3G migration trashing 4G phones

"Why will AT&T not activate my phones' 4G Enhanced Services (IMS registration)?" AT&T, where is your answer?

A simple question which AT&T will not answer. I am not alone in asking this question. I am certainly not trying to avoid progress as you may feel nor are the many, many others with the same concern and question.

We do not have two years. The phase-out word from AT&T is "BY FEBRUARY 2022". AT&T has a history of selective support, so I caution folks to take the "BY" seriously and perhaps consider end of 2021 as their deadline.

You post the list (which I mention in my post); however, it serves to argue against one of the points you make. Nokia has several phones more advanced than the 3.1 (some less) all having 4G VoLTE capability (as my cells). The AT&T list shows the 3.1 variants and the Lumia 830. Why only these two? Therefore, not every phone warrantied to the U. S. will, apparently, work with AT&T at present. Let us not forget that there are many of us with features in our current cells that AT&T will not support.

Yes, my Alcatel needs replacing sooner than 2022. Alcatel was once okay, but that was prior to ownership by the state-owned Chinese firm TCL. We have three Idol 4S phones - all are junk even after warranty repairs for known issues. My point is that making a purchase now does not assure workability on the AT&T network in 18 months unless on the list.

You also speak to phones produced in the United States. Are you aware of how completely limited is such a list?. There may be a Motorola phone produced in Fort Worth, TX. However, Motorola Mobility is now owned by Chinese firm Lenovo which has multiple Chinese government affiliations. Given the global situation we find ourselves in at present, I would welcome a truly American phone; I will have to settle for one made outside of and not owned by China.

While I appreciate the above response, there are a few fundamental flaws. It seems to make some assumptions about my research and understanding, some is not supportable or is incorrect, and it does not answer my very simple question: Why will AT&T not activate my phones' 4G Enhanced Services (IMS registration)?

Why do you repeat the same thing as if others do not comprehend or have not read the same information you provide?

You have provided nothing new to this post and have failed, with each reply, to answer the question or give plausible explanation for AT&T's arbitrary BYOD policy which is destined to cause issues for their customers.

In each post, your responses serve to negate your arguments for the company.

AT&T and Verizon gave a dead line for 'last day to activate 3g only devices almost a year ahead. Verizon - July 2019, AT&T - February 2020.

What is it that makes you think this is about activating a 3G only device?

But VoLTE is required and they are not interested in enabling backwards compatibility.

The phones I mention have 4G VoLTE capability and have been activated on the network for two years. I only recently had the time or the inclination to ponder why AT&T refuses to activate the IMS registration on the SIM necessary to enable the 4G Enhanced capabilities.

One might figure they want to sell their own models, on installments, to tie customers for 30 months.

I think you nailed it - caveat emptor. The phones I have, and the phones that I consider purchasing (all with 4G VoLTE capabilities), are not sold by AT&T. If that is AT&T's plan, they should take the high ground, claim it, and warn consumers loudly and proudly.

AT&T's policy for BYOD is arbitrary, and this should be stated clearly to the consumer and not buried in some other language.

Coming from the guy doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results?

This is like asking mom after dad said no.

Progress sometimes is painful.