@JayH @mr_growl

I also found this UBPorts video from 6 years ago. It shows how to build a port. Some things probably have changed a bit since then, but it should assist in providing a visual for the Porting Documentation.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nShXVDXM50A

@zakafx

From the QA call, he said we would need to finish the port to get VoLTE running and that he would not be involved in this as his phone could not be used. I'm not sure if he is still working on and supporting the non-VoLTE ports or not. However, I can confrim that for the VoLTE "branch", he is not involved. I'm not sure what any of his future plans are for the Pixel 3a. However, I can say the work he has done is very valuable, and we are very appreciative of his work.

@AppLee
Hello all. I'm new here and love all the work you all are doing on Ubuntu Touch. In the United States, the Google Pixel 3a is cheap and readily available. Some of the other phones I've been looking at to run Ubuntu Touch are quite expensive to get in the United States, especially the Fairphone 5. I'd imagine the prices of any phone requiring imports could continue to increase.

Currently, I have been testing with the Google Pixel 3a. Alfred's work on this has been amazing. I'm sure all users of this device will agree! The only thing preventing me from using it as a daily driver is the lack of VoLTE. I'm able to get data over 4G, but I can't get phone calls. Phone calls only occur on 2G. On 4G mode, I can call out, but people can't call in. On 2G mode, I can call out and people can call in. For data priority, I have to switch it to 4G mode. For phone call priority, I have to switch it to 2G mode. 2G is important because I can only receive calls in this mode. The 2G/3G/4G mode won't swap the call down to 2G for me to receive it. I doubt swapping down to 2G is possible, but I could be wrong.

I may need to be pointed in the right direction on how to test. I'm not sure where the project left off and who all may be interested in continuing the development further. However, I want to show my appreciation for all the work done so far and see if this could potentially be taken further by a small group. I know Alfred is incredibly busy and can't dedicate as much time for it. However, for people in the US, the Google Pixel 3a presents a low bar of entry and great accessibility into the world of Ubuntu Touch for those who may want to try it out, learn more, etc.

If any notes can be left and a maybe a direction of where to go with incorporating VoLTE, that would be helpful! I don't know how I can help other than potential testing. I don't know anything about scripting for VoLTE, etc. However, maybe with some notes and research, a group can gather to learn more and help out!

In the worst case scenario that VoLTE won't come to the Google Pixel 3a, another phone recommendation may be needed for users in the US. If there is a phone recommendation that can run VoLTE, 5G, MMS, and Ubuntu Touch 24.04 that is in US, please let me know. I'd like to continue trying to see if I can make Ubuntu Touch a daily driver for me. Again, thanks for all you do!

@AetheralMeowstic

We have confirmed VoLTE is possible with Ubuntu Touch for the Google Pixel 3a. The VoLTE patch is included in this port. We just need to finish this port to get everything up an running. Currently, we need to get the device info file built.

The Ubuntu Touch community does see the need to get VoLTE up and running for those in the US and elsewhere. A number of phones are already running VoLTE. However, a number of these may be hard to get in the US or expensive. For example, the Fairphone 5 can run VoLTE in the US. Trying to find one in the US may be difficult or expensive. That is part of the reason why we are trying to get this port up and running. This could also help our European friends and others if their carrier has not dropped the Google Pixel 3a or does not include VoLTE Roaming.

Unfortunately, the original developer's carrier dropped the Google Pixel 3a, and this is the main reason why this port is unfinished. We already have confirmed that some carriers in the US still support the Google Pixel 3a and VoLTE Roaming. Therefore, we can continue this project for the original developer. We are always looking for people to help test and contribute!

@wally

Thanks! Yes, that is the main reason why I created this post. I wanted to assist anyone in the United States who may be interested in Ubuntu Touch as a potential daily driver and wanted to test VoLTE capability.

There's some great information in your post. I've been searching for some phones in case we can't get VoLTE working on it, it gets dropped by the carrier, etc. I'd definitely like a workable backup, but finding one that I know has official support has been a bit difficult.

I will keep looking and see what I can find out. If I come across anything, I will post here too!

I got a runner and tried to run it, but the build failed. I may need some assistance with Gitlab as I haven't used it before. I'm more used to building on a local machine. It will take me a while to read up on it, and I don't want to slow anyone down.

Here are the changes I made to deviceinfo if someone wants to fork and try it on their own:

deviceinfo_kernel_cmdline="console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 androidboot.console=ttyMSM0 printk.devkmsg=on msm_rtb.filter=0x237 ehci-hcd.park=3 service_locator.enable=1 firmware_class.path=/vendor/firmware cgroup.memory=nokmem lpm_levels.sleep_disabled=1 loop.max_part=7 androidboot.boot_devices=soc/7c4000.sdhci androidboot.super_partition=system buildvariant=user"

deviceinfo_bootimg_header_version="2"
deviceinfo_bootimg_os_version="12.0.0"
deviceinfo_bootimg_os_patch_level="2022-05"

This was taken from sargo-sp2a.220505.008-factory-071e368a which is the September 2022 build -
12.1.0 (SP2A.220505.008, Sep 2022).

Just checking in to see if anyone is willing to help test to see if we can get VoLTE to work on the Google Pixel 3a with any version of Lineage OS. This will help determine if VoLTE is even remotely possible for the Google Pixel 3a. We will need to look at several carriers. If you try this out, please list the following:

Android Version (We currently think the VoLTE patch is in Android 12.1.)
Lineage OS Version
Phone Version (sargo or bonito)
Phone Carrier
Country

If Lineage OS can detect VoLTE, this can give some hope that we may be able to get VoLTE working in the Google Pixel 3a for Ubuntu Touch.

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."

@moem @zakafx

"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.

Thanks for all this information. It makes me wonder what Ubuntu Touch phones will be supported as a proper phone in the next year or couple of years. Seems like it might not be enough just to have VoLTE working. We have to have 5G enabled, with emergency calling, and a phone that is supported by a carrier. Am I understanding correctly?

Glad to hear UB Ports is still looking at the US too.