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Community Support

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230.7K Messages

Friday, May 14th, 2021 6:15 PM

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3G Sunset Updates and Information

As you may have heard by now, we’re phasing out our 3G network by February 2022. This will help us make room for an even better network that will improve your experience.

 

To ensure our customers are prepared for this change, we have helpful information that will answer some of the most common questions:

  • Will my phone work after the 3G sunset?
  • How do I prepare if my phone isn’t supported?
  • Does this affect PREPAID?

You can find answers to these questions and learn more by visiting our 3G sunset article.

 

Customers still using 3G devices will most likely also be contacted via Email and Text message with more information. You can also visit your local AT&T Store or Contact Us if you have questions about upgrading.

 

If you believe your phone is still compatible, please check out our 3G Device Support & Solution Article for fixes you can try. 

 

AT&T Community Team

Still need help? Ask a question! Our 1.4 million members typically respond within 1 hour.

*I am an AT&T employee, and the postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent AT&T's position, strategies or opinions.

Visitor

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14 Messages

3 years ago

So interesting little experiment... I got the free phone, had to activate the new sim card because my old one apparently also didn't support VOLTE. After getting VOLTE enabled on the free phone and playing with it, I put the sim back in my OnePlus 5t and VOLTE was enabled! I made a phone call with it and after about 1 minute into the call it dropped the call and volte went away. Back to H+. I wasn't expecting this at all (or trying to test this) but it definitely appears that VOLTE works fine on my phone, but once ATT realizes my IMEI has changed they disable it. The only time the volte logo appears on my OnePlus is after I activate volte on the ATT phone and swap the sim back, works for about 5 minutes Everytime.

ACE - Expert

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23.9K Messages

3 years ago

Yelp the phone is not whitelisted.  Att never tested the phone.

Teacher

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76 Messages

3 years ago

@kmkrreeves1 :

Do you think the VO LTE would have worked and stayed active on your old phone if you had swapped the SIM cards without activating the new phone and just used it in your old phone?

Visitor

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14 Messages

3 years ago

It wouldn't have, I have swapped it back and forth a few times, and it always works for a minute and stops in my old phone. If I just remove the sim card from the old phone and put it back in it doesn't work, I have to put it in the new att phone, get it working, and swap it back to the old phone to see the volte for a minute.

Seems to be an ulterior motive to this whitelist, as ATT seems to be cutting off the device on their end even thought it works just fine.

Teacher

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76 Messages

3 years ago

@kmkrreeves1 :

Thanks for your response.   So ...  (I'm trying to understand how this activation - SIM card - IMEI stuff works)  ...  it sounds like, once you have activated a specific phone/IMEI/SIM card combination within the AT&T system, their system periodically queries the phone and if the combination doesn't match the information that is registered in their database then the system blocks that particular phone.

If you swapped the activated SIM from the new phone to the old and then had AT&T change the registered IMEI to that of the old phone before using that phone - do you think that would work?  

Or, do you have to get AT&T to create a new, VOLTE provisioned SIM card specfically for the old phone?

I have a 4G LTE + HD Voice capable DuraXE (E4710) but, I have never seen a VOLTE icon display in the status bar so, I'm guessing that the SIM needs to be updated to provide the VOLTE functionality - or, am I just making this harder than it needs to be?

Visitor

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14 Messages

3 years ago

I'm just assuming they check the IMEI to see if it's on the whitelist, really not sure how that works. 

I'm on prepaid, so the self service activation only wanted either the sim card number or the IMEI for activation. I actually typed in both not realizing and it wouldn't continue until I removed one. So I didn't provide the IMEI for activation.

I can confirm that older sim cards are not VOLTE compatible. The directions I received with the new phone were either to swap the sim card, or activate the new one, but it had a note that some old sim cards wouldn't work with HD voice. Wifi calling and HD voice wouldn't work on my old sim in the Att phone they provided, after activating new sim it worked.

But yes I agree it seems that it at least takes a minute for the new IMEI to register with ATT after a sim card swap, and once they see a non-whitelisted IMEI the cut volte.

(edited)

Teacher

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76 Messages

3 years ago

@kmkrreeves1 ,

Thanks for the info regarding the SIM and VOLTE compatibility.   It sounds like the new phone's SIM card with the VOLTE provisions can be put into the old phone (which is the registered IMEI on my account) and I might be good to go.  

However, I might have to update the phone software, though - we have two phones, with different software versions and have not updated the software in the 4 years that we have owned them.

Visitor

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14 Messages

3 years ago

If your specific phone model # is on the whitelist you should be good to go with a new sim.

Note that my dad's phone appears to be on the whitelist but is not the ATT Variant of the device, so it does not work. He has a galaxy J7 SM-J737U instead of SM-J737A. The United States variant of the phone is not allowed to use VOLTE on ATTs network.

(edited)

New Member

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3 Messages

3 years ago

I have an AT&T prepaid wireless 3G phone and am on the 10 cents per minute, 20 cents per text message prepaid plan. I've been getting texts from people that show up on my phone as "MMS notification" and I can't read the actual text message. If I upgrade to an Alcatel SmartFlip, will I be able to read MMS text messages? Or is my service limited to only the older SMS messages? Thanks.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled MMS notification (text message) question

Community Support

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230.7K Messages

Hello @JimC23, we are glad that you asked!

 

We will be phasing out our 3G network in February 2022. If your current device is 3G only it will need to be replaced because at some point it will no longer work on the network.

 

If you are to upgrade to the Alcatel Smartflip, you will still be able to enjoy the benefits of your current plan. You will even be able to access those MMS messages that you have been missing.

 

If you have any additional questions or concern, reach out as we are here to help.

 

Thank you for contacting AT&T Community Forums.

 

Sye, AT&T Community Specialist 

Still need help? Ask a question! Our 1.4 million members typically respond within 1 hour.

*I am an AT&T employee, and the postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent AT&T's position, strategies or opinions.

New Member

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2 Messages

3 years ago

Hello,

I got a text message from 11113000 stating 

"

AT&T FREE MSG: In Feb 2022, we're shutting down our 3G network to make improvements to our network. We're shipping you a new FREE cell phone to replace your device ending in *____*. All you need to do is activate the new device. You'll find setup information in the box. If you don't activate your new cell phone, we will automatically activate it in approximately 30 days. Once your new cell phone is activated, your current cell phone will only be able to call 911 and 611 until Feb 2022. If you need additional assistance, visit one of our stores or call us at 800.880.8581."

I can't figure out if this is legitimate or not. 

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Shutting down 3G

ACE - Expert

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64.7K Messages

It is legitimate. ATT is shutting down the 3G network in Feb 2022 and they are providing free phones to many customers. I supposedly have one coming myself. I guess you’ll know for sure if and when the phone shows up.

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*I am not an AT&T employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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