Receiving Calls (Mobile) from Australia While Overseas without Wi-Fi

Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 12:37
Last edited 03/09/2025 - 19:01 by 1 other user

Might be a noob question but basically, I travel back and forth between Australia and overseas for extended periods of time in a year.

I'd like to be able to still receive calls to my Oz mobile number whilst I'm still overseas. I'm currently using Boost prepaid so receiving calls still work (I'm using a Galaxy S23 Ultra) but I have to be connected to stable Wi-Fi in order for Wi-Fi calling to work.

What I'd like to do is to be able to do this:

  1. Without relying solely on Wi-Fi and be able to utilise data as well (e.g. from an eSIM)
  2. Without buying roaming packages all the time (this gets expensive)

What's the best way to go about this? Do I set up some kind of call forwarding to route incoming calls to an app that I can use as long as I have access to 4G/5G or is there an easier way?

TIA!

Mobile

Comments

  • jv on 03/09/2025 - 12:42

    🤣🤣🤣

    Why would an overseas carrier give you free access ?

  • jv on 03/09/2025 - 12:42

    to route incoming calls to an app

    You said no wifi and no eSim data….

    as long as I have access to 4G/5G

    You won't have access for you existing account unless you pay for roaming or use voice over wifi…

    • Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 12:44
      +1

      Without relying solely on WIFI and be able to utilise data as well (e.g. from an eSIM)

      • jv on 03/09/2025 - 12:45

        If you want to use an overseas data sim, then just turn off data roaming on you Aussie account and your phone will use the local data on your secondary account.

        You need to make sure your current carrier supports voice over wifi…

  • Stealtho on 03/09/2025 - 13:09

    $10 a day

  • JimB on 03/09/2025 - 13:20
    +1

    If you're going for an extended period, ask people to call your international number or WhatsApp.

    Otherwise, they will leave a voicemail and just call people back when you're on Wifi.

    • Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 14:16
      +1

      Ordinarily I'd get people to do that since it's far easier, but not really an option in some instances for example getting calls from government agencies. That's the main driver for me wanting to explore options - I've missed important calls whilst overseas hence why I'm wondering if a cheaper (nb. not 'free') solution exists other than paying for roaming.

  • Randxyz123 on 03/09/2025 - 13:48

    If you don't want to pay for roaming you might just have to set up a message on your voice mail for when you don't have reliable Wi-Fi that says something like "I am currently out of the country, please try to call me via WhatsApp or leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I can".

    Are you travelling to the same place often? If so I'd get a local sim and write down your number for people who might need to urgently call you i.e elderly relatives etc with clear instructions how to do so on a normal landline or mobile phone.

    Previously I'd have suggested having your number forward to a Skype VoIP number but that doesn't exist anymore. You could look into similar services. I don't know if it would be any cheaper but you check pricing.

    You could also look at whether you are charged the $10 a day for example that some carriers offer if someone calls you or if it is if YOU make the call or use data. I know you can still receive texts for free.Not 100% sure about calls. I wonder if just leaving roaming on but not using that sim would work.

    You should be able to set your second sim to data and calls and tell it not to use your other sim at all but leave it active so it will still ring.

    • geekcohen on 03/09/2025 - 14:37
      -2

      Previously I'd have suggested having your number forward to a Skype VoIP number but that doesn't exist anymore.

      Thats right, Skype "retired" in May 2025.

      So why suggest it?

      • Randxyz123 on 03/09/2025 - 16:54
        +1

        I didn't lol. I was saying you could look into similar services or someone else who might have used Skype in the past to have a VoIP number might see the comment and say what they have replaced it with.

        • Daabido on 03/09/2025 - 20:45
          -1

          I was only in there to get directions on how to get away from there!

  • Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 14:23
    +1

    Thanks - I did look into the Skype credits option but as you mentioned that's no longer available. Per my response above I would 100% get people to contact me via Whatsapp whenever possible, but unfortunately that's not an option in some cases e.g. if a govt agency is trying to ring me.

