Hi Everyone! Hope you are staying cool where-ever you are!
About 3 weeks ago, my phone developed an issue (US Mobile w/ Verizon network, Android, Moto gPower (2022), Textra app for texting)
All of a sudden I couldn’t send/receive MMS messages when Wifi was on.
I checked settings, re-input the APN info, uninstalled a recent app I downloaded…but the problem is still there.
My cell signal at home is not strong, but it’s never been – usually 2 bars.
I do remember a few weeks back making a phone call, which failed, and I was prompted to switch to Wifi calling. But I thought I already had that set up. I’m not sure if that might have something to do with it.
So now if I get a failed send or receive message, I turn off the Wifi, then back on. I then receive the message – or sometimes 6 copies of the same message (I guess I get the repeated attempts?)
I changed from RW to US Mobile in 2023, and things have been smooth so far, so I suspect maybe an update may have changed things? I called US Mobile, and they just want me to re-type the APN info again, which I already did.
I searched online (Reddit,etc) and it seems that a lot of people have had this issue for a long time – with different carriers, different phones, different text apps. There doesn’t seem to be a solution out there.
It seems like there is a problem with the phone switching back and forth to the cellular or Wifi network as or when needed. Except that it’s not just my phone – lots of people seem to have this issue!!
Does anyone have anything else I can try?
As always, I appreciate the help from all of the former RW users out there. Those were good times…
I will try that. Thank you. Maybe the signal will be better.
The strange thing is – I have had US Mobile since 2023 and this wasn’t an issue as it is now, so something changed.
I cannot offer a solution, but just popping in here to report that I (and my wife) had a similar issue for a couple months - which then went away. Apparently resolved on the phone “system” side of our service which is through Tello (T-Mobile network). This was more than a year ago, fine since then.
As you noted @NancyM , this seems to happen to a fair number of people. Something breaks (or gets bent) off in that complicated network of wireless networks and takes time to get fixed. It was frustrating, initiating thoughts about changing services, then - it was fixed.
The old RW’s ability to reliably deliver MMS over WiFi was always the outlier resulting from its proprietary Wi-Fi first technology. SMS/MMS date back to the 1990s before VoWiFi (carrier Wi-Fi calling) was a thing. As @Clint notes, it’s not unusual for it to work for awhile, stop working and then (for no apparent reason) start working again. Usually, when it stops working, it’s the result of a software update to the phone’s operating system. It could be something as otherwise innocuous as a security update.
The reality is reliable MMS over WiFi is not a priority for either OEMs or network owners. Not one, of which I’m aware, claims to support MMS over WiFi. There is little MVNOs can do to incentivize either to make it a priority. I’m not saying it shouldn’t be a priority or shouldn’t just work but things are what they are.
This is typical behavior for weak cell signal scenarios. Generally, the network does indeed continue trying to deliver the message.
Theoretically, the solution going forward is RCS. The good news is RCS is now supported on both Android and iPhone. The bad news is all parties to the conversation must have RCS turned on and be using either Google Messages (Android) or Apple’s Messages app (iPhone). I’m unaware of any other Android messaging app offering support for RCS (blame Google for that).
Another option would be use of third party OTT messaging apps such as WhatsApp or, my preference, Signal. Likewise, using OTT messaging apps require all parties to agree on use of the same app.
I turned off the WiFi calling option, and now things seem to work fine with texting.
I just have to keep in mind that when I need to WiFi call, to change the settings.
Not ideal, but the constant aggravation with the texts not going through/being received is better. For now!
I have an old GPower too. But I have Google Messages as my text app. I haven’t had the problem you’ve been having. But our phones are getting to the point where they may be needing to be replaced. I’m on the Boost network. I went along with the rollover from RW, but kept my phone all this time. I believe that when most networks drop really old phones from updates (ours) after time passes enough has changed that our phones can’t figure things out anymore.
That could be, but my phone is just under 3 years old! My phones have usually lasted 4 years then either got run over by a tractor, or the battery swelled up…then it was time for a new one!
I did turn off the Wifi calling setting and the problem has stopped.
So something about that, or switching from Wifi to cellular is messed up.
I am not a heavy phone user, so I can live with it!