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AT&T as my 2nd SIM while living in Japan

2 points · submitted Dec 2021 by u/Ark42 · Wireless · archived

I keep the number around mostly to get the verification codes to log into my online banking and such. My AT&T SIM was sitting in a Nexus 5x, but normally off or in airplane mode since I don't really use it much. I guess AT&T didn't think I had a 4G phone, and must have mailed some junk phone to my US address. Obviously with the ongoing pandemic, I haven't been back to the states in a long time, so I haven't even opened that box to see what's in it. Didn't care until I realized that my SIM here is now permanently disabled. Got over that hurdle by converting to an eSIM (with the help of a family member in the states, and screenshots of QR codes). I added it as a 2nd SIM on my Pixel 5 (primary SIM is a Japanese number with plenty of data here). Then realized I can use WiFi-calling as well. Pretty impressed that technology has caught up to what should have been possible 15-20 years ago.

What's not so clear though, is if there's any way I can block voice calls and texts on the AT&T number if I'm roaming (which is basically always right now) and WiFi isn't available. I certainly don't want to accidentally send a 50 cent text message, and would prefer it if the text or call just fails in that case.

What's also not so clear is if regular voicemail or visual voicemail can work with an eSIM or while living in Japan. When I press the voicemail button, it seems to make a call then fail, because there's no voicemail number set or something. Visual voicemail activating is just pending forever, but I suspect nothing is happening.

9 comments · 63% upvoted · other discussions

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MathewLiamSousa 2 points · Dec 2021

Go over ur plan with ur account and check that it includes visual/voicemail or if it needs to be activated.

Ark42 [OP] 0 points · Dec 2021

Yes, my plan supports visual voice mail. The activation process on my phone just says it's still activating and that never changes.

chrisprice 2 points · Dec 2021 · Crafting Wireless Gizmos That Run On AT&T, Not An AT&T Employee

You can't block calls and texts unless you are in Airplane Mode. Then calls and text will use Wi-Fi Calling - and not trigger Day Pass or PPU charges.

You may want to use two separate devices.

Ark42 [OP] 1 points · Dec 2021

Hmmm.. yeah I guess airplane mode makes sense, but yeah, that turns off my data on the Japanese SIM too, so not great.

I did block day pass, but I don't see why there's not as plan to block ppu too. Kinda scummy...

chrisprice 2 points · Dec 2021 · Crafting Wireless Gizmos That Run On AT&T, Not An AT&T Employee

There are/were options to block PPU but I'm not sure if they're still available. They definitely are not advertised today.

Big downside is they don't block cruise ship roaming (considered domestic roaming) and kill use in Canada and Mexico - where roaming is free on most postpay plans today.

I would try calling international care and see if your account is eligible for a PPU international roaming block. Then you could keep both SIMs on and use Wi-Fi calling for the AT&T SIM.

Lizdance40 1 points · Dec 2021

You can't activate and use wifi calling unless you enable while in the USA, still connected to AT&T. You also cannot activate Visual Voicemail unless you are in the United States and connected to a T and T. Visual Voicemail downloads over the cellular network. The only option you have is calling in to get your voicemail.

Ark42 [OP] 1 points · Dec 2021

Wifi calling activated from Japan just fine, and I got an automatic text from at&t saying so. The status bar at the top even says "KDDI WiFi Calling" when I pull down for notifications.

Calling to get my voicemail would be fine, but the SIM setup didn't put a voicemail number to call into the settings, and I'm not sure what to put. The primary SIM (Japanese) says 1417, so it can call that short number over that SIM to check fire messages on my Japanese phone number.

Lizdance40 0 points · Dec 2021

That Wifi calling is not att wifi calling. KDDI must be a local carrier. Only ATT can provide the VM number

Ark42 [OP] 1 points · Dec 2021

It is AT&T, but I'm in Japan. There's obviously no AT&T towers, so it's connected to KDDI and roaming internationally. The eSIM is from AT&T so it can't be anything else. That's not a problem, since mobile data is turned off on the eSIM and the primary SIM, connected to NTT DOCOMO, has 7GB data, and I never come close to using that much anyway.

AT&T's setup configuration for the eSIM did not fill in a VM number though, which is the part that is confusing to me. I don't think it would really be any different if I was in the US vs in Japan - the setting is just blank by default, and I don't know what to put there.