This article discusses the forwarding of incoming calls and text messages to T-Mobile phones. It also gives background on T-Mobile and information on international call forwarding services in general, and the many benefits available.
T-Mobile is one of the most well-known mobile phone companies in the world, and their services are often highly praised for its great quality as well as affordability. Among the many conveniences, they offer their customers, call forwarding is one of the best, enabling their users to route calls as needed. To make things simple with T-Mobile call forwarding, a variety of codes can be utilized for fast, efficient access.
Self-Service Short Codes
Mobile users, with monthly and prepaid T-Mobile accounts, can use self-service shortcodes to activate plan features such as call forwarding. However, non-T-Mobile codes do not work with the Simple Choice Plan with No Credit Check. The process for using self-service shortcodes is straightforward. First, locate the code from the following table. Then, dial the code on your mobile phone and hit the call button.
| Short Code | What the Self-service Short Code Does |
|---|---|
| ##004# | Cancel call forwarding |
| **21*Phone Number# | Turn on unconditional call forwarding (CFU) to a number |
| ##21# | Turn off unconditional call forwarding |
| **61*Phone Number# | Turn on call forwarding if no reply (CF NRY) to a number |
| ##61# | Turn off call forwarding if no reply |
| **62*Phone Number# | Turn on call forwarding when not reachable (CF NRC) |
| ##62# | Turn off call forwarding when not reachable |
| **67*Phone Number# | Turn on call forwarding when busy (CFB |
| ##67# | Turn off call forwarding when busy |
| **61*18056377249**seconds# Insert the desired number of delay seconds |
This changes the call forwarding delay time from five to 30 seconds. For example, dialing **61*18056377249**12# sets a 12-second delay. |
| *43# | Turn on call waiting |
| #43# | Turn off call waiting |
Forwarding Calls Using Cell Phone Menus
Mobile phone users can set call forwarding options using the menus on their phones. Each brand of phone is different, and their menu options vary. Below is an example of activating or deactivating call forwarding on an Android HTC One S phone.
To activate or disable call forwarding, do the following:
- Touch the “Notification” bar and slide down.
- Tap the “Settings” icon.
- Scroll to “Phone” and tap “Call.”
- Tap “Call Forwarding.”
- Tap “Always Forward” to enable or “Disable” to disable call forwarding.
The T-Mobile support web site featured the above example.
Forwarding Text Messages
T-Mobile lacks provision to forward text messages. However, the T-Mobile website offered the suggestion of using a 3rd-party app.
Background on T-Mobile
T-Mobile US has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Its majority shareholder is a German company, Deutsche Telekom (DT). T-Mobile provides wireless voice and data services in the United States to 73 million customers as of the first quarter of 2017. T-Mobile began as VoiceStream Wireless PCS in 1994. After a spin off, a buyout, and a merger, it became T-Mobile in 2013.
T-Mobile operates a 4G LTE network that can reach over 312 million potential subscribers. The term LTE stands for Long Term Evolution (a technical process for high-speed mobile devices), and 4G stands for fourth-generation wireless standard. T-Mobile has roaming agreements with several mobile network providers. It also markets T-Mobile HotSpots, which consists of public and private Wi-Fi networks.
Products and Services
T-Mobile ONE
T-Mobile ONE will be the only rate plan offered in the future while T-Mobile phases out Simple Choice. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messaging, high-speed data (32 GB/ month), High Definition (1080p) video streaming, and 10 GB of High-Speed Mobile Hotspot data at 4G LTE speeds. Beyond the 10 GB limit, Hotspot data slows to 3G speeds
Simple Choice
The Simple Choice plan was part of T-Mobile’s Un-carrier initiative. The plan dropped contracts, subsidized phones, overage fees for data, and early termination fees. T-Mobile no longer offers the Simple Choice plan to new customers although existing subscribers can keep their plans.
Capping Unlimited Data Users
Some users, with unlimited data plans, have been violating T-Mobile’s Terms & Conditions regarding tethering. Tethering is the sharing of a mobile’s internet connection with other devices. This has created speed issues for all other customers, and as a result, T-Mobile is removing user access to unlimited plans and substituting tiered plans.
T-Mobile InReach Program
The InReach Program provides free cell phone service with limited voice minutes for income-eligible families. The Universal Service Fund sponsors the program in some states as well as Puerto Rico.
MetroPCS
MetroPCS merged with T-Mobile in 2013, but continues to offer prepaid wireless services under the MetroPCS brand.
GoSmart Mobile
GoSmart, a branded T-Mobile service, offered no-contract wireless services to “Authorized Dealers.” In 2016, TracFone Wireless bought the brand the accompanying 326,000 GoSmart Mobile customers.
T-Mobile Reviews
One area T-Mobile has gained a tremendous amount of applause for is speed, as their speed in populated areas is superior to that of its competition. Furthermore, T-Mobile offers large amounts of data for very low prices. There are no contracts or termination fees, and they offer a payment plan for phone purchases. Help and support has also greatly advanced in recent years, as it has become a necessity for companies like T-Mobile to offer customers the best support possible. The one major drawback is abysmal rural coverage.
Call Forwarding, Another Perspective
Global Call Forwarding (GCF) provides international call forwarding services. Businesses that purchase those numbers often have offices in other parts of the world but desire to maintain a virtual presence in other locales. These ITFS numbers function as described below.
- The caller dials the number.
- GCF forwards the call to a programmed destination.
- Your business receives the call on a landline, mobile, or PBX system.
GCF also offers many forwarding features with its toll free numbers.
Sequential Forwarding
Sequential ring delivers calls down a list of programmed phone numbers, which is essential for many businesses. For example, if a person is away from their desk, the next number in the list receives the call. The user can set the ringing time for each destination, and the call sequence can have four additional destination numbers.
Time of Day Routing
Time-based call forwarding routes calls based on the time of day or day of the week. For example, from 9 AM to 5 PM, your office number may ring. From 5 PM to 6 PM, you may direct calls to your mobile phone and from 6 PM to 10 PM, to your home phone. You may direct all late night calls and weekend calls to voicemail.
Failover Forwarding
Businesses can program multiple phone numbers or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) accounts that use different Tier 1 carriers. If the first number or SIP account is busy, the system forwards the call to the next number or SIP. Failover forwarding prevents dropped calls.
Advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
IVR establishes a computer greeting system that receives incoming calls. It interacts with callers via prompts and directs calls based on voice or keypad responses from them. The cloud IVR solution can be customized to meet your business needs.
Select Country Forwarding
Select country forwarding directs calls to numbers based on the caller’s geographic location. Therefore, if a person is calling from France, a French-speaking attendant will receive the call.
Forward Fax
This feature receives and forwards faxes to an email address as image files.
SMS Forwarding
Unlike T-Mobile, GCF provides plans to forward SMS messages to your email address. Users must subscribe to an SMS enabled phone number. Users can view the details of SMS messages on the GCF online control panel.
