Wi-Fi calling uses a Wi-Fi connection to make phone calls over the internet, instead of using the network of cell towers owned by wireless carriers and providers. Generally, your carrier and phone will determine if you are able to place phone calls through Wi-Fi or not.
In the past support for Wi-Fi calling was limited. Today, most major cell phone carriers now support Wi-Fi calling, and the option to connect to Wi-Fi now comes standard with the most recent iPhones and Android devices.
How Wi-Fi Calling Works
When Wi-Fi calling is turned on or enabled on your mobile device, all of the Wi-Fi networks that the device connects to do the work that would otherwise be handled by cell phone towers. Wi-Fi calling allows you to make high-quality phone calls (and send texts and other media) to people who are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Placing a Wi-Fi call it’s just like placing a regular cellphone call. There is no need to log in, and typically no need to use an app to get the job done.
Wi-Fi Calling: the technology
Wi-Fi calling relies on a technology called SIP/IMS that sends your phone call through the internet instead of routing to a cell tower. Since you’re not using a cell tower to place the call, you don’t need a cellular service in order to make a call.
With the popularity of free public Wi-Fi hotspots, making phone calls from more places may be cheaper than ever before. In fact, most fast food restaurants, stores, hotels and coffee shops (among other public areas) offer free wifi hotspots.
In the past, phone calls and wireless data connections to the internet were entirely separate services that utilized different antennas to connect on different frequencies.
Over the last several years, upgrades have consistently been made to improve the wireless connection, making the use of wifi for high-quality phone calls and multimedia messages a reality. Meanwhile, smartphones themselves have gone through significant upgrades to improve the use of wifi connections as well.
For example, Apple calls the new technology Voice over LTE (or VoLTE), AT&T refers to it as HD Voice, and Verizon calls it either Advanced Calling or HD Voice, but its all essentially Wi-Fi calling.
For the iPhone, Apple released FaceTime Audio in 2013, giving users the ability to choose between using the cell tower network or the phone’s Wi-Fi connection for the first time. This was the first time in history that the two technologies had been put side by side, giving consumers the option to choose and toggle between the two options.
Advantages of Wi-Fi Calling
Why would you choose to call through the Internet instead of placing a regular cellular call? There are several advantages to using Wi-Fi to place phone calls instead of using your cell phone plan minutes.
Free Calls Anywhere you can Access Wi-Fi
You can use Wi-Fi calling any time that your phone has a Wi-Fi signal. That means even if you haven’t paid for your service and can’t make regular calls, anytime you are at a location with an open Wi-Fi connection, you can typically log on to the internet and use Wi-Fi calling instead.
Better Quality Voice / Audio
LTE voice sounds so much better than traditional cellular technology because it uses the technology that wireless carriers have been upgrading for the last several years: the phone’s connection to the internet.
Beat Poor Cellular Reception
Wi-Fi calling provides an option for families and individuals who live in areas with poor cellular reception. If they have Wi-Fi, they can bypass the cellular network and make phone calls using their Wi-Fi internet connection, as long as the other party is connected to Wi-Fi or LTE, too.
No Roaming Charges
Wi-Fi calling is great for overseas travelers because there’s typically no roaming or international charge for making calls or sending texts back home Also, Wi-Fi calling is free except for data usage which means that you can use it abroad and avoid paying extra for international calls.
Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Calling
On the other side of the coin, Wi-Fi calling is of course not possible without a clear Wi-Fi connection. Despite recent expansion, LTE coverage is still not as widely available as 3G and other older data networks. If both parties don’t have LTE voice coverage, phone calls connect using the traditional cellular network.
Data Use (and charges)
Unless you’re using your home’s internet for Wi-Fi or using the connection provided at a place of business or school, Wi-Fi calling will default to using your phone’s data plan. Calls typically use about 1 MB of data per minute for a call, and 6-8 MB of data for a video call.
Variations in Signal Strength
Trying to get the best signal for a WiFi call is challenging. Many times, the quality of service is through individual users with a WiFi network, and there is no guarantee there will be enough bandwidth for a high-quality call. Plus, signal strength can diminish as more people attempt to use the same network, such as at hotels, airports or athletic stadiums.
Delays in Data Transfer
With Wi-Fi calling service there may be a 1- or 2-second delay in the conversation.
Deduction of “Minutes” Possible with Some Plans
Some cellular companies, like T-Mobile, deduct minutes from your plan if it isn’t unlimited. Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile will still charge an international rate if you call an international line using your U.S.-based smartphone.
Not Supported in all Countries
Wi-Fi calling isn’t supported in some countries, including Australia and China.
Read more: https://hushed.com/use-cases/wifi-calling
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).
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