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You are here: Home / Cell Phones / Wi-Fi Calling: What It Is and Why You Want It

Carolyn Nicander Mohr / June 27, 2016

Wi-Fi Calling: What It Is and Why You Want It

The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes

Imagine never having to worry about whether you have a cell phone signal. If your fondest wish is to make and receive phone calls without being near a cell phone tower, your wish may be granted with Wi-Fi Calling.

Wi-Fi Calling Benefits

Some people base important decisions on the location of cell phone towers, such as where to live and which carrier to use. If you can’t get a cell phone signal at home or work, well that can cause big problems.

But those days may be over. With Wi-Fi Calling you don’t have to worry how many bars your phone’s antenna shows. Wi-Fi Calling can solve your cell phone reception issues, plus give more benefits.

Take a few minutes now to set up Wi-Fi Calling on your cell phone to get better reception, make free calls when you’re out of the country, and preserve your cell phone minutes.

What Is Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi Calling is when your phone uses Wi-Fi instead of a cell signal for phone calls. By enabling this feature on your phone you’ll be able to make and receive calls whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi, whether or not you have a cell phone signal.

You could be a thousand miles away from a cell phone tower, but so long as your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network you can make and receive calls.

Why You Want Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi Calling can have major advantages. With Wi-Fi Calling you can make and receive calls using your cell phone number over Wi-Fi, without using an app. You can make and receive calls across devices (iPhone <=> Android) and carriers.

Better Reception

Wi-Fi Calling lets you make and receive calls when you are away from a cell phone tower, so long as your phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network. No more need to worry about being in the middle of nowhere, inside a building, or in other areas with no coverage. Stay connected to a Wi-Fi network and your phone will work as a phone.

Making Calls from Other Countries

Some carriers also allow free Wi-Fi Calling back to your home country when you’re traveling internationally. Before you leave your home country, check with your carrier whether Wi-Fi calls back home are free, and which countries are covered.

Note that most carriers still do charge for international Wi-Fi calls made from your home country to another country.

Saving Your Minutes

If your cell phone plan has a monthly limit on minutes, see whether Wi-Fi Calling minutes count against that limit. Some carriers do not count Wi-Fi Calling minutes towards your monthly plan.

How to Set Up Wi-Fi Calling

iPhone

Wi-Fi Calling works on iPhone 5c and later.

To set up Wi-Fi Calling, go to: Settings => Phone and look for Wi-Fi Calling.

Settings for iPhone Wi-Fi Calling

Tap that to see Wi-Fi Calling on This Phone.

Wi-Fi Calling iPhone

Turn on Wi-Fi Calling to enable the feature. You may have to enter an emergency address and/or confirm by tapping Enable.

If you don’t see Wi-Fi Calling as an option, make sure your carrier offers the feature and your phone has been updated to the latest version of iOS, the iPhone’s operating system.

For a list of carriers offering Wi-Fi Calling, see the Apple Wi-Fi Calling Carrier Support page and choose your region of the world.

Android

Some Android phones offer Wi-Fi Calling, depending on the phones and the carriers. Be sure to check with your carrier’s website to see whether Wi-Fi Calling is available and which models support this feature. The carrier’s website should also show how to enable Wi-Fi Calling for available phones.

If you’re shopping for a new Android phone and Wi-Fi Calling is important to you, be sure it’s available on the phone and carrier you choose.

Other Helpful Links

Verizon

  • Verizon phones with Wi-Fi Calling available
  • Verizon Wi-Fi Calling FAQ page

AT&T

  • AT&T phones with Wi-Fi Calling available
  • AT&T Wi-Fi Calling information page

T-Mobile

  • T-Mobile phones with Wi-Fi Calling available
  • T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling information page

Sprint

Sprint information page about Wi-Fi Calling

Your Thoughts

Did you know about Wi-Fi Calling? Have you enabled Wi-Fi Calling for your phone? What is the biggest advantage of Wi-Fi Calling for you?

 

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Filed Under: Cell Phones Tagged With: Android, AT&T, iPhone, Verizon

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Comments

  1. Robin Khokhar says

    June 27, 2016 at 1:17 pm

    Very Nice, Using the wifi signal for making calls is really cool. Your post has helped me to learn some of the new things.
    Thanks for sharing.

    • Carolyn Nicander Mohr says

      June 29, 2016 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Robin, Yes, Wi-Fi Calling can solve a lot of problems, especially in places where you have poor reception. I hope you enjoy using this feature, Robin.

  2. Judy says

    June 27, 2016 at 2:25 pm

    Just set-up Wi-Fi calling. My signal is so low at my house. Hope this helps. Thanks.

    • Carolyn Nicander Mohr says

      June 27, 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Hi Judy, Yes, Wi-Fi Calling is especially useful in places where your cell phone signal is low. I hope Wi-Fi Calling is the answer for you!

  3. Ravi Chahar says

    June 29, 2016 at 10:53 am

    Hey Carolyn,

    The pain of getting the low signal is unbearable. Sometimes I feel like changing the carrier. But, you know all are the same.

    I am glad to know about wi-fi calling. But I don’t see any option on my iPhone. Maybe I should check it again.

    Thanks for letting us know about it.
    Hope to use it soon.
    Enjoy the day.
    ~Ravi

    • Carolyn Nicander Mohr says

      June 29, 2016 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Ravi, Yes, activating Wi-Fi Calling is easier than switching carriers. How great that we can now get reception anywhere we have a Wi-Fi connection.

      If you don’t see Wi-Fi Calling as an option on your iPhone, check to make sure you have the latest iOS operating system, make sure your iPhone is a 5c or later, and make sure your carrier offers the feature. I hope you get it sorted, Ravi!

  4. Kovacs Istvan says

    July 2, 2016 at 8:18 am

    Sadly it’s not so common in Europe :\

    • Carolyn Nicander Mohr says

      July 4, 2016 at 2:36 pm

      Hello Kovacs, Wi-Fi Calling has recently come to the US for many phones and carriers. I hope it becomes more popular in Europe soon.

      Carriers have good reason to adopt Wi-Fi Calling. They can free up their cell towers and network when their customers use Wi-Fi calling. You could even try reaching out to your carrier to request the feature, especially if your carrier offers Wi-Fi Calling in other countries.

      Good luck, Kovacs. I hope you get access to Wi-Fi Calling soon!

  5. Raymond Roshan says

    July 3, 2016 at 4:24 am

    It is really awesome blog, for the information of WI-fii calling and itis really helpful for me.thank you.

    • Carolyn Nicander Mohr says