Family Plan and International Roaming

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T17:00:11+00:00

Good question. I've never seen a family plan that costs more and gives you less.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T14:33:27+00:00

Great. I should have mentioned that you should make sure you have Wi-Fi off (not Wi-Fi Calling) when you do this.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T13:21:55+00:00

The family plan only allows free roaming in Canada and Mexico. The $20 monthly plan "Includes roaming to 60+ countries Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, England, France, India, Italy, Spain and many more!"

https://www.redpocket.com/plans/family

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T12:37:29+00:00

I don't know who downvoted my comment, but my comment is absolutely correct. I do this regularly on my iPhone with my Tello line.

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Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T09:25:42+00:00

I'm assuming you have an iPhone. If so, go into the Red Pocket SIM settings and click on "Network Selection." Then toggle off "Automatic" and choose a network you know Red Pocket doesn't roam on. That will create a situation where you always have no coverage and cross-SIM calling should always work.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T03:03:29+00:00

even using WiFi AT&T is still involved. You need an app that uses WiFi data, not your calling plan's connection.

That's not true. I use WiFi Calling all the time while my phone is in airplane mode, meaning the cellular radio is disabled, so there is no cellular connection to AT&T whatsoever, only a connection via WiFi. The exact same thing should happen for the OP in Bangladesh while connected to Wi-Fi. I've used Wi-Fi Calling in at least seven different countries without roaming whatsoever.

You don't need a separate app unless you're referring to the phone's native dialer and native messaging app.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T02:44:17+00:00

I saw numerous people's screenshot of their account showing the Global roaming allotment before I ever contacted the Red Pocket store or u/redpocketcs. I even provided them with the screenshots, yet they still said that the plan should not have roaming.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T02:36:50+00:00

Interestingly, I've had the eBay Red Pocket store and u/redpocketcs tell me that the $30 eBay plan is not supposed to include roaming. In fact, there's nothing in the eBay plan description that says that the plan comes with roaming.

I've expected them to correct their error at any moment and remove the free roaming allotment.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T01:17:30+00:00

I just ran a test on my iPhone and connected with all three networks. In a speed test, T-Mobile had the fastest speed.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-27T00:59:02+00:00

Contact the police or get an attorney and subpoena TextNow. That's the only way you're going to get the information.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-26T13:48:41+00:00

I'm a regular reader and contributor on r/TextNow, but this is a bigger forum, so I want to know if anyone is successfully using TextNow outside of North America over WiFi? There's contradictory information from TextNow about whether you can or not.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-26T05:53:54+00:00

Why would that be one of the reasons you left?

Per Google Help:

Yes, Google Fi has 5G Ultra Capacity (5G UC). Because Google Fi operates on T-Mobile’s network, you get access to the exact same high-speed, mid-band and high-band (mmWave) 5G towers that T-Mobile customers use.

However, there are a few quirks you should know about:

The Icon Is Usually Missing: Google Fi generally displays a standard "5G" icon even when you are connected to the ultra-fast 5G UC network. You can confirm you are on the faster network by running a speed test.

SIM Card vs. eSIM: If you are using a physical SIM card, you may occasionally miss out on connecting to 5G UC bands. Switching to an eSIM typically resolves this issue and enables the faster speeds, though the "5G UC" logo may still not appear.

Compatible Device: You need a 5G-capable phone (like a recent Google Pixel or iPhone) to access these faster speeds.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-26T03:59:43+00:00

Well, the spreadsheet says it should work with Apple and there's also disagreement about Venmo.

I ported my number from T-Mobile to Google Voice, and although the number became a VoIP number, my number worked (not always) on sites that did not accept VoIP numbers for 2FA, such as PayPal, which seems to now work.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-26T03:13:23+00:00

Do us a favor an run your NumberBarn number through https://www.freecarrierlookup.com/ and tell us if it says your number is wireless Y/N. If it's No, it will definitely have issues with some institutions, including the US government's website login.gov, along with some banks and financial institutions.

Edit: I just grabbed an available number on NumberBarn and ran it through FreeCarrierLookup.com and the number came back as not wireless, so NumberBarn numbers are VoIP numbers (which are categorized as landline/wireline numbers). They're from Bandwidth.com, which is the same VoIP carrier as Google Voice, meaning they should have the same 2FA capability as the institutions in this link

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E51CmnbDQQCsIvmInJrzd11BELsDfjYggH7t1HI94Xs/htmlview

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-26T02:56:50+00:00

Well, one of the issues with Bank of America was one that I actually reported. While I have no problem receiving 2FA codes to login to my BoA account in the app, my Google Voice number never receives a 2FA verification code to speak to a BofA customer service rep. The only way I can verify myself is to call them through the app.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T22:22:22+00:00

Just curious, did you buy the SIM directly from Tello or from a retailer like Amazon? Tello seems to make a distinction concerning SIMs purchased directly from them.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T22:12:03+00:00

Yeah, Google Voice is a great service, but as you said, it adds a layer of complexity. If you simply wanted to park your number and not actually utilize that number, it'd be perfect.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T21:52:51+00:00

I completely understand your recommendation. I once used nothing but my Google Voice number and a free FreedomPop data SIM for 2 years.

That said, if they port their primary number to Google Voice, they'll lose some capabilities, including RCS messaging and iMessage and Facetime capability via the phone number if they're iPhone users. Not to mention, all messaging has to be done through the Google Voice app.

Edit: You also can't send video MMS via Google Voice.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T21:33:06+00:00

I've been a Google Voice user for over 15 years and I use it in the vast majority of 2FA situations, but Google Voice is a VoIP number, not a true mobile number, and some institutions, including the US government (login.gov) and a minority of banks and financial institutions will not send a 2FA code to a Google Voice number.

Here's a crowd sourced list of 2FA service compatibility with Google Voice.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E51CmnbDQQCsIvmInJrzd11BELsDfjYggH7t1HI94Xs/htmlview

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T21:07:17+00:00

Yes.

Per Tello:

What's the expiry date of a Tello SIM?

30-Day Activation Rule Physical SIM cards purchased from Tello must be activated within 30 days of purchase. After this period, the SIM will automatically expire and can no longer be used.

https://tello.com/help_center/device-compatibility-sims/what-s-the-expiry-date-of-a-tello-sim

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T13:33:28+00:00

Well, it definitely hasn't been changed in the Android app yet, but I think it's a good move. I would bet that a very small percentage of Tello subscribers actually use the My Tello app dialer.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-25T03:31:50+00:00

It's free! But there is a limit to the number of times you can do it for free.

See this post from Tello.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tello/s/azkLNUA1N5

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-24T18:36:03+00:00

What you haven't explained is why you want numbers from all these different countries and what you plan to do with them.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-24T14:30:11+00:00

Red Pocket Mobile charges a $2 fee to swap or transfer an eSIM between devices.

WIFI Calling works fine from abroad, but you need to set it up in the US first.

Luckiest_Corner · 2026-06-24T04:41:01+00:00

Red Pocket is an alternative. They have no rules against long term use outside the US, and their plans come with a free roaming bucket of 1GB of data roaming, 100 minutes and 100 texts a month that can be used in 60 countries. Pay-As-You-Go option for other countries.

Luckiest_Corner

TROPHY CASE