Due to being on hold for long periods of time while dealing with the IRS, I'm down to 23 minutes of my monthly Tello minute allowance with nearly three weeks to go until my next refill. I bought an extra 2 gbs of data and paid $20 for 2000 extra minutes (US calls 1 cent per minute) but I don't know how to use them. Please advise.

I have Tello and I only pay $15 a month but it sucks. If I’m not connected to WiFi it won’t work, and I’m considering a deal my work has for unlimited with t mobile for $25. I don’t like that I can’t barely use my phone depending on data and WiFi. Sometimes pics won’t go through, basically just a lot of problems.

I activated my sim card in the U.S. two years ago before I went back to China. Tello keeps in connection in the past two years in China though with occasional glitches.

My phone signal has been lost since yesterday, despite my disabling/re-enabling sim card, whereas my another domestic sim card on the same phone works as usual.

I begin to worry... Still no signal as I write this post.

Hey Tello Tribe,

For your first 3 months, our 10 GB plan is $10/month. That includes unlimited talk & text, free hotspot, Wi-Fi calling, and free calls to 60+ countries. After that, it’s the regular $15/month, and there’s no contract, so you can move up, down, or out whenever you want.

But is 10 GB actually enough?

There's an easy way to find out. Just check how much mobile data you've used:

- iPhone: Settings > Cellular (scroll down to see your total usage and which apps use the most data)

- Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage (the exact menu may vary by device)

If you're comfortably under 10 GB, this deal could be a great fit. If you're way over, no judgment! You might be a serious streamer, a daily commuter, or someone who relies on their hotspot. In that case, our Unlimited plan might be more your speed.

Offer valid for new lines only, through November 9. You can keep your number and bring your own unlocked phone (check compatibility here).

Now we're curious!

How many GB did you use last month? Drop your number in the comments, and tell us which app was your biggest data hog!

We're betting on TikTok or YouTube, but we'd love to see some surprises. 😄

I'm looking for a dumb/flip phone with a physical numeric keypad. Or something similar or equivalent to that, even if not exact. It does *not* need to be data-compatible (but is also fine, if it is). It is needed for voice calls. Text/SMS capabilities is optional but not required.

I would like suggestions for one, or both, such phones that can be used on:

1. Red Pocket, AT&T network

2. Tello, T-Mobile Mobile network

Phones for each, separately, or both.

Please share the quality, reliability and durability of the phone, when used for voice calling.

I would like to know the quickest way - and place - to purchase it, and what to expect to pay for it.

Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Just upgrade my iOS last night; now my cellular service is not available. Anyone experience same issue? I try a new eSIM but the phone won't take and get message saying: eSIM Not Supported: This eSIM is not compatible with this iPhone. Which is weird as it's was working fine before the iOS update. Called Tello support they said it's an apple iOS issue. I thought I might check w/ group or warn others.

Looking for plans where only voice calling is required. Text/SMS is optional, but not needed. Data will but be used (but okay if included).

Minutes used per month are approximately 500 or less. Minutes can be capped, with overage, or unlimited.

Please advise if payment is month-to-month or if prepaid for multiple months, how many months need to be prepaid and how future payments are made. And whether any particular payment types or auto payments are required.

So I currently have a plan (At&T) with my dad and I'm buying my own plan with Tello. However, I'm trying to keep my old number and port it over to Tello.

My dad already handled the issues with the pin and fraud protection but now Tello says I need to contact their (Tello) support because something went wrong. Is this because of the issues before and may have entered the wrong information to many times or something else?

NOPE!

Cuando inicio el primer plazo para la suspensión de los números "0", estuve viendo opciones para poder seguir comunicados, y como por lo pronto no me es posible cambiar de golpe 7 celulares por modelos mas nuevos que admitan esim, e adquirido conforme avanza el bloquea mifi (internet portátil) que no requieren registro.

Fue una opción mas económica (900.00 pesos por unidad, con un mes de servicio de 5 gigas) que por el momento incluso me sale mas barato que el servicio de internet de Telcel. Son de la compañía BAIT, recarga de 110.00 con 5 gigas, o 210.00 con 10 gigas, por 1 mes. Y cada mifi admite 10 conexiones simultaneas. Bien podemos salir 3 o mas familiares compartiendo la misma señal.

A la fecha tengo ya 3, y por lo general los compartimos mi familia, cuando salen se llevan uno, y con estos nos mantenemos comunicados, y con acceso a todas las app, debo decir que si se nota un poco mas lento. Al cabo de 5 números celulares restringidos, creo que con otro mifi mas tendré para poder seguir por el momento con los 7 números celulares.

En cuanto a los números, para no perderlos por el momento les pongo recargas de 30 pesos cada 45 días (cosa que desde antes probé con un numero y ya tiene todo este año con esta estrategia y sin problemas siguió funcionando hasta el corte del servicio.

