Hello All.
I have been using my Fairphone 4 (preloaded with /e/OS) for some 3 years now, occasionally switching network providers to get a cheaper deal, porting my phone number. About 2 weeks ago I swapped from iD Mobile [3 UK] to Talkmobile [Vodafone/3 UK] (with whom I already have a monthly contract for my LTE router) and now I am no longer able to send text messages to international mobile phone numbers – nothing exotic, just to mainland Europe. Texts are routed via ‘traditional’ SMSC, not RSC, i.e. no internet should be required.
Steps to reproduce:-
- Open e/OS stock ‘Message’ app
- Select an international contact (properly formatted, with ‘+’ and omitting leading ‘0’)
- Compose message, hit send.
- App immediately throws an error message: ‘Failed to send. Tap to try again’
- (Needless to add, tapping again won’t resolve the issue.)
The bizarre thing is that this is the first time this has happened, and it is now happening with other SIM cards, too – I used my other Talkmobile SIM in the Fairphone: same issue. I just downloaded an eSIM from Giffgaff [O2]: same issue. Before anyone asks, any additional credit required for international texting has been added.
Remedies already tried but to no avail:-
- Used new Talkmobile SIM in different phones – text sends and arrives OK
- Confirmed SMSCs with MVNOs and double-checked entries via
*#*#4636#*#* - Tried a 3rd spare Vodafone PAYG SIM in my Fairphone – error message
- Tried Google Messages and routing via RSC – my number won’t verify
- Full factory reset
To note:-
- I can send text messages to UK numbers with no problem
- I can receive text messages from international mobile numbers with no problem
- Ringing numbers abroad and receiving calls are working fine, too
- There was some initial success in swapping Talkmobile’s SMSC number with Vodafone’s (with the Talkmobile SIM inserted: a short, simple text (no emojis etc.) would eventually send, taking ~ 1min, but no delivery report was forthcoming and, crucially, my international recipient would receive the contents of the text but the sender’s number was empty…!
I am now tempted to believe this is an issue with the FP4, not with the network operator(s). Short of ditching e/OS altogether and returning to stock Android, does anybody have had a similar experience and/or any pointers as to why this is happening?
Tech/OS specs:-
- /e/OS 3.2-a13-20251022539005-official-FP4
- Android version 14 [build AP2A.240905.003 – kernel 4.19.197]
- All apps up-to-date
- Phone unrooted (AFAIK)
Many thanks in advance,
Jay