Comment by SXX
2 years ago
> Yes, they exist. Even in Europe.
You mean you have wi-fi, but don't have cell service?
That is like... super rare.
2 years ago
> Yes, they exist. Even in Europe.
You mean you have wi-fi, but don't have cell service?
That is like... super rare.
It's not rare at all where I'm at.
I mean actually, I frequent a business where you cannot get a cell signal, but they offer free wifi. Metal building blocks the signal. This could happen anywhere.
Right but then you just connect your phone to the wifi? The following methods I have had for the 3DS card payments are (ultimately depends on the bank):
- Bank sends you a tiny card reader that you enter your PIN and it gives you a one time code. If you want to make payments that require 3DS (online only ofc) you have to have this card reader on you but it doesn't actually require an app or internet connectivity.
- You have an app on your phone, you drag a code from a notification onto another area of the app itself which does something (somehow - no idea the purpose) and verifies the transaction. Certificate is stored on device only.
- You open an app and it'l notify of the purchase amount, location, merchant and you just tap allow
- You receive a code in the mail that is renewed once a year which is then combined with a SMS message (or app notification). The payment flow asks you for some characters from both codes.
You do not require cell service for any that I have used and wifi is enough.
Further Edit: Just to clarify though, all of these are ONLY for online purchases. Purchases in shops you just use your pin if it requires authorisation.
Not rare at all. I grew up in such a place (well, before WiFi, but now it has WiFi and still doesn’t have cell service), and have lived in two other houses like this. On holidays I have stayed in hundreds of places like this.
I remember in Berlin going to a bar where there was no cell service (some combination of poorly sited base stations and thick walls made of something dense). They of course offered free WiFi considering this.
Where I am now, there’s a section of beach full of cafes that has no cell service. If you walk 100m north or south it’s fine, but that bit is a dead zone. All the cafes have free WiFi.
There's Wi-Fi calling, but unfortunately at least in Germany, many operators don't support receiving SMS over that, unlike the US carries I've tried it with.
However, most banks/issuers have since switched to using their app as the second factor, so all you need is Wi-Fi, practically.
A few even support displaying an offline code in the app that you can enter during checkout, but that's becoming less common since it doesn't support displaying the amount and payee given how it works.
I live in Edinburgh - buildings here are thick stone walls with lath and plaster on the internal surfaces. It's very common to have little to no cell signal indoors