Based upon some things seen on Reddit, I suggested to a friend in Germany to look into porting his California area coded Skype number to Tello, which he did this morning. He indicated the process was relatively simple, although he had to read the instructions a number of times to ensure he was doing things correctly (and also referred to a Reddit thread for concurrence), aiming it to an unused eSIM "slot" on his Samsung S23+. His primary eSIM carrier in Germany is Vodaphone, BTW.
Tello indicated in their FAQ's the porting could take up to a couple of days, but it actually took less than 10 minutes. The $9 per month plan he chose offers 2GB of data monthly, 500 minutes of calls, and unlimited texts. You can make calls to 60 countries. We exchanged multiple phone calls today using the ported line, and from my view the quality was excellent while connected to his home wi-fi, and good when using his Vodaphone cell connection only. He indicated Vodaphone regularly is finicky at his apartment.
I asked my friend (who is a Flyertalk member for many years, but only has a half dozen posts) to send me a tutorial. Here it is:
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"After seeing in the news and then checking Microsoft's Skype website that the Skype service will be retired in May 2025, I decided to investigate possible replacements.
I got a recommendation to check out Tello, so I did a bit more research. I found this guy's YouTube video that summarizes the features and benefits of Tello.
I checked Tello's website and found that they have some good deals, some as low as $6.00 per month for just data on up to about $25.00 for unlimited calling/texting/data. Tello does not require any contract, so you can cancel at any time. Since I need a local US number to receive text messages for 2FA with my banks and other services, I decided to give Tello a try.
Step-by-step procedure, as best as I can recall:
1. Go to the Tello website https://tello.com/ and register/Join Tello by giving your email address and assigning a password.
2. Log in and choose the plan that best suits your needs and wallet. Notice that there are separate sliders to pick how much calling and how much data you need per month. You can change this at any time, either online or by using the Tello app.
3. Click that you want an eSIM. Tello gives you the option of checking whether or not your model phone can handle an eSIM by just entering your IMEI. Tello instructs you to enter *#06# to retrieve your IMEI(s). Provide your payment information. You will get a confirmation email with a link to go back to the Tello customer portal to view your eSIM (QR-Code). Alternatively, you can give your postal address and Tello will send you a regular chip type SIM, but this costs a few extra $ for handling and postage.
4. Go back to your Customer Page on the Tello website and access the eSIM. From SmartPhone's eSIM menu you can take a picture of the eSIM QR-Code and install it on your phone.
Tello will assign you a phone number in the area code that you select. Tello asks if you wish to port another number (e.g. Skype) instead of using the assigned number. If you choose to port your old (Skype) number, the number assigned by Tello will be replaced with your ported number.
5. The porting pop-up message will ask you some questions. For Skype:- Name of previous provider: Skype
- Account Number: your 10-digit Skype Number
- PIN: Just enter 0000, but if that does not work, try entering the last four digits of your SSN.
6. Activate WiFi Calling on your phone and connect to a local WiFi (WLAN) connection that allows VoIP calling.
7. Download the My Tello app from the Play Store or Apple Store. When you try to log on to the app with your email address, it will ask for a one-time code. You can get this code from the Tello Customer Portal. Enter the 6-digit code in the My Tello app on the phone. Then shut down and reboot your SmartPhone; you may have to do this more than once.
8. Your phone may prompt you to follow an instruction to update the SIMs / eSIMs.
9. All should work now, but you might have to wait about 15 minutes or so.
10. You can also call out (but not receive calls) using the Tello app you installed on the phone. The first time you dial out with the app, Tello will prompt you to set up your voicemail and assign a password if you wish to use one.
I tested the Tello eSIM by sending SMS/text messages to/from a Germany-based phone and it worked perfectly. Later, I had a one hour call with a friend in California, which had perfect audio quality.
More about Tello here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tello_Mobile
Note that, since Tello is a mobile virtual network operator, they piggyback on the T-Mobile network in North America."
Last edited by Craig6z; Mar 3, 2025 at 3:12 pm