Is VOLTE blacklisting stupidity still a thing in Canada?

WalterDnes

I’ve managed to brick a tablet in the past. I’d prefer a cheap phpne so that if I brick it whilst trying to disable alerts, I’ve “only” lost $300 dollars versus a $1500+ “flagship” phone.

I’m currently with Virgin+, a Bell flanker brand. They have some intersting sub-$300 phones on their website. However, each one “Requires an eligible 2 year plan”. Bleagh. They advertise that “BYOP” (Bring Your Own Phone) is allowed.

Cheap Android 4G phones are available from various retailers. I’ve heard horror stories in the past of carriers blacklisting 3rd-party phones from VOLTE “because we can”. What is the current status?

The TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G https://www.tcl.com/ca/en/products/mobile/tcl-50-series/tcl-50-xe-nxtpaper-5g-space-blue looks interesting.

Hydraglass

WalterDnes If you really just want to tinker first, go buy a cheap pre-paid Lucky mobile SIM for $10 with like $20 of balance on it from Dollarama. You can tinker until you’re blue and make sure you have all the service and access and everything you’re looking for and at worse you lose access for that SIM. I have only recently heard of the major carriers blacklisting 3rd party or other phones on VoLTE if the phone’s IMEI was flagged as stolen or fraudulent - but I also know a few folks who have managed to get a SIM+IMEI blocked by using a SIM in some sort of IoT device and running things like packet capture and port scanners and nMap and the like continuously over data (I have a feeling eventually you trip some of their intrusion detection equipment and they flag it as a hostile).

WalterDnes

Hydraglass
I did some more research. Actually it’s more like a “whitelist” approach. Bell is a bit sneaky, by only listing ancient models, most of which are already in the landfill. Go to https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/VoLTE and check the “Manufacturer” dropdown. Bell says “TCL 10L, TCL 10 Pro, TCL 20S, TCL 20 Pro 5G, TCL 30 5G, TCL 30 XE 5G, TCL 303”

Meanwhile VirginPlus (my carrier) https://www.virginplus.ca/en/support/voice-and-video-over-LTE.html?province=ON&geoResult=ON lists TCL supported models as… “10 Pro and all newer models”. That sounds better.

Telus meanwhile https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/how-to-use-volte#check-if-your-phone-is-supported has a webpage to enter your IMEI to check if it’s whitelisted.

Years ago I heard that it was a major scam. In extreme cases, carriers would support VOLTE on a specific model if you bought it from them, but not on the exact same model if bought from a 3rd-party store.

px_eliezer_

WalterDnes In extreme cases, carriers would support VOLTE on a specific model if you bought it from them, but not on the exact same model if bought from a 3rd-party store.

This has been somewhat common in the USA….

Hydraglass

WalterDnes Years ago I heard that it was a major scam. In extreme cases, carriers would support VOLTE on a specific model if you bought it from them, but not on the exact same model if bought from a 3rd-party store.

I think as 2G and 3G networks are being sunset, and more carriers are supporting voice over IP Data, putting limitations on Voice over LTE is becoming a bit passe. It used to be voice calls were almost always handled on 3G, while your data was LTE - now we’re on to 5G networks where voice and data are both handled as IP traffic, 3G and 2G networks are being sunset and turned off, and VoLTE is the “default” for voice calls when calling over IP isn’t available. Having 4G/LTE “limits” on voice doesn’t make for a business case like it did in 2019.

WalterDnes

Hydraglass I think as 2G and 3G networks are being sunset…

According to https://docs.particle.io/reference/discontinued/cellular/canada-sunset/ Rogers July 31, 2025 with Bell and Telus following December 31, 2025

Hydraglass Having 4G/LTE “limits” on voice doesn’t make for a business case like it did in 2019.

Conspiracy theory… it forces people to buy phones from carriers with marked-up prices. See https://forums.redflagdeals.com/how-dumb-volte-carrier-whitelisting-2556465/3/ post from May 2024.

Telus (with PM and Koodo) and Videotron (with Fizz) providers all block VoLTE and still use a whitelist.
Bell (with Virgin Plus) and Rogers (with Fido) all allow VoLTE with no whitelist or restrictions.
For Wi-Fi Calling it’s only working with Bell and Virgin Plus.

Hydraglass

WalterDnes I’m on Telus and have never bought my phone from them - I have always purchased my phone direct from Google in the US and brought it back to Canada. It is using VoLTE (LTE+ as they call it) as I type this. Apparently they have no issue “whitelisting” all Google phones as I’ve done this with a Pixel 1, 3, 5, and 8. Have yet to buy anything “telus”.

[deleted]

Hydraglass Apparently they have no issue “whitelisting” all Google phones as I’ve done this with a Pixel 1, 3, 5, and 8. Have yet to buy anything “telus”.

Same thing with iPhones and Samsungs.

WalterDnes

All this “mixed messaging” is why I’m confused and asking for other people’s experiences. It looks like Telus and Videotron whitelist major brands, versus Bell/Rogers (and their flanker brands) who allow just about anything modern in. I’m fortunate to be on Virginplus which allows VOLTE for obscure brands like TCL.