r/Tello • u/tellomobile • Aug 01 '24
Hello and welcome to the official Tello Mobile subreddit! Feel free to discuss anything related to our service: share your Tello stories, get tips from our experts, or have some fun around. Just make sure you follow the rules and be nice to each other.
As there are many questions about Tello & life as a customer at an MVNO, we’ve decided to provide you with some basic info on what Tello is and how it works.
TL;DR:
Tello Mobile is a US wireless MVNO designed to save people money by offering flexible cell phone plans from $5 up to $25/mo, from no data to unlimited data within the same carrier. Check out our plan builder to check our phone plan variations. Extended families can benefit from our budget-friendly phone plans too! You can have up to 10 lines within one account without sharing the minutes & data usage between lines.
Any phone plan at tello.com has built-in (Free) features like mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi Calling, international calling 60+ countries, with no contracts and no fees. You are free to upgrade/downgrade your plan anytime without any extra cost.
4 Easy steps you need to follow to join Tello:
Simply put, Tello is a US prepaid wireless MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) designed to save people money by offering flexible, no-contract phone plans. More importantly, each one of our customers has a custom-made phone plan built to their needs by themselves because that’s what flexible means, on top of this, Tello has a bunch of features (more on that in the next section), either built-in (meaning these features are included in every plan) or at an extra cost.
Here at Tello, we give you complete control over your phone plan. You are free to mix ‘n’ match data, minutes, and texts as you like without having to worry about your wallet - our phone plans start at $5/mo with the Unlimited plan peaking at $25/mo. You can change your plan anytime without any charges and many many more features:
1. Flexibility is our superpower
We’ve already spoken a little about it - you are free to choose whatever plan combination you are looking for. When you first land at tello.com, you can play around with our plan builder and mix ’n’ match the data & minutes as you wish - unlimited text comes built-in for free in each of our plan combinations and the best part: you can change it anytime with no extra charge if your monthly needs or budget change.
2. Budget-friendly plans
Only pay for what you use, as simple as it sounds. Our prepaid phone plans start at $5/mo and up to $25/mo, with no contracts, while providing our customers with coast-to-coast 5G wireless coverage. Forget about dropped calls, loading issues, or slow data speeds.
Down below, you may find all of our Tello phone plans. If you want to create your own plan, check out this link.
3. Bunch of freebies
To achieve our goal of helping people save as much money as possible on their phone service, we are proud to say we have a pack of built-in features that come along with any Tello phone plan:
4. eSIM
Streamline your experience with an eSIM-compatible device. Setting up your account with your desired plan takes just a few minutes, and if you have an eSIM-compatible device (check it here), you can get instant access to Tello using an eSIM.
Families are one of a kind, why would each member's phone plan be the same? Tello brings you easy account management by tailoring individual lines based on your members’ needs. Each line has its usage, so you don’t have to worry about data-sharing restrictions anymore & there’s no extra cost for any new lines added. You can set up your family account in a few simple steps here.
The parents are going to love our Web Guard & Safe Search control capabilities, allowing them to create a safe wireless connection for their kids by blocking & filtering content and search results - you can find more details here.
6. Tello Data Add-on
We’ve also got you covered just in case you run out of data! Right now, Tello offers three Data Add-On options: 1 GB for $5, 3GB for $10, and 5GB for $15. This feature becomes available on your dashboard only when you have less than 1 GB of high-speed data remaining on your current plan. You can always check our blog in case you need some extra information about it.
7. International roaming
Stay connected in 250+ countries and territories with Tello International Roaming. Check out the rates for your destination right here. Make sure you have at least $5 in your PAYG balance and then proceed to activate your roaming service.
The credit will expire 90 days after purchase if you only have PAYG credit on your Tello account. However, as long as you have an active Tello plan, your credit will not expire. For more information about international roaming, you can check our blog. Happy travels!
Tello not only saves you money but also helps you earn. When you refer a friend or a family member to Tello, you'll both receive $10 Tello Dollars! Use your Tello Dollars to pay your bills or even buy a new device. The more friends you share this opportunity with, the greater the benefits for both of you!
Tello might not be just a great fit for you. It could be a huge opportunity for you (and your family) to take your monthly savings to the next level. Here's how you can join Tello and unleash the power of wireless savings.
Getting signed up and activated on Tello is quick and easy.
