EIR - THREE - VODAFONE GENERAL DISCUSSION

Ten Pin wrote: »

It depends what version of keep credit you're looking for...almost all networks allow top up and retain credit but there's no allowances included. Some plans have keep credit with allowances that are so small, they would only be useful to a minority of customers and those customers wouldn't be making any play store purchases anyway.


- Vodafone PAYG did have them, there are opt in SMS codes that might still work but as with Eir the allowances are small

babelfish1990 wrote: »

WiFi calling uses a secure IPSec Tunnel end-to-end between your handset and the mobile network core. It is every bit as secure as any other mobile call. This should rule out any interception by hackers who might have access to your WiFi. (Of course, both Alphabet/Google/Android and Apple are US companies, and who knows if the US authorities might be able to intercept all Google & Apple mobiles by some mechanism)

By the way, the Vodafone WiFi calling still has some serious limitations vs the Eir version. Vodafone do not support texting over WiFi, or use while abroad, and the service is not available on basic SIM-only plans. All of these features are supported by Eir. While Vodafone is supposed to be able to support VoLTE, and handover between WiFi Calling and VoLTE, evidence of this working seems to be a bit sketchy. Personally, I would rather have use abroad, texting vs handover.

babelfish1990 wrote: »

Eir was the first to launch WiFi Calling - several years before Vodafone launched their half-baked service.

The main advantage is free calls when abroad and on WiFi outside of the EU. Obviously within the EU, you already have free roaming calls, so this advantage is mainly to avoid exorbitant roaming rates outside of EU. Of course, it may become more useful after Dec, if UK leaves the EU trading agreement and thus loses free roaming rights! Another advantage is the ability to create seamless coverage within buildings with poor indoor coverage. This is becoming increasingly important in recent years, as Ireland moves towards buildings with higher levels of insulation. Building insulation, and A-Rated windows incorporate metallic layers which reflect mobile signals, as well as heat. Many new buildings have almost no mobile coverage in parts, and WiFi is the best means to compensate. Since you are already likely to install good WiFi for data coverage, it makes sense to use the same network for voice.

Another advantage is that you aren't entirely dependent on the mobile network RAN. If the RAN is down, for a 5G upgrade, due to a fault, or just overloaded due to COVID-19, your traffic is carried directly on the fixed fibre network, so bypassing all the usual bottlenecks.

You might say - why not use WhatsApp, Skype etc - and for person-to-person calls these are a viable alternative. However, when it comes to making or receiving calls to/from businesses, (eg Hospitals, Banks, GP Surgeries etc), these are rarely accessible on WhatsApp. Also the increasing number of 2FA authentication services that use Text, from banks, internet services etc - you can't do with WhatsApp (but remember Vodafone don't support texts either so will have a problem with 2FA).

babelfish1990 wrote: »

Neither Vodafone nor Eir offer WiFi Calling on PAYG, but Eir do offer it on their most basic SIM-only bill-pay tariffs, from €14.99pm (for non Eir customers - €9.99 for existing Eir customers). You could select the €14.99 Eir plan instead of your Vodafone X €20 plan. I have no idea whether your Three mid-band service is good enough to support WiFi calling. WiFi calling requires consistent high quality broadband - particularly low jitter and latency, and is probably best on a fibre-based service such as FTTC or FTTH. If you don't have FTTC or FTTH, you might need 5G - but this will cost you more, and is only available from Eir or Vodafone. Unless you live in an A-Rated home, or have coverage issues, you may not currently need WiFi calling at home? For me the biggest advantage is the free roaming abroad.

KildareP wrote: »

Unlikely.

If they wanted to introduce it they could easily have done so from Day 1 as they've essentially just rehashed what was the Meteor network which had WiFi Calling.

Expect GoMo will be the no frills, take it or leave it, type operation and if you want the extras then you need to take out a more expensive Eir plan.