20.04 will keep us dramatically occupied, unless we find a way to share the work better with the community devs, a problem unsolvable it seems.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61578https://forums.ubports.com/post/61578Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:57:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:55:21 GMT]]>For France, 2G and 3G coverage can be expected until 2030.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61577https://forums.ubports.com/post/61577Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:55:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:33:04 GMT]]>@Flohack So Pinephones and other open hardware projects, even non affordables ones, are the best way for the futur of UT and cummunity.

Now the question is when it will become a priority to have at least one full supported ? After 20.04 ?

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61573https://forums.ubports.com/post/61573Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:33:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:56:39 GMT]]>@flohack Lol! I didn't follow all of that, but it did help. Thanks for taking the time to spell it out.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61567https://forums.ubports.com/post/61567Tue, 08 Feb 2022 22:56:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:46:06 GMT]]>@flohack Indeed, the IR.92 official document is composed of 76 pages.
Tried to read to understand the basics, but just gave up due to the complexity...

https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/wp-content/uploads//IR.92-v16.0-1.pdf

There are 193 official documents related to VoLTE...

Maybe years of migraines and white hair are ahead us...

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61554https://forums.ubports.com/post/61554Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:46:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:29:38 GMT]]>@geekbone VoLTE has the beauty that most things for calls, sms/mms that were handled by the modem before will now be handled by a telephony stack in the Android container PLUS we need our own service on top of it to handle all that mess. We decompiled a few Java classes and that API is north of 150-200 single calls that all need attention and handling.

Its more like a reimplementation of signalling and call handling in upper layers. Definitely a project of a few resource-years (head-years) for UT, and not even then its clear if it would ever work (only on a few devices that use a more open IMS stack).

Thats an overview picture, only the leftmost part is relevant but still...
e9a8b227-4a75-4e07-a9c5-423b370c27bd-grafik.png

IMS means its prepared for multimedia data, so every call can contain also video, verious codecs etc. Its much, much, much more than just a POTS voice call 😉

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61553https://forums.ubports.com/post/61553Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:29:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:21:54 GMT]]>@geekbone Well, it will, but in UT voice calls can not be handled over LTE nor WiFi yet.
So if 3G is cut, you won't be able to make nor receive phone calls.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61552https://forums.ubports.com/post/61552Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:21:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:13:22 GMT]]>@flohack I guess I am still confused about all of this. I have a Pixel 3a that is loaded with Android (My UT phone is a Nexus 5) and I am on T-Mobile. I received notification that my Nexus 5 would no longer work, but they said my other phones will be fine. (Wife has a pixel 3), so wouldn't UT still work on the 3a?

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61550https://forums.ubports.com/post/61550Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:13:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:55:39 GMT]]>@messayisto Should not be a problem in EU with PP or PPP.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61505https://forums.ubports.com/post/61505Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:55:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:45:35 GMT]]>@rocket2nfinity That sounds awesome - can somebody confirm for the EU?

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61503https://forums.ubports.com/post/61503Mon, 07 Feb 2022 20:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:40:46 GMT]]>@flohack PP and PPP share the same modem - quectel eg25g. It already does VoLTE on UT without any instruction from UT for it to do so. It even works with Verizon.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61495https://forums.ubports.com/post/61495Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:40:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:56:28 GMT]]>@keneda well they are good candidates, idk which modem is in the PPP, but they need to be made more usable with UT, thats also not easy.

But yes, probably good candidates (if they work with VoLTE in the US, idk, US is special for everything)

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61490https://forums.ubports.com/post/61490Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:56:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:12:01 GMT]]>@flohack said in the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known:

Until there is decent open hardware this will prevent any proliferation of open technology.

What about the PP and PPP ?

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61474https://forums.ubports.com/post/61474Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:12:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:08:45 GMT]]>@flohack Hum, that's depressing. In Sweden 2G and 3G will be shut down before 2025 at latest.
To me this sounds like the end for UT. At least in its current form...

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61468https://forums.ubports.com/post/61468Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:08:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 21:21:28 GMT]]>Will be a sad day for UT...

VoLTE is as far as a galaxy away. This is still lightyears from a sustainable solution, as already some posters remarked, VoLTE support will come to a few chosen devices only, if ever. As long as that thing is not standardized its impossible for smaller projects to reverse-engineer that part, also as typically in Android the same vendor makes their stuff incompatible already with the next device (Not even talking about multiple vendors), and for every model we need again to dive into this.

The same applies to eSIM: We need to learn a lot from unofficial sources so to say how to implement the right protocols.

Until there is decent open hardware this will prevent any proliferation of open technology.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61467https://forums.ubports.com/post/61467Sun, 06 Feb 2022 21:21:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 21:02:30 GMT]]>@rondarius one correction for UBuntu LTS: Its supported for 5 years, which means that by now we have only 3 years left until we need to shift to 24.04 😉

The idea is also to maybe move to STS versions again - a mobile phone distro on long term support means we always will have outdated packages of everything, and are constantly struggling in an ever-changing IT world.

Having an STS or even rolling release would be much better, also because upgrading constantly smaller parts of our OS is much easier than locking down everything every 3 years or so.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61466https://forums.ubports.com/post/61466Sun, 06 Feb 2022 21:02:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 14:12:16 GMT]]>@dizzy
I was hoping for Canonical to host an email service too 😊

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61443https://forums.ubports.com/post/61443Sun, 06 Feb 2022 14:12:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:37:59 GMT]]>@rondarius I could definitely pay for hosting my Nextcloud at UBPorts if that would make them earn some money. Remember Ubuntu One by the way? Long time ago

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61439https://forums.ubports.com/post/61439Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:37:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to the definite VoLTE deadline date in the USA is now known on Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:09:57 GMT]]>@dizzy
No, no one should be forced to anything. When it comes to nextcloud, it was a suggestion. Of course you should be able to use your own setup or none at all.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/61437https://forums.ubports.com/post/61437Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:09:57 GMT