I’m sorry, but your last reply completely avoided all of the issues I had detailed.
As for “backing your project”, I “purchased” a supposedly working phone that is presented for sale on your company website and that I had been assured in writing would function in the U.S. Upon receiving the phone, it was blocked from activation on any U.S. carrier’s networks.
Apparently, Volla’s assurances that the phone would work were based only on out-of-date and incomplete feedback from previous users. What carrier’s networks was the Volla able to connect to – AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon? Did the user install a new SIM card requiring activation or swap a SIM from another working phone? What networks were the users activated on -2G, 3G, CDMA, UMTS, 4G LTE? Was the user in an urban or rural area? Did the Volla pass an IMEI check? All of these criteria are critical to know.
The Volla phone’s frequencies were again unnecessarily repeated. I feel that this is somewhat disingenuous, because as I detailed in my post from
Sun 18. Sep 2022, 02:13, detailing frequency overlap and generalization, stating frequencies in this manner is irrelevant.
An example is the 700 MHz bandwidth. There are
seven 700 MHz bands in use for cellular communications. Which 700 MHz band/s does the Volla 22 support? Only specifications detailing the actual band designations are relevant. Also, the UpLink frequency is generally stated first in NAR specifications, but I have seen European specifications stating the DownLink as the generalized frequency.
Is the 2100 frequency in the Volla specs an UpLink or DownLink reference? Which
band does it refer to? These bands utilize the 2100 MHz frequencies: b1, b4, b65, b66, and the now obsolete band b10. In the North American Region, bands 4 and 66 are used. Which 2100 MHz band does the Volla 22 use? Whichever it is, my Volla 22 won’t connect to it! Stating the frequency coverage on the phone as 2100 MHz means nothing.
Next is your reference to the APN settings. I’m at a loss to understand what this has to do with activating a cellular connection. The APN settings are to allow the carrier network to connect to the internet. This is not required to make phone calls or texts. This is totally irrelevant to this discussion.
And finally using the Verizon network map as proof of coverage is completely without merit. This map only indicates 4G and 5G network coverage. Verizon is decommissioning by December, or in some areas already has shut down, the 2G and 3G networks and does not allow any new connections to them. The Volla 22 does not utilize the NAR 4G or 5G networks, as it appears to only connect to 2G networks in the NAR. SIM swaps on the Verizon network result in an immediate IMEI check and blocked activation.
As far as I can determine, only T-Mobile is allowing the Volla phones to connect to 2G, and then only by using a swapped SIM card. All U.S. carriers, including T-Mobile, reject any attempts at a new SIM activation. Factor in that T-Mobile will decommission its 2G network this coming December as well, at which time there will be no possibility of a “swapped SIM” connection.
So where are we at this point?
Well, I for one, and others that I am aware of, are extremely dissatisfied with Volla's lack of customer support, poor communications, and most of all a product that has never functioned. I am still waiting for a response from Gregor in “customer support,” since Oct. 12th, and while I was communicating and receiving responses from Dr. Wurzer until I purchased the phone, I have not yet received a response from an email dated 10/20/2022.
I have four questions for Volla that I would like direct, succinct answers to:
1. Where are you with adding NAR bands to the Volla 22 radio – how soon?
2. Is it even possible to open additional bands with the radio built into the Volla 22?
3. If you (or any Volla employees) personally purchased an item and it failed to work out of the box, how long would you wait for a satisfactory resolution?
4. Finally, barring a positive outcome on the first two questions, how do we request an RMA and refund for a non-functioning product?
This issue is not the fault of your North American customers for lack of due diligence, as you seem to be alluding. It is fully on Volla/Hallo Welt Systeme. You offered it for sale, allowed for sales to the NAR, accepted our funds, and shipped a non-functioning product. It is Volla’s responsibility to correct this issue, either by providing a functional product or a refund.
It is truly a shame that this issue has come to this point. The Volla 22 is a solid phone very well integrated with the Volla OS and dual-boot functions seamlessly. I was very impressed with this device – until I tried to make a phone call…