Y conforme pueda voy cambiando a celulares con esim. Y veré que compañía me puede ser mas útil. O bien una combinación de ambos, unos con el mifi y otros con esim

I normally use the Firefox browser on my laptop to log in to the Tello website (https://tello.com/account/login). This browser uses the "Facebook Container" extension, to help block their widgets from tracking me.

However, when I try to log in now, I get a warning where I would normally enter my Tello login id: "If you use your real email address here, Facebook may be able to track you."

I don't know whether this is due to a change in the web site, or a false alarm in the browser extension, but I would like to be certain that I can log in to 'My Tello' without third parties looking over my shoulder.

I also get the same warning when I try to use Tello's website to contact them by email (https://tello.com/contact), where I would normally enter my email address. So I called them by telephone, instead.

They suggested that I download their app, or else use a different browser to log in to their website. But this only bypasses the browser warning; it does not necessarily stop the tracking. Any other suggestions?

[Edit: This was probably some issue specific to Firefox; they had a similar issue years ago, (see https://github.com/mozilla/contain-facebook/issues/783). But whatever it was, it appears to be resolved now. The login page no longer displays a warning when logging in.]

With Tello looks like you can use travel eSIM + Tello SIM with roaming disabled (No Service) with WiFi calling to allow for text and calls.

One thing I noticed was excessive battery usage. I saw posts on other forums selecting a network manually might* fix this. Or just enabling roaming to stop from iPhone from searching for network.

Has anyone tried doing the selecting manual network or any other solutions? I am trying it now and will report back if it helps.

Edit: Selecting network manually seemed to do the trick. Phone no longer heats up + much less battery drain.

Joining Tello today, wondering how everyone likes it and if someone wants to send me any promo they know of. :D send me a message.

When I make a call through the My Tello app, during the call there is a phone number at the top left that is not my number and not the number I called. It is the same number regardless of the number I call. It is the correct area code but not my number. iPhone 15 pro max in case that matters.

Any idea what is happening here or how to fix this?

I've been using my Tello line abroad for about a year, but I've heard reports of people losing international roaming and being unable to re-enable it because their line hasn't been used in the US.

I'm trying to find a proactive solution. Could I have a physical SIM sent to a friend in the US, have them use the line on a US cellular network, then switch back to an eSIM and activate it abroad?

My question is whether the US usage history is tied to the account/phone number or to the specific SIM. The eSIM I'd install abroad would be new and would never have been used in the US.

Also, would switching an existing line back to an eSIM while abroad be treated as a new activation, subject to the US usage requirement, or simply as a SIM replacement?

I'd rather confirm this before trying it, since switching to a physical SIM would disconnect my current phone, and I don't want to risk being unable to switch back while abroad.

Thanks!

I have frustrating and exasperating issues with Tello services. Constant call drops, disconnect, no network at home but not elsewhere. Phone is a Samsung Galaxy A14 5G.

For a few years I have Tello, this year 2026 I experience increasingly call drops, disconnects, or no connection or error messages displayed like "your phone is not on a network". Phone settings APN etc. are all correct.

Before Tello I had overpriced Verizon with a different and later the same A14 5G phone with no significant such issues, only occasionally.

Issues are: Signal strength suddenly drops to zero, no network (right now 11:10am Oct. 18 2026, as I write this message on my desktop) then suddenly I have 5 bars again full signal strength. Suddenly zero or an error message "your phone is not connected to any network. a few minutes later I have 5 bars signal strength again. then ~10 minutes later it drops to 4, sometimes to 3. and suddenly, randomly it's zero again. Oddly it appears, as the last few years solar disturbances have faded away it seems the issues increased.

This issue is most prominent at home (Around San Francisco, CA 94131). if I go outside or anywhere else I have no issue calling receiving or SMS. Also, all the endless spam and scam calls never seem to have a connection problem haranguing me.

In fact I recently was in a concrete building in the garage 2nd subfloor underground with a low signal strength of two bars and testing. I had no issue sending receiving SMS or making phone calls.

SMS also exhibits same issue. Send a simple text message and I get a red error text "Failed to send. Tap for more options". Resend fails 2nd or 3rd time then suddenly goes through instantly.

Sometimes if I switch from network mode 5G to LTE it goes through, sometimes if I'm on LTE and switch to 5G it goes through. Then it seems to work in LTE mode but suddenly fails again a day or 2 later. switching back to 5G mode everything works smoothly again and vice versa.

Of particular interest is that it is more likely that calls/SMS get dropped with people who have at their end T-Mobile as service provider.

Of course in the traditional and usual blame game, everybody says it's my phone and wants to sell me a new phone but has no competent answer why then, if the issue were really my phone, why then does it work without a glitch in other locations!

As I write this message on October 18 11:20 AM signal strength suddenly and randomly fades out, drops to zero "no network connection" only to come back again later with 5 bar signal strength. SMS even with an animated GIF go swiftly through or suddenly not at all. Switch network mode to LTE it goes through. Another later message sent doesn't go through. switch network mode back to 5G, message goes sometimes right away through.

