united mobile sms issue with tmobile USA

b330i · **united mobile sms issue with tmobile USA -** 25-05-2007, 04:11

Hi,
I do not know if anyone is having the same issue as I do but I am not able to send/receive SMS to/from Tmobile cellphone users in USA... I called Tmobile USA and they mentioned that they have blocked Liechtenstein numbers... I need this to work because this is how I keep in touch while travelling; it just happens that the people that I need to keep in contact are Tmobile customers; so far I can SMS with Sprint users though..
I emailed UM customer service and at first they were very responsive (1 day reply) but now since I mentioned to them of this problem, they haven't replied to me for 4 days now.

Any Suggestions/Ideas??

Does anyone have any experience with mycherrymobile.com prepaid sim?? It looks promising (prices looks reasonable) and it has UK number but I do not know if it will have the same issues as united mobile... Although I would rather not buy another global sim cards... since they are not cheap.

Thank you in advance

snaimon · **Thread gone -** 26-05-2007, 00:31

Seems the info I posted on this has disappeared or I cannot find it.

T-MO has BLOCKED all calls to 423 #s even tho they are a roaming partner. FRAUD. I had CALLED customer care. Here is the written answer from T-MO answer and the in German from UM:

Dear Stanley Naimon,

Thank you, Stanley, for contacting T-Mobile and for providing me the
opportunity to help you. My name is Steve and I will be happy to answer
your questions today. I see you sent our online Customer Care group an
email regarding having difficulty sending text messages to a friend in
Liechtenstein. I know how frustrating it can be when you are unable to
contact friends and family so I can certainly look into this for you. I
do apologize, Stanley, for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Stanley I regret to inform you that I show that Liechtenstein is a
country that is blocked from making calls and text messages to. It only
might be possible to send messages to them if you were roaming
domestically on our network and I am sorry you were not aware of this
before.

If you have any further questions regarding this issue or other T-Mobile
services and features, Stanley, please reply to this e-mail referencing
case # 264841 and we will be pleased assist you. You may also call
Customer Care toll free at 1-800-937-8997 or 611 then SEND from your
phone and a representative will be happy to help you.

[BTW.... T-MO blocks several other countries.]

Sehr geehrter Herr Naimon,

Danke für den Einblick in Stil und Antwort der "Konkurrenz" in den USA! Wahrhaftig interessant zu sehen, mit welcher Methode hier versucht wird, Ihnen mehr oder weniger sanft die Verantwortung für ein angebliches Fehlinformiertseins in die Schuhe zu schieben! Herr Naimon, Sie sind nicht falsch informiert gewesen sondern wurden dies jetzt von jenem "Customer Care Specialist": vor ca. 3-4 Wochen fing T-Mobile USA nämlich erst mit dieser absurden Sperrung an. Intern heisst es wegen "Fraude". Das mag soweit sogar einen realen Hintergrund und die Sorge T-Mobiles um Ihre Kunden seine Berechtigung haben aber T-Mobile hat die ganze Nation Liechtenstein und nicht selektiv den evt. betroffenen Nummernbereich gesperrt.

Was Ihre Anregung an uns, uns bei T-Mobile zu melden, betrifft, so haben wir dies natürlich eigeninitiativ von der ersten Minute an getan, da sehr viele Kunden in den USA von der Sperrung betroffen sind. Wir informieren uns schon seit Anbeginn dieser Misère nach dem Hintergrund und regen eine etwas differenziertere Handhabung der Angelegenheit an aber bisher leider ohne zählbares Ergebnis. Uns bleibt uns nur aufrichtig bei Ihnen zu entschuldigen für diesen ganzen Mißstand, ohne eine direkte Verantwortung dafür zu tragen - ganz anders als T-Mobile, der den alten Service an Ihre Kunden nur wieder herstellen möge anstelle Ihnen "frustrierende" Erlebnisse zuzufügen.

