Connectivity OUTSIDE home Country

[cunnyngham]

So, long story short: I have a US Spec 2023 XC-40 (Android Automotive) in Turkey. Volvo says that I only have data service in the US for my car, so my car doesn't have a lot of the functionality I thought I would have unless I tether via bluetooth/wifi...

HOWEVER there is a SIM card slot next to the cabin lights and I assume that there is someway to activate this? Anyone have insights?

[IMAY2023]

You should be able to activate the communication feature with Orbit. However, you have another problem; Turkish Communications department blocks the international phones to local Turkish SIM cards after 3 months of usage unless the phone "imei " of the device is registered.  Same things happens even to Tablets with SIM cards.

[cunnyngham]

You should be able to activate the communication feature with Orbit. However, you have another problem; Turkish Communications department blocks the international phones to local Turkish SIM cards after 3 months of usage unless the phone "imei " of the device is registered.  Same things happens even to Tablets with SIM cards.

That's good news! Do you know what I would be looking for I'm the software? I'm allowed to register two devices a year for free, so I've at least got that part covered.

[IMAY2023]

You can check below settings.  Once you enable the connectivity, you should be able to use your phone as AP (Wifi), or via Bluetooth. I am not familiar with Android OS system settings, mine is not Android based.   
 
075 THEFT NOTIFICATION
076 STOLEN VEHICLE TRACKING
077 ASSISTANCE SERVICES
147 CONNECTED SAFETY (CS)
200 Wi-Fi FUNCTIONALITY CONTROL
201 CONNECTIVITY
203 MESSAGING
218 MARKET TELEPHONE NETWORK
221 CONNECTED SERVICE BOOKING
361 SIM CARD FOR CONNECTIVITY
461 APPROVED CELLULAR STANDARDS

[Power6]

What do you know about getting connected when moving the car around countries IMAY2023 ;-)

I only have a passing familiarity with it. I haven't gone deeper into it mostly because it seems if Volvo doesn't allow or support it, it's not going to work anyways. If I understand correctly, there is a specific eSIM in the VCM/TCAM for VOC service. But you can set the Internet connection to tether bluetooth or WiFi in the Sensus. I'm not quite sure how that all relates. 

In the case the car is already connected to VOC and App paired to the car, it may be different if you are trying to get a "new" car you've imported from another market connected and pair it to your Volvo App.

[IMAY2023]

Well,  they are all different things. 
1) Data Roaming setting under the communication settings.  Which allows the local (USA) SIM & network to work in Canada or Mexico. Same as travelling aboard with home country SIM   
a)  pre-supplied complimentary AT&T SIM card and data package  does not include data roaming. It does not even allow Sensus to be AP (Hotspot). 
b)  If you subscribe to AT&T after  complimentary package ends, you can enable the Data roaming and travel to Mexico or Canada, car will have internet but you might end up with huge bill depending on the plan you have. 

2) Not sure if VOLVOs in USA can or cannot work with T-MOBILE, MINT SIM cards although both are GSM network same as AT&T.  Volvo might have locked the modem only for AT&T sims like purchasing a network locked phone from AT&T or any other.  

3) VOC and APP does not work if SIM card is removed from the car.  I tested it. I removed the SIM card from the car. My app on the my phone could not reach the car! 
I don't know if VOC and app would continue to work after my  complimentary AT&T data package ends.  
a) VOLVO has special agreement AT&T and it would only allow VOC communications after complimentary AT&T data package ends. 
b) I will need to purchase data plan from AT&T for the cars's SIM 
c) I change the SIM to T-MOBILE or MINT both have cheaper plans and Car would accept. 

 
4) My car is used certificated pre-owned with complimentary VOC subscription still valid. The previous owner already had the VOC connected to their VOLVO ID. 
I called the VOLVO and they disconnected car from the previous owner's account and connected to my account. VOC subscription is tied to VIN of the CAR not to a person or any VOLVO ID account.  The same car VIN can be connected to multiple VOLVO ID accounts for example, mine and my spouse's accounts. After the complimentary VOC ended, I purchased 1 year subscription and I had to reconnect and reregister the CAR to my VOLVO ID and App on my phone.

[przemek219]

Hello, did you manage to activate this SIM slot when I have a Volvo XC60 2023 from the USA and on call does not work
When I install the SIM card in the car, I don't find it

[hanczi69]

Well,  they are all different things. 
1) Data Roaming setting under the communication settings.  Which allows the local (USA) SIM & network to work in Canada or Mexico. Same as travelling aboard with home country SIM   
a)  pre-supplied complimentary AT&T SIM card and data package  does not include data roaming. It does not even allow Sensus to be AP (Hotspot). 
b)  If you subscribe to AT&T after  complimentary package ends, you can enable the Data roaming and travel to Mexico or Canada, car will have internet but you might end up with huge bill depending on the plan you have. 

