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What is Wi-Fi Calling?
If it has ever happened to you that you are in a place where the phone signal is not the best and you need to communicate, Wi-Fi calling is for you. Have you heard of Wi-Fi calling before? If the answer is yes, have you ever used it?
Well, after reading this article you will want to start using it as soon as possible because having a poor phone signal is just one of the reasons why you should be using this.
Read on and learn everything you need to know about Wi-Fi calling:
What Is WiFi Calling?
Has it ever happened to you that you need to make a phone call or send a text message and you do not have coverage? It can happen especially in places far from cities or when you are traveling. Or maybe you have a plan of limited minutes and they have already run out before the end of the month. In those cases, the option that we will explain below can be very useful.
In case you did not know, it is possible to make calls or send texts without having coverage. It can be done through something called Wi-Fi calling.
This option, which more and more companies are implementing, allows you to use your phone in places where the telephone signal does not reach, as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. The best thing is that you do not need additional apps to use the Wi-Fi calling, so it is valid to say that it is like using your phone regularly.
To use it, you just have to activate Wi-Fi calling through the setting options on your phone. Later we will show you each step so that you can start using this option when necessary.
How Does WiFi Calling Work?
To understand how it works we need to know what VoIP is. It stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and is a system or technology that allows a device to place phone calls just by using an internet connection. The Wi-Fi connection does the work that the cell phone towers usually do.
Using Wi-Fi calling lets you stop depending on limited calling minutes and saves you money when making international calls or using roaming. The best thing is that it does not have additional charges unless you make an international call and it does not consume your regular data.
When Do You Use WiFi Calling?
The main reason to use Wi-Fi calling is when we are in a place without network signal availability, or where it is very poor. However, there are other times when it is convenient to use it to save money and something else.
Whenever you can connect to a Wi-Fi network, you could use Wi-Fi calling. In this way, you also save using your available balance.
It is also useful for overseas travelers, to avoid those expensive roaming charges and enjoy free Wi-Fi calling and texting.
How Does WiFi Calling Work On An iPhone
We already understood that this option to call another device is an option that uses a wireless network (Wi-Fi) to connect both smartphones. Although, the first thing we must do to achieve this is to turn on the Wi-Fi on our device.
To do this go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling
You might need to confirm your address from emergency services. If Wi-Fi calling is available, you will see the Wi-Fi icon after your carrier’s name in the status bar. Then your calls will use Wi-Fi Calling.
That was to set up Wi-Fi calling on our iPhone, but this action has the option of adding devices for Wi-Fi calling. This means that we can make calls with apple devices nearby to our Wi-Fi network (MAC, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod Touch).
To enable our apple devices to Wi-Fi Calling, you must follow the following steps:
- Check that the software of the device has the latest version.
- Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling
- Turn on Add Wi-Fi Calling for another device.
- Go back to the previous screen, and then tap Calls on Other Devices.
- Turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices if it is not on. A list of your eligible devices appears under Allow Calls on.
- Turn on each device that you want to use with Wi-Fi Calling.
- Next, make sure that your other devices will accept calls from your iPhone:
- On the other device (iPod, iPad, Apple Watch) go to Settings > FaceTime. Then turn on Calls from iPhone.
- On your Mac, open the FaceTime app and choose FaceTime > Preferences. Then turn on Calls from iPhone.
How WiFi calling Works on Android
As with the previous operating system, Android also has the option of Wi-Fi Calling. However, in the same way as Apple, this option is disabled by default. We are going to see the location to activate this wonderful option that our smartphone offers us:
Settings > Networks & Internet > Mobile network > Advanced > Wi-Fi Calling
Some brands that support Wi-Fi calling and that use Android are Samsung and Huawei, so if you are looking for a new cell phone, you could check out the latest models from these brands.
WiFi Calling & Mobile Network Providers
If you are thinking of acquiring a new telephone and a SIM card, you must know if your provider offers and supports the Wi-Fi calling service. The same if you already have a device and you want to know if you can use it.
The major carriers that provide Wi-Fi calling are T-Mobile and Sprint, Vodafone, O2, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless.
If you find out that your cell phone does not support Wi-Fi calling, you can use some apps that can do the work just fine. For example, FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, and WeChat. The only downside is that the other person must have installed the app on his/her cell phone.
WiFi Calling Troubleshooting
If you have a compatible phone and your Wi-Fi calling is not working properly, here you have some tips that can help to solve this problem:
- Always check first that you enable the Wi-Fi calling option.
- If it is still not working, try restarting your device.
- Check that you are under a Wi-Fi connection.
- If your network connection is stronger than your Wi-Fi connection, it will take it first.
Wi-Fi calling comes in handy most of the time. It helps save battery life if you do not have cellular coverage. However, please note that the calls may have a delay of one or two seconds and that you need to be careful not to leave the Wi-Fi calling on if you are not under a Wi-Fi connection. This could decrease your battery level considerably.