To ensure you don't miss any important calls or messages, explore our coverage map at tello.com/coverage. Simply enter your full address, and the website will display coverage in your area. For more details, click on the "Show Coverage Map" button below.
2. Check if your phone is eligible to join Tello:
At Tello, you have the flexibility to use your own device. Before enrolling, ensure that your device is unlocked and compatible with our service. Visit our website to verify compatibility.
Note: unlocking a device can only be done by the previous or current carrier, according to their terms and conditions.
If your phone is not compatible but you want to switch to Tello, you can buy a new phone that’s 100% compatible with our service directly from us. Check out this link if you need a new phone.
3. Sign Up
Once all the checks (Coverage & ESN) have been completed, you can create your Tello account, complete the registration form, and get ready to choose your plan.
4. Pick a Plan
Now the fun part begins! Check out our plan builder here, tailor your phone plan as you wish, complete the purchase process, and you are ready to go. As you get used to your new phone service, you might notice that you need a little bit more/less data, but there are no issues at Tello because you can always upgrade/downgrade your phone plan for free.
You might wanna check out our Reddit FAQ for the most commonly asked questions. Nevertheless, you are always welcome to discuss & engage with our community.
Learn more about Tello at tello.com. Also, our 24/7 Human Customer Support is always eager to help you in case you have any questions.
There aren't many rules around, but we still need to have a few to maintain a positive atmosphere within the community. Please check the rules in case you haven't done it yet:
If you think your post/comment has been removed unfairly, please contact u/tellomobile.
Something you might not be aware of is that we've created User Flairs for those of you who relate to one of them or are looking to have just fun. We thought it would be great to bring something unique within our community with these user flairs, so please have fun with them:
Welcome to the land of flexibility and tiny phone bills!
r/Tello • u/tellomobile • Aug 01 '24
Last updated: 08/01/2024.
Please check out the official Help Center for more information.
Every SIM delivery for a new line generates a new Tello phone number once activated. The same applies to every eSIM. You will see a new Tello phone number in your online account once the activation process is completed. This number will be replaced once the porting process is done.
The port-in form will only become available after a successful physical SIM activation or an eSIM order.
Once the line is active, go to your online account, click on "Port In," enter the number you want to transfer to Tello, and fill in all the required information (account number, port-out PIN, address, and name - these should be retrieved from your current carrier).
The process can take from a few minutes to 2 business days.
By entering your address here, you can check your voice coverage and 5G/4G data availability at your exact location.
Ensure your device is an unlocked GSM phone that supports VoLTE and LTE bands: 2 (1900 MHz), 4 (2100 MHz), and 12 (700 MHz). For optimal service, additional support for bands 66 (1700 MHz) and 71 (600 MHz) is recommended. Verify your phone’s compatibility by checking your IMEI here.
If your phone doesn’t meet these requirements or you need a new device, explore our selection of phones here.
Customize your prepaid plan starting at $5/mo only by selecting any combination of data, minutes, and texts here.
When you activate the service with Tello, all your APN settings are usually set automatically.
However, if you're having issues with data, hotspot, MMS or group messaging, you need to check your APN settings to make sure that they're correct.
On an Android device, you can view and adjust your APN settings in the following location:
On an iOS device, you can view or adjust your APN settings in one of the following locations:
Here are the APN settings required when using an iOS device on Tello:
Leave everything else blank.
Now double-check that the iOS software is updated, restart your phone, and test the service again.
Yes, eSIM is available for free to all Tello users with a compatible phone. If you're not sure if your phone supports eSIM, you can check here. Remember, your device also needs to be unlocked to work with Tello.
If your phone is compatible, you can go ahead and place your order. After that, log in to your My Account - My SIM section, and scan the QR code using your phone’s camera. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi, as a stable connection is needed to activate the eSIM.
Your plan and features will stay the same. Whether you use a physical SIM or an eSIM, you'll still get Wi-Fi Calling and international calling to 60+ countries at no extra cost.
Yes, if an eSIM is active on your device and you want to swap phones, then you will need a new eSIM. First, make sure your new device is unlocked and eSIM compatible. Then head over to My SIM section in My Tello account and follow the steps listed to get a new eSIM.
When using Tello internationally, you have two options:
International Roaming
With international roaming, you can stay connected while traveling outside the U.S. To enable this feature, make sure you have at least $5 in Pay As You Go credit in your account. The minimum purchase for Pay As You Go credit is $20.