2) Not sure if VOLVOs in USA can or cannot work with T-MOBILE, MINT SIM cards although both are GSM network same as AT&T.  Volvo might have locked the modem only for AT&T sims like purchasing a network locked phone from AT&T or any other.  

3) VOC and APP does not work if SIM card is removed from the car.  I tested it. I removed the SIM card from the car. My app on the my phone could not reach the car! 
I don't know if VOC and app would continue to work after my  complimentary AT&T data package ends.  
a) VOLVO has special agreement AT&T and it would only allow VOC communications after complimentary AT&T data package ends. 
b) I will need to purchase data plan from AT&T for the cars's SIM 
c) I change the SIM to T-MOBILE or MINT both have cheaper plans and Car would accept. 

 
4) My car is used certificated pre-owned with complimentary VOC subscription still valid. The previous owner already had the VOC connected to their VOLVO ID. 
I called the VOLVO and they disconnected car from the previous owner's account and connected to my account. VOC subscription is tied to VIN of the CAR not to a person or any VOLVO ID account.  The same car VIN can be connected to multiple VOLVO ID accounts for example, mine and my spouse's accounts. After the complimentary VOC ended,  I purchased 1 year subscription and I had to reconnect and reregister the CAR to my VOLVO ID and App on my phone.

Thank you, thats a lot of valuable information. Have you contacted the VOLVO while still using the old subscription after purchasing the car, what I mean if VOLVO was able to just generate new PIN for you to your car VIN using the old still vaild subscription or you had to first purchased the 1 Year subscription and register the car to your VOLVO ID to get the PIN. Also if you could let me know what information volvo needed to do that, would they be able to register the car for someone outside the US.

I have a car imported from US with still active VOC subscription in the menu, but it is impossible to get it working in EU. I was wondering if I can reach out to US VOLVO dealer to get the car VIN registered to my VOLVO ID to get it working under the same subscription and then later on renew it knowing its working.

Could you confirm one more thing, you said that VOC doesnt work after taking the SIM out, could you verify if tethering the Internet from your mobile phone is enough to get it working or connecting to the home WIFI. Or it needs the SIM to connect to the car by app or use VOC at all. 
I havent tried to put the SIM card yet but still I do not have the VOC connected to the APP due to no VOLVO ID matched.


Best regards!

[IMAY2023]

When I bought my used car, it already had active VOC subscription and I called them to register and pair it to my VOLVO ID.  All I needed was the VIN of the car and my US phone number.  VOLVO send me code via SMS to my US phone number. 

VOC does not work without a SIM card since it needs constant internet connection. Besides, you will need to be in the car and use the on call button, in order to pair the car to your phone. That on Call button wouldn't work if in EU VOC is not supported. 

But you have another option for cars in EU. (Does not work for US) 
https://developer.volvocars.com/apis/

[hanczi69]

Update 

I have succesfully paired my VIN to my VOLVO ID. This way I am able to log in to the APP and I can see my vehicle here, the same on the car VolvoCars APP. The app says that the car is connected to my email addres.
(For anyone wondering - you need to directly call Volvo US phone number, i have used iphone app "TextMe" which offers free US phone number for couple days. It took 2 mins for lady to pair it to my VolvoID, no questions asked. I could have give her any VIN and I would get it paired[at least thats how it looked like])

BUT

I have no functionality of the app, other than seeing my car in the app, model, vin and picture. Seems like indeed there is no connection at all with the vehicle. I will try to mess with Orbit setting but it seems like in the end I hit the unbreakable wall. 

Does anyone have any experience with opening the VCM/telematics module? I read some posts on other sites that there is a chance that there is a secondary SIM inside the VCM module, some says that it should be physical SIM, where other says that its possible that the SIM is embbeded but possible to desolder, there is also a possibility of an eSIM but very slim. 

I will probably try to reach out to volvo US if they can provide any assistance, and what if someone would be travelling with his vehicle outside US. Read somewhere that someone travelled to Europe and Volvo was able to give him access in europe but nothing specific.


I know that VIP serwis in poland is working on that, and that they were able to crack the VOC for vehicle with AAOS, but in order to get the VOC activated by them, they require to have FULL CONVERSION US to EU done by them, which is absurd.
Anyway I have the Sensus so we are stuck without the VOC it seems

My only two explanations why VOC is not working are:
1. the SIM in VCM is region locked due to roaming - in that case SIM swap should be enough to get it to working
2. Volvo is locked to the SIM with the VPN due to security reasons so even if SIM swap is possible this will not work anyway.