Mit freundlichen Grüssen,
Paul Nick

[Basically, they (UM) have been trying to convince T-MO that the policy of TOTAL BLOCKING is wrong for some time but to no avail.]

Stan

MATHA531 · 26-05-2007, 00:45

Why would they block calls to +423 insofar as checking their web site, they list calls to Liechtenstein as well over $1/minute.

In addition the customer service rep seemed to explain why you can't send texts from T Mo to Liechtenstein but what about the opposite way?

snaimon · **Why? -** 26-05-2007, 02:53

The explanation I was given by T-MO is suspicion of fraud. The UM reply and common sense dictate that a sane policy would be to block only the few #s suspected of fraud, NOT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, including SMS. No, there is something else behind the scenes at work that T-MO does not want to divulge. At least that is my suspicion and that of UM.

I suspect they would like to make life unpleasant for UM and its customers. UM does not write that but that is my guess.

Stan

b330i · 26-05-2007, 13:32

Thanks for the info, Stan... I guess I have no choice but to get another global sim card...

MATHA531 · 26-05-2007, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by b330i

Thanks for the info, Stan... I guess I have no choice but to get another global sim card...

Who is your US provider? If it's either Cingular or T Mobile USA you can activate international roaming and send sms message at not terribly bad rates (something like 35¢ per message)....receiving message will be in accordance with your plan.

I know I have a T Mobile USA plan with unlimited text messaging..yes I pay to send text messages while roaming internationally but my plan allows me to receive unlimited text messages for free...I use it, for example, to keep up with sports scores of my favorite teams...I have a service that allows me to be notified every time a run is scored in a Met game almost as soon as it occurs; that certainly might not be important to most people but it's important to me.

So I bring and keep my T Mobile phone with me despite the fact I have international and local sims...making sure of course to forward all calls into the T Mobile number back to my home number which then forwards to wherever so I don't get hit with the double whammy T Mobile uses to rip people off who don't answer incoming calls and have the calls bounce back to voicemail.

snaimon · 26-05-2007, 13:53

See signature. I have T-MO, both pre and post paid. I also already have world class roaming and unlimited sms.

The point was I was TRYING to send an SMS from US to my UM card. Both sons are staying here this summer and they COULD (if T-MO) permitted it, send me SMS (15 cents) while I am away. Won't work, however, because T-MO is blocking.

TRUE, I could take the US T-MO SIM and switch SIMs, but I don't want to risk the higher roaming charges for voice. I have heard (but not experienced) that SOMETIMES when your SIM registers on another foreign network that the original US T-MO settings network (call-forward, etc) are reset.

Stan

b330i · 28-05-2007, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by MATHA531

Who is your US provider? If it's either Cingular or T Mobile USA you can activate international roaming and send sms message at not terribly bad rates (something like 35¢ per message)....receiving message will be in accordance with your plan.

I know I have a T Mobile USA plan with unlimited text messaging..yes I pay to send text messages while roaming internationally but my plan allows me to receive unlimited text messages for free...I use it, for example, to keep up with sports scores of my favorite teams...I have a service that allows me to be notified every time a run is scored in a Met game almost as soon as it occurs; that certainly might not be important to most people but it's important to me.

So I bring and keep my T Mobile phone with me despite the fact I have international and local sims...making sure of course to forward all calls into the T Mobile number back to my home number which then forwards to wherever so I don't get hit with the double whammy T Mobile uses to rip people off who don't answer incoming calls and have the calls bounce back to voicemail.

I am using Verizon in US so thats why I need a global sim while away. and similar to Stan's scenario, I have a bunch of friends who uses T-mobile in the US... anyways... I just ordered a Cherrymobile sim card...

bbob · 29-05-2007, 13:33

It's not only T-mobile. Dutch Telecom KPN for example increased their rates to Lichtenstein Mobile som time ago for 8 eurocent a minute to 93 eurocent a minute !!!
Guess why they are doing this.

Also some of my internationnal customers complained thet they could not call my UM number.