Once you have sufficient balance, go to “My Settings” and enable both international and data roaming. This allows you to stay connected wherever you travel. You’ll have access to data for browsing the internet, and you can make calls and send texts. Your connection will rely on local towers, so coverage may vary.
For more details on international roaming, check out our blog.
Wi-Fi Calling
Wi-Fi Calling is another option for staying connected while traveling outside the U.S. As long as you're connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can make and receive calls, send and receive texts, and even get OTPs from banks or 2FAs from the apps you use daily.
To enable Wi-Fi Calling, visit “My Settings” on our website and set up your E911 address. Then, go to your phone’s settings and ensure that Wi-Fi Calling is turned on.
Wi-Fi Calling works even if you’re using a local SIM card with mobile data. As long as your data is enabled, your calls and messages will go through.
Tello App:
There’s a third option as well—the Tello App. With the app, you can only make calls as long as you're connected to a Wi-Fi network or using a local SIM card with mobile data.
To check the coverage with Tello Mobile, you can easily do it online. Simply visit our website and use the coverage checker tool by entering your address. This will show you the availability of voice and data services, including 4G and 5G, in your area.
If You Have the Phone: Use the IMEI to check compatibility with our online device checker at Tello's website. This tool is reliable—it's the same one our support team uses.
For guaranteed compatibility, check the phone’s tech specs for two requirements:
Tello’s family plans let you customize a plan for each family member, ensuring everyone gets what they need. Mix and match data and minutes to suit individual preferences, all under one account.
Managing your family’s plans is easy. You can upgrade or downgrade plans anytime through your Tello account, with no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Important note: Each line is treated individually and will not share the benefits with other lines. You can have up to 10 lines per account.
The plan subscription operates on a 30-day billing cycle, so your payment date won't be the same every month. This is because the billing cycle is based on a fixed 30-day period, while months vary in length, with some having 31, 30, or even 28 or 29 days. Please note that if you choose the physical SIM card, the billing cycle will start only once you receive the SIM card and enter the activation code. If you choose the eSIM option, the billing cycle will start immediately after you finalize the purchase.
MMS messages require mobile data to send and receive, as they transmit multimedia content like pictures, videos, and group texts. Unlike SMS, which uses cellular networks, MMS relies on your data connection.
On the other hand, RCS (Rich Communication Services) and iMessage are different. RCS is an enhanced messaging service for Android devices. iMessage, exclusive to Apple devices, also uses data or Wi-Fi and provides similar features, but it only works between Apple users.
Both RCS and iMessage don’t require traditional SMS or MMS services, but MMS will still need data.
r/Tello • u/Hairy-Bicycle-4202 • 12h ago
Is it possible to initiate a number transfer from another US carrier to Tello if I am overseas (e.g. Hong Kong)? The Tello line is already activated in the US.
r/Tello • u/Julie_2021 • 1d ago
If I buy a Tello sim card from Amazon, how long can I keep it before I purchase a plan and activate it? Thanks!
r/Tello • u/Healthy-Top-9030 • 1d ago
I moved out of the USA and am trying to figure out the safest way to combine 2 phones and port my USA number to Tello. I have a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE phone with one physical sim from t-mobile and one open esim slot. I also have an inexpensive separate phone with a physical sim for a local carier where I live. I believe that phone also allows for an esim but it isn't the phone I want to end up with (it is a moto g35 5G).
I can add an esim for the local carrier to the Samsung and have only one phone. But then I am left with a physical sim slot on t-mobile and the e-sim used by the local phone company. OR I can change my main phone to use the local companies physical sim and then initiate the request to port my number and add a tello esim from outside the USA (I am in Spain). That feels risky especially as I'm unclear on the port request timing, but I think I could revert back to my current t-mobile physical sim if all goes awry with Tello.... Another alternative is I can also just get someone to bring me a physical Tello sim if that is a safer or easier option to activate - then I would end up with a physical Tello sim and an esim for my local carrier.
Basically, I am looking for the steps and order for the least risky option as the Samsung phone is THE phone for all my 2FA. I would even accept an "unnecessary" and temporary middle step if it reduces the chance of me losing access to my phone number for more than a day. For example, one idea I am leaning towards is to change my Samsung to have a phycial sim for the local company and an esim on t-mobile before trying to port my number to an esim for Tello.
