To find I now can't make emergency calls and be grumpy about being forced into buying new phones?

[No999]

This morning I've realised that I seem to have ended up in a position with no means of calling 999 etc.. in an emergency. It feels like this has crept up on me but am I missing something obvious that everyone else is doing? Am I the only person this has happened to?

I haven't had a landline for 20+ years. All work calls are online and I speak to family and friends on my mobile phone / WhatsApp. So, I have a home broadband package that doesn't currently include voice calls or handset.

However, this week calls stopped working entirely on my mobile. After querying the issue with my network provider (Smarty) it seems that this is because my phone is not supported for voice-over-internet LTE (VoLTE) calling with Smarty and 3G has now been switched off in my area. (NB My phone supports 4G and was not listed specifically among the models they circulated with notice of the 3G switch off a few months ago. I did check the settings and believed it would be fine.)

At first, I shrugged and thought that I would just phone everyone on WhatsApp and there would be no real problem. Data is working fine and there's no other issues beyond not being able to call. Then it occurred to me to check the 999 situation. Having googled, I see that WhatsApp can't be used for emergency calls so I'm in a bind. Are there other options?

Now, I am sitting in my kitchen and wondering what I will do if I set the toaster on fire or fall down the stairs etc.. in the immediate future. I have no means of calling 999 and am feeling a bit non-plussed at how I got here. I'm not a doddering tech-phobic octogenarian.

The most immediate solution seems to be to stump up the extra £6 per month to add digital voice to my broadband package and buy a handset. I assume this would take only a few days to set up but only solves the problem in the house and not when out and about.

I don't particularly want to buy a new mobile phone but feel I'm being forced into it. It took me a long time to find a compact smartphone that doesn't aggravate my wrist issues and tendency to cubital tunnel problems. Most phones are much too large for comfort and there's fewer small options on the market than in the past.

Grrrr....

Get a new phone?

Change provider to one who supports your phone?

That is rubbish, however replied to say I’m admiring of your ability to use “non-plussed” correctly.

For goodness sake get a new phone!

You've saved a fortune by not having a landline alongside your mobile.

My daughters phone all of a sudden stopped working last week. Could only use it on WiFi .

Smarty have sent me a new SIM card and Iv just activated to get working .

You don't need to get a new phone
Would I be right in guessing you have a Google Pixel phone?
(This is very common with them)
If so, you definitely can install VoLTE on it, I can give you a link to the steps to do this
If it's another model, then you can almost certainly install it, just Google for the steps to install on your particular brand and model
Any 3G phone except old Crapples can have the software installed to allow you to use VoLTE

Are you sure it's the phone. When Virgin moved to O2 I was automatically switched and lost my ability to do anything. As it was my phone had been dropped the week before and needed replacing so after O2 weren't any help I did that.

It's worth looking at Nokia smart phones, they offer a great range, cheap enough to buy outright (lots under £200) paired with a cheap £6 ID mobile SIM they are great. They can in various shapes and sizes ( ok, maybe not shapes - they are all rectangles)

Is 3G being switched off? That's not good at all.
One of my elderly relatives doesn't have a smartphone - just a "dumbphone" and I think it's 3G. I guess I'll have to help them buy a new phone.

They can afford it (although they find it difficult getting used to new phones). However it's pretty shit for people on the lowest incomes, especially elderly who might not have smartphones.

This exact issue has happened to my mum's phone today. She couldn't phone the dentist so came to me asking for help. Also with Smarty and a Google phone

For those suffering this with Google Pixel phones, the three steps you need to follow are

1. Install the three bits of software: Pixel IMS, VoLTE Telet, and Shizuku - they are all in the Play Store
2. Set up your phone following the steps in the link below
3. Start Shizuku, and follow the steps in the software

Do not panic!
It seems tricky, but it's not, it's very a simple step by step procedure

https://mobilevikings.be/en/setup/google-pixel-8-android-14/device/activate-volte/p5d26587t17927

(This is for the Pixel 8, but the same steps should work on earlier models)

@snowmichael Thanks but nope - not a Google Pixel. It's an Xperia XZ2 Compact. I've been searching for updates online but can only find guidance on checking the settings (which look fine) and posts noting that a VoLTE update can be installed but not where to find it. Will keep looking. This would definitely be the ideal for me.

@TwoBlueFish I'm emailing other network providers to see if they support my phone model in the new VoLTE world. O2 coverage is rubbish locally, and Smarty is Three, so I guess it would have to be Vodaphone or EE (or a provider using their networks).

@Windchimesandsong Yes, that occurred to me too. I feel taken by surprise but I know there must be a solution and I probably can afford to pay, if I have to. Some elderly or vulnerable people may not have a clue what has happened and/or lack the means to pay for new devices. Aren't old landlines being discontinued completely in 2025 too? This could be a double whammy for some. I saw a mention online of a government task force being set up to look at the problem of emergency calling access given these kinds of telecom network changes but nothing else yet.

If I do have to bite the bullet and buy a new phone, any personal recommendations for compact / mini smartphones? Size is the limiting factor for me more than price. Present phone is a comfortable 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm and I can't handle anything significantly larger. Unfortunately, the market trend has been upward re size, and there's not so many small models out there now.

Have a look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 (not the Pro).

It's 147x71x7.6mm and weighs 167g so it's the same weight, much thinner but about 1.2cm longer - it might work?

You'd likely be able to make a 999 call with your mobile as is actually. When you call 999 your phone can/will connect to any available provider to connect the call, it doesn't matter what network you're on or even if there's a SIM card in your phone.

So long as you have reception from one of the providers then it'll work.

But yes if it's not working for calls generally prob worth upgrading phone/changing network.

YANBU. And whereas you are not an octogenarian with poor eyesight and anxiety about technology, you can bet many who are will be struggling with this too.

Can you still send texts. You can text 999 if you are registered. You need to send 'register' to 999 and follow the instructions.