The problem is just that big carriers tike T-Mobile and others do not like the roaming free cards and they are trying their best to block them somehow. They will although not admit this but find a cheap excuse like fraud in this example.

prion · 29-05-2007, 14:59

the increase in the rates is due toi the fact that the carrier (United mobile) asks for more to connect the call. So it is a matter of interconnection fees.

	(#1)
b330i (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 25 May 2007 Country:	united mobile sms issue with tmobile USA - 25-05-2007, 04:11 Hi, I do not know if anyone is having the same issue as I do but I am not able to send/receive SMS to/from Tmobile cellphone users in USA... I called Tmobile USA and they mentioned that they have blocked Liechtenstein numbers... I need this to work because this is how I keep in touch while travelling; it just happens that the people that I need to keep in contact are Tmobile customers; so far I can SMS with Sprint users though.. I emailed UM customer service and at first they were very responsive (1 day reply) but now since I mentioned to them of this problem, they haven't replied to me for 4 days now. Any Suggestions/Ideas?? Does anyone have any experience with mycherrymobile.com prepaid sim?? It looks promising (prices looks reasonable) and it has UK number but I do not know if it will have the same issues as united mobile... Although I would rather not buy another global sim cards... since they are not cheap. Thank you in advance

	(#2)
snaimon (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 898 Join Date: 17 Mar 2004 Location: Richmond, VA USA Country:	Thread gone - 26-05-2007, 00:31 Seems the info I posted on this has disappeared or I cannot find it. T-MO has BLOCKED all calls to 423 #s even tho they are a roaming partner. FRAUD. I had CALLED customer care. Here is the written answer from T-MO answer and the in German from UM: Dear Stanley Naimon, Thank you, Stanley, for contacting T-Mobile and for providing me the opportunity to help you. My name is Steve and I will be happy to answer your questions today. I see you sent our online Customer Care group an email regarding having difficulty sending text messages to a friend in Liechtenstein. I know how frustrating it can be when you are unable to contact friends and family so I can certainly look into this for you. I do apologize, Stanley, for any inconvenience this may have caused. Stanley I regret to inform you that I show that Liechtenstein is a country that is blocked from making calls and text messages to. It only might be possible to send messages to them if you were roaming domestically on our network and I am sorry you were not aware of this before. If you have any further questions regarding this issue or other T-Mobile services and features, Stanley, please reply to this e-mail referencing case # 264841 and we will be pleased assist you. You may also call Customer Care toll free at 1-800-937-8997 or 611 then SEND from your phone and a representative will be happy to help you. [BTW.... T-MO blocks several other countries.] Sehr geehrter Herr Naimon, Danke für den Einblick in Stil und Antwort der "Konkurrenz" in den USA! Wahrhaftig interessant zu sehen, mit welcher Methode hier versucht wird, Ihnen mehr oder weniger sanft die Verantwortung für ein angebliches Fehlinformiertseins in die Schuhe zu schieben! Herr Naimon, Sie sind nicht falsch informiert gewesen sondern wurden dies jetzt von jenem "Customer Care Specialist": vor ca. 3-4 Wochen fing T-Mobile USA nämlich erst mit dieser absurden Sperrung an. Intern heisst es wegen "Fraude". Das mag soweit sogar einen realen Hintergrund und die Sorge T-Mobiles um Ihre Kunden seine Berechtigung haben aber T-Mobile hat die ganze Nation Liechtenstein und nicht selektiv den evt. betroffenen Nummernbereich gesperrt. Was Ihre Anregung an uns, uns bei T-Mobile zu melden, betrifft, so haben wir dies natürlich eigeninitiativ von der ersten Minute an getan, da sehr viele Kunden in den USA von der Sperrung betroffen sind. Wir informieren uns schon seit Anbeginn dieser Misère nach dem Hintergrund und regen eine etwas differenziertere Handhabung der Angelegenheit an aber bisher leider ohne zählbares Ergebnis. Uns bleibt uns nur aufrichtig bei Ihnen zu entschuldigen für diesen ganzen Mißstand, ohne eine direkte Verantwortung dafür zu tragen - ganz anders als T-Mobile, der den alten Service an Ihre Kunden nur wieder herstellen möge anstelle Ihnen "frustrierende" Erlebnisse zuzufügen. Mit freundlichen Grüssen, Paul Nick [Basically, they (UM) have been trying to convince T-MO that the policy of TOTAL BLOCKING is wrong for some time but to no avail.] Stan Phones: DASH V3 (3) Service: US T-MO post paid (2) - US T-MO prepaid (2) - UM+ - TravelSIM DE SIMYO - DE SUNSIM T-Mobile DE Calling Cards: Onesuite Enjoyprepaid AT&T MCI Mobivox