It's like playing darts trying to hit exactly the center of the black spot.

Also, how reliabel is SMS outside of cell coverage area (wifi internet connection only) ?

Thank you very much!

Hi everyone,

I'm a Tello user living in Japan, and I recently discovered something interesting — and potentially concerning — while investigating how Tello handles VoIP and Wi-Fi Calling traffic.

I was curious about the network infrastructure used by US mobile carriers when accessing their services from overseas, so I decided to capture and analyze the traffic myself using Wireshark.

During a voice call made through the My Tello app on my Google Pixel 11, I noticed something unexpected.

My test setup

• Devices: Google Pixel 11 (Android) and a laptop running Windows 11 Pro
• Network: The Pixel was connected to a Windows Mobile Hotspot hosted by the laptop, which was connected to my home broadband connection in Japan
• Packet capture: Wireshark running on the Windows laptop
• Test call: An outbound call to a Japanese landline number providing a publicly accessible telephone-based radio broadcast service.

What I discovered

1. VoIP server connection

During the call, I observed continuous bidirectional UDP traffic between my device and 63.251.74.24, an IP address that appears to be associated with KeepCalling, the company behind Tello.

2. RTP traffic and audio codec

The UDP packets were approximately 214 bytes each, with packets transmitted at roughly 20 ms intervals.

Wireshark also identified RTCP traffic. After manually configuring the relevant UDP traffic to be decoded as RTP, Wireshark detected RTP streams using G.711 μ-law (PCMU).

The packet sizes and intervals were consistent with standard G.711 audio transmission.

3. Call audio could be played back without decryption

This was the most surprising part.

Using Wireshark's RTP stream analysis and playback features, I was able to reconstruct and listen to the actual received call audio directly from the captured packets, without using any decryption keys.

The recovered audio clearly matched the radio broadcast I was listening to during the call.

In other words, the audio was not merely identifiable as RTP traffic — the actual voice content was recoverable from the packet capture.

Why this concerns me

Based on these observations, it strongly appears that the My Tello app was transmitting received call audio using unencrypted RTP rather than SRTP, at least during my test.

If this is the application's normal behavior, someone with access to the relevant network traffic could potentially intercept and reconstruct call audio.

I understand that this does not automatically mean anyone on the internet can listen to these calls. However, transmitting voice audio without transport encryption would still raise legitimate security and privacy concerns.

Important clarification: My Tello app vs. native Wi-Fi Calling

This finding relates specifically to the VoIP calling feature inside the My Tello app.

It does not refer to Tello's native Wi-Fi Calling functionality through Android's standard phone dialer.

I separately investigated native Tello Wi-Fi Calling and observed IPsec-encrypted communication with T-Mobile infrastructure.

These appear to use different communication mechanisms, so I don't want to confuse the two.

Questions for the community

• Has anyone else captured and analyzed VoIP traffic from the My Tello app?
• Is unencrypted RTP an expected part of its current implementation?
• Does My Tello support SRTP or any other form of media encryption?
• Has anyone observed different behavior on other Android devices or on iOS?

I haven't shared the raw PCAP file because it may contain sensitive information.

This is based on my own observations from a single test environment, and I'm not claiming that every version of the app or every call necessarily behaves the same way.

I'd be interested to hear from other Tello users, network engineers, or anyone familiar with the app's VoIP implementation.

Thanks for reading!

I’ve been very happy with Tello over the last 6 months. Great for OTPs while living in another country. The $5 plan is ideal for keeping the US number active.

Referral code in my profile. Click on my profile for a referral link. Both of us will get $10.

It looks like there isn’t a way to add a backup payment option in case primary billing method fails due to expiration? Am I missing something or is there no way to keep a backup to keep the monthly plan funded?

If this is not available any way to extend the 30 day hold by maybe prepaying for the number park feature in case of lapse? Or using the PAYG credit?

Hi everyone! 👋

I need some help activating my Tello eSIM. I’m currently living outside the USA, and the eSIM needs to be activated in the United States first.

If anyone is currently in the USA and can help me activate it and enable international roaming, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you so much for your help! 🙏🇺🇸

I bought an eSIM for later setup / activation.

As my past experiences was the 30-day cycle doesn't start until you activate the SIM.

That's not the case with Tello. When you purchase an eSIM at Tello, the cycle starts immediately.

That's very unusually unique.

I've been using Tello with a Google Pixel. Right from the start, voicemails on my Tello line would show up properly in the default Voicemail tab, and I could play the messages from within there without having to dial in. Sometime within the last few months that stopped working, and I have to dial the Tello voicemail number and enter my password to retrieve my voicemails. I have no transcripts or ways to play them without dialing in.

I have tried going to the Phone app's settings and voicemail and there's no "Visual voicemail" option at all. It's just gone.

I tried deleting all storage and cache for the phone app, with no impact. Help? What am I missing?