r/Tello

I switched to Tello a few weeks ago since I'll be overseas quite a bit and just need a cheap mobile plan. Was very happy.

But now I'm not getting sms or voice calls while I'm overseas. Based on a search, I need to fund an additional $20 in pay-as-you-go-credits every 3 months just to get this feature? And on top of that, they expire so I have to continually pay for this + my monthly plan? This now equals what I was paying with my other plan...which ruins the point of switching.

Is there some other way of getting sms and voice calls?

Edit: I'm in Vietnam

My relative has a Samsung A25 5G and needs a US-based cellular service in order to manage his US bank account. From what I understand, his phone supports two physical SIMs and also supports Wi-Fi Calling.

If I buy a phone line with a physical SIM for him, have it shipped to my house here in the US, activate the service using my own phone, enable Wi-Fi Calling on that line, and then mail the physical SIM to him in his home country, should it continue working there? Right?

I currently have a monthly plan where the calls usage is minimal. I'd like to buy $20 of paygo to be used for calls and get a monthly plan for data/text. Questions:

- If I buy paygo, can I set it up to only use it for calls? The website provides a cost for talk, text and data.

- Can I use the same number (my current plan number) for the paygo plan as well as for the monthly data/text option?

My first.time.out of the country with Tello. Pay as you go is turned on and plenty of balance. I have a 5G symbol yet I get no data. It's connecting to TELUS. It will also cone t.to BELL but I don't get the 5G symbol. Data Roaming is on. Samsung S25

Edit: for anyone else who has this issue....rcs messaging was turned off

Switch my wife's phone to tello two day ago. She stopped receiving group texts but can send them fine.

- updated software

- reset all network settings

- rebooted phone

- recreated groups

- enabled mms messaging

- turned on group messaging

- turned off wifi calling

I'm out of ideas... Groups have Android and iPhones in them and they were created on an android device. All other services appear to be working properly.

Anyone run in to this? How'd you fix it?

Preferably free. I have a cheap Tello number simply to verify on apps and sites that make you have a number to do that. The apps generally don’t accept VOIP stuff so I did this to have a real number to use.

The issue is that I have to switch between esims on my phone and I am forgetful and often to forget to do it before I put in for the verification. 🤦‍♀️

Is there a separate app I can put the esim in to do this? Also could use a Windows PC if there is something that will let me do that but I prefer to do it on my phone if possible.

Thank you!

My 9 year old already smashed his flipphone and broke the screen. I need a cheap rugged dumb phone. The fewer functions the better.

Does anyone know if the AGM phones on Amazon will work with Tello even though they say t-mobile only? I not, what's toughest phone phone without internet or apps thats available?

I live in Asia and need to set up a US number. Do I need to be physically in the US to get Tello set up? If it matters, I am a US citizen.

It worked when I had it at home and now I am 550 miles away and it says no service. I tried resetting network settings and also adding wholesale to the APN. It works great on my cell. The only difference is the iPad does not support 5G. Any ideas? I am stumped.

Hey so I have a massive problem. I cant recive calls anymore. Doesn't matter who calls me the male voice says "The service you are attempting to use has been restricted or is unavailable.' And gives me a code. I tried a few things on my phone and it gave me different codes all the time.

It took me 5 days to convince them that it's not my phone before they started investigating. They took two weeks to investigate. Now they're telling me it's my phone or the other people. When everyone is having a different provider and all have the problem with calling ME, how can't it be Tello/T-Mobile who's fucking it up? It worked perfectly before and my phone hasn't changed. I can call people ut noone can call me...

What can I do? I have proof and every code that voice gave me...

I ported out my 3 lines from Tello to Cricket today because my cricket package came yesterday May 15 which happened to be my renewal date with Tello and I was autocharged for a month of service even though I already ported out and my Tello service was cancelled, I think it's unfair you won't refund me my almost $40 for service that has already been cancelled

I am using Tello in Europe, I activated in the US, and have a local sim I use for my data, so I don’t need international roaming. When I first arrived in the Europe (Portugal), it worked fine, even without any paygo credit, it just matched to the local network but data (I thought) processed through my local sim. Now, in Spain, I toggled my sim on to check any SMS messages I may have missed, and it’s not even connecting to a cellular network. No bars.

I have WiFi calling enabled, I’ve never had international roaming enabled, but texting still worked. I’ve restarted my phone multiple times, both on and off WiFi, and still no dice.

Any ideas what could be wrong?

Thanks yall!

Update: got an answer from Tello support. They told me that “Signal bars will not be visible while using the service through Wi-Fi Calling, as the SIM will not directly connect to service towers.”

So if I chose no data plan and just calls am I able to text over WIFI? I will be on WIFI 100% of the time so I am hoping I can text over WIFI.

I'm having trouble sending text messages only to a one person and I also don't receive messages. What breaks it sometimes if when I send or recieve a pic image.

I've turned airplane mode on and off and nothing.

I don't like this. I will cancel and look into other plans if this isn't fixed. And it's only with this certain number.

Anyone else experience this?

So I have a 2GB, 100 minutes plan as I don't use much data and barely use the phone mainly as I am on WiFi and other phone alternatives exist. Barely use 20 minutes a month. Managed to use the data as our router died and got a message saying "Need more data? Reply renew to renew your plan", and I have done this before but this time it comes back with the useful message of "Tello: Invalid option. These are your available options:"

So I am aware that Tello have got rid of some of the options and old plans are grandfathered in but it's annoying that I have to wait for the renew date, or change "plan" for minutes I am never going to use or spend money on data that I will barely use and then lose the remainder when my plan renews in a few days...

For those of you that use Google Voice as their primary number, is it usable without minutes using data only?

FCC wants everyone that owns a US number to upload there government identification before activating any phone service. The bill will also also flagged behaviors for heightened customers and some other bullshit. This bill will effect every phone and VoIP providers. This bill will also end privacy in America as we know it.

iOS 26.5 is out and RCS encryption is on by default. Apple's carrier support page shows many MVNOs already support it, but Tello isn't even listed. I don't have many RCS chats on my phone, but none of them are showing as "RCS (Encrypted)". Does anyone know if Tello supports RCS encryption at this time?

I have the Carrier 70.0 profile installed at the moment; IMS Status is "Voice, SMS & RCS".

Hello Everyone, hope you are doing well. I live in Costa Rica and have a local phone number plan I am on. I need a US number for banking and credit card verification code texts.

Is Tello a good solution for that? I am going back to the US in two weeks and can activate a number.

I have a Citi card I use.