	(#3)
MATHA531 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 869 Join Date: 15 Oct 2004 Country:	26-05-2007, 00:45 Why would they block calls to +423 insofar as checking their web site, they list calls to Liechtenstein as well over $1/minute. In addition the customer service rep seemed to explain why you can't send texts from T Mo to Liechtenstein but what about the opposite way?

	(#4)
snaimon (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 898 Join Date: 17 Mar 2004 Location: Richmond, VA USA Country:	Why? - 26-05-2007, 02:53 The explanation I was given by T-MO is suspicion of fraud. The UM reply and common sense dictate that a sane policy would be to block only the few #s suspected of fraud, NOT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, including SMS. No, there is something else behind the scenes at work that T-MO does not want to divulge. At least that is my suspicion and that of UM. I suspect they would like to make life unpleasant for UM and its customers. UM does not write that but that is my guess. Stan Phones: DASH V3 (3) Service: US T-MO post paid (2) - US T-MO prepaid (2) - UM+ - TravelSIM DE SIMYO - DE SUNSIM T-Mobile DE Calling Cards: Onesuite Enjoyprepaid AT&T MCI Mobivox

	(#5)
b330i (Offline) Junior Member Newbie Posts: 3 Join Date: 25 May 2007 Country:	26-05-2007, 13:32 Thanks for the info, Stan... I guess I have no choice but to get another global sim card...

	(#7)
snaimon (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 898 Join Date: 17 Mar 2004 Location: Richmond, VA USA Country:	26-05-2007, 13:53 See signature. I have T-MO, both pre and post paid. I also already have world class roaming and unlimited sms. The point was I was TRYING to send an SMS from US to my UM card. Both sons are staying here this summer and they COULD (if T-MO) permitted it, send me SMS (15 cents) while I am away. Won't work, however, because T-MO is blocking. TRUE, I could take the US T-MO SIM and switch SIMs, but I don't want to risk the higher roaming charges for voice. I have heard (but not experienced) that SOMETIMES when your SIM registers on another foreign network that the original US T-MO settings network (call-forward, etc) are reset. Stan Phones: DASH V3 (3) Service: US T-MO post paid (2) - US T-MO prepaid (2) - UM+ - TravelSIM DE SIMYO - DE SUNSIM T-Mobile DE Calling Cards: Onesuite Enjoyprepaid AT&T MCI Mobivox

	(#9)
bbob (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 499 Join Date: 20 Feb 2007 Country:	29-05-2007, 13:33 It's not only T-mobile. Dutch Telecom KPN for example increased their rates to Lichtenstein Mobile som time ago for 8 eurocent a minute to 93 eurocent a minute !!! Guess why they are doing this. Also some of my internationnal customers complained thet they could not call my UM number. The problem is just that big carriers tike T-Mobile and others do not like the roaming free cards and they are trying their best to block them somehow. They will although not admit this but find a cheap excuse like fraud in this example.

	(#10)
prion (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 589 Join Date: 01 May 2006 Location: Greece Country:	29-05-2007, 14:59 the increase in the rates is due toi the fact that the carrier (United mobile) asks for more to connect the call. So it is a matter of interconnection fees.