    I think you're right - hotspotting off a spare phone with a cheap data sim (and hence being able to utilise wifi calling on the go on my primary phone) is probably the easiest/most economical option. Thanks for the suggestion!

    • Randxyz123 on 03/09/2025 - 16:52

      hotspotting off a spare phone with a cheap data sim

      Didn't even think of that. Might want to double check wi-fi calls comes up when you hot spot. I can't say I've noticed it does.

      • Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 18:08
        +1

        I've just tested it and it works! Might just make this my permanent solution going forward.

        • yoho on 03/09/2025 - 20:19

          which carrier?

          • Excelsior on 04/09/2025 - 11:06
            +1

            @yoho: I'm with Boost (monthly prepaid).

  • redforever on 03/09/2025 - 17:04
    +2

    On my s21, there is an option to use mobile data of 1 sim for another sim's wifi calling. I think the option is called data switching under the aim manager.

    Having said that, I read somewhere that Boost no longer allow wifi calling from overseas? The last time i tried was months ago and it still worked.

    • Excelsior on 03/09/2025 - 18:09
      +1

      I've tested it and it seems to work! Hotspotted off a spare phone and I was able to call/send texts to Australian numbers (I'm currently overseas).

      • Mugsy on 04/09/2025 - 08:17

        You can apparently have you main AU service set for voice and sms and the esim for data, then turn on data switching and your boost service should use the esim for wifi calling.

        Caveat is that the esim cannot be roaming.

        Never tried it myself but i am using a S23U too and the phone can apparently operate this way overseas with a telstra based service for calls/sms.

        • Excelsior on 04/09/2025 - 11:07

          Interesting, if I understand correctly I can install an esim on the same phone as my Oz sim, turn on data switching and wifi calling should work?

          Might give it a shot later today.

  • jv on 03/09/2025 - 21:08
    +2

    Forward your number to a VOIP number and use a VOIP app on your phone.

  • unicorse on 03/09/2025 - 21:44
    +3

    Felix has a $20 roaming pack that lasts a full year.

    • Excelsior on 04/09/2025 - 11:05

      Interesting, will check this out too. Thanks!

      • lainey13 on 09/09/2025 - 12:10
        +1

        Worked very well for me just last week in Fiji. Received SMS and calls just fine. Didn't have to change any settings just went off plane mode and all worked like I was at home.

        • Excelsior on 09/09/2025 - 12:29

          Awesome thanks. How do you find Felix's (ie. Vodafone) coverage locally? I'm used to Boost/Telstra's reliability so a noticeable drop in quality would be a shame.

          • lainey13 on 09/09/2025 - 12:33

            @Excelsior: Poor unfortunately. After 8 months of trying out Vodafone it is definitely worse than Boost. Your tolerance may be different to mine. I'm probably going back once there's a good deal out there.

            • Mugsy on 09/09/2025 - 13:09

              @lainey13: Wife felt the same. She was on Boost. I put her on Kogan during a sale… she hated the coverage on Vodafone. The following year she went back on Boost. I just leave her on auto renew so she doesn't need to worry about the service.

              I on the other hand have found Vodafone network OK. A few black spots but we're talking tunnels in busways. I can live with it for the savings.

            • Excelsior on 09/09/2025 - 15:40

              @lainey13: That's a bummer, I was hoping it would be at least comparable to some degree. There's always a catch I guess.

              Might just stick with Boost for now unless I get sick of getting a separate esim/setting up wifi calling each time I'm teavelling.

        • Mugsy on 09/09/2025 - 12:29

          Roaming is great when it works… when it doesn't though it can be the biggest hassle ever.

          My parents had differing roaming experience across over half a dozen countries in SEA over a 1.5yr period. The only thing I can conclude is that if your phone is no longer getting OS updates and you're going to a country where the mobile network/s have had major changes (e.g. 3G shutdown) that changes things like APNs, your phone may not automatically connect.

          It's because of this that I and my family use travel esims now.

          • Excelsior on 09/09/2025 - 15:42

            @Mugsy: That's a fair call. I'm also used to getting separate travel esims since they just "work" without having to do too much. Install, turn it on and off we go.

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