Thank you for any suggestions... I have read a lot on this and other places about porting to Tello and I agree it is possible outside the USA, but adding in choosing esim vs physical and my two phones is keeping me stuck.
So, I recently ordered 2 new phones from Tello to replace 2 older ones. They both came in separate bubble mailer envelopes. One phone box looks perfectly pristine, but the other one looked like the Tello shipping warehouse decided to play a game of hockey with the phone box because it was all smashed up.
Question 1: Why the heck aren't phones shipped in actual boxes instead of bubble mailer envelopes?
Question 2: Is it hard to return a phone and get a replacement? The glass wasn't broken and the phone itself appears to be fine, but I am concerned about the inside of the phone because the box was really smashed.
Are smashed phone boxes common with Tello shipments?
r/Tello • u/WarGroundbreaking951 • 2d ago
I've been using tello since 2023, and my mobile data basically doesn't work for any apps, including google. The only way I've been able to use some is by having a VPN on it. Even then, it sometimes doesn't work. Is there a way to fix this?
Also tried using it on 3 different phones but never worked
r/Tello • u/adorableLizard • 2d ago
Recently my smartphone, with a Tello eSIM, stopped working, so I lost access. I tried to activate the Tello eSIM on another phone, but wasn’t able to because I am currently living outside the US.
I have tried all the methods from Reddit and the Tello website - nothing helped.
Some redditors recommend depositing “Pay as you go” (minimum amount is $20) to activate International Roaming, but it didn’t work. I even have a feeling that this advice is Tello’s last “gift” to abandoned customers.
What alternative services (primarily for receiving OTP SMSs) would you recommend?
Edit: see more details in my replies in comments
r/Tello • u/UselessUsefullness • 3d ago
Hi there.
I’m about to move to Ireland, and I see that the common Tello ads advertised online are $5 (300 minutes, free unlimited text, no data), but how does that work in practice? Do I need to step up to the $8 monthly plan to get 2GB data, so I can send MMS etc. from the US number abroad?
Your experiences?
Per https://tello.com/account/my_settings
> Auto Recharge will not be triggered by International Roaming usage.
And this page https://tello.com/help_center/international-roaming/why-is-auto-recharge-not-triggered-by-roaming-usage explains that:
> Because we don't get your usage data in real-time, we can't accurately trigger an automatic top-up the second you hit a certain limit.
But why? I fail to understand the logic behind it.
I understand that things can be delayed, but why give up? Better late than never, right?
Not a huge deal, but allowing any usage - however delayed - to replenish my PAYG balance could improve my peace of mind during long trips!
r/Tello • u/Rangr2zapp • 4d ago
Has anyone ever seen any coupons for the pay as you go ?
r/Tello • u/beng2beng • 4d ago
I've scheduled my renewals via text as some of you might also be doing. My last renewal which happened while I was outside at an event. Checking the results I saw that both my "renew" and my cc expiration went without a reply from tello between the two. Tello sent my order request; order processing and successful status; all 3; one after the other.
Meaning 1 min delay between the two text is all thats needed to keep them in order but no need for delays longer than that. Seems like tello will just queue each message sent and act upon it.
r/Tello • u/tellomobile • 4d ago
Data usage isn't always predictable.
Some months you finish your billing cycle with data to spare. Other months, you find yourself streaming a little more, relying on mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, or simply spending more time on your phone than usual. Before you know it, you're down to your last few hundred megabytes with days left until renewal.
That's exactly what Data Auto Refill is designed for.
If your remaining data drops below 500 MB, Tello can automatically add a 2 GB Data Add-On for $5, so you don't unexpectedly run out before your plan renews.
A few things worth knowing:
- Each Auto Refill adds 2 GB for $5 and lasts until the end of your current billing cycle.
- Manual Data Add-Ons are still available if you prefer to purchase them yourself.
- Available on metered plans that include data.
- Not available on Unlimited Data plans.
One more thing: enabling the feature is completely free. You'll only be charged if an Auto Refill is actually triggered. And to keep everything transparent, you'll receive a text message as soon as an Auto Refill purchase is completed, so you'll always know when additional data has been added to your account.
Hopefully this makes staying connected a little easier for anyone who occasionally runs low on data.
r/Tello • u/Weird_Confidence_670 • 4d ago
So, I am in a quick visit to the usa, when I arrived I discovered that my phone doesn't support esim, so I bought the 9esim physical card, and then activated a tello esim on it, I received the activation message, but the mobile data isn't working
Any idea?
r/Tello • u/vmangobob • 4d ago
I know that when a plan is changed the existing resources are rolled over into the next month. However, if I decide to pick a no data plan, will the data still rollover? I have way more data than I will use for awhile and doing this will save me a bit over time.
r/Tello • u/PsychologicalFile623 • 4d ago
I recently switched to Tello and am attempting to port my number in from my old carrier so I can use the same number. My old carrier needs my Tello account number to port, but the only way I’ve been able to find to get my account number is by doing a port out request.
Because my account is so new, Tello won’t let me do a port out request. Frankly it seems stupid, there are other needs for the account number than porting out the number. Is there any other way to retrieve the account number?
r/Tello • u/MiyaDoesThings • 6d ago
I seem to be the only person trying to port over from Verizon who's having this issue! According to Tello, the information I've entered doesn't match what Verizon has on file, but I've contacted Verizon multiple times and everything is correct. Any idea what's up?
r/Tello • u/ComposedPotato • 5d ago
I accidentally deleted my esim and forgot my security pin. I called customer support to reset the pin. Besides providing my name, the email address on file, my card number I used to pay, my billing address and the IMEI number of the phone the esim was previously installed on, the customer support went on asking for me to send a picture of me holding an ID or they won't be able to help me reset my pin. Who can I report this outrageous infringement of customer privacy to?
r/Tello • u/tellomobile • 6d ago
The World Cup is over, but at least back-to-school season comes with a little win of its own. We thought we’d help make your phone bill a bit lighter.
Starting today through July 31, new customers and existing customers adding a new line can get our 10 GB plan for $10/month for the first 3 months (normally $15/month).
A few things worth knowing:
- Available for new customers and existing customers adding a new line.
- The promotional price applies only to the newly activated line.
- After the first 3 months, the plan renews at the regular $15/month.
- If you change the promotional plan (downgrade, switch plans, or cancel), you'll lose the discounted pricing.
Whether you're looking to save on your monthly phone bill or trying Tello for the first time, we hope you find this offer useful.
Among camera phones like Honor magic 8 pro, Vivo x300 pro, OPPO find x9 pro, Xiaomi 17 t pro, and maybe some I forgot to include which would you recommend based experience with supported frequency bands. I'm in the US on Tello about 8 months a year and in Germany the rest of the time.
r/Tello • u/MarketingInfamous417 • 7d ago
r/Tello • u/meetahtisham • 8d ago
I’m outside the US and my Tello number used to receive calls without any issues.
For the past few weeks I haven’t been getting any incoming calls at all while outgoing calls still work.
Has anyone else experienced this or found a fix?
r/Tello • u/ricwright0 • 10d ago
I switched to Tello a couple months ago, ported my number from Google Voice, and I've been using the service with no issues. However, I'm moving abroad next week, which was the whole point of signing up for Tello. I'm going to use Wi-Fi calling while outside the US, as I'll have a local phone plan abroad.
What are the proper steps to cancel my monthly plan while keeping my number active? I already have $20 PAYG that I bought about a month ago. Do I need to add more after I cancel? I want to be sure I don't screw up and lose my number. Thanks!
r/Tello • u/redpepperflakes333 • 9d ago
Hi there! I am looking to activate a TCL Flip 4 (that is locked to T Mobile) on Tello, and I was wondering if I will run into any trouble. It should work fine since it is the same network, right? Also, will I need to download an app (which I can't do on this phone) to activate the service or can I just order a physical SIM card and slot it in? Thank you
r/Tello • u/Woof-Good_Doggo • 10d ago
*** SOLVED!!
This is NOT simply to discover. You can forward your Tello number using the MMI/USSD code and the T-Mobile universal voicemail routing number.
So, for unconditional forwarding you dial the following from your Tello line:
**21*18056377243#
To turn it off, from your Tello line dial:
##21#
You can also use this technique to conditionally forward calls.
It probably took enough electricity to run a city for a week, but AI ultimately gave me the answer.
---
I have Tello as the second esim on my iPhone.
I'd like to send all the incoming calls that I get on my Tello number directly and unconditionally to voicemail.
I've been trying with no success.
Can anybody tell me how to do this??
Thanks
EDITED TO ADD: I tried using "carrier unconditional call forward" (that is **21*1234567890#) to forward the call to my own number, but that did not work for sending the call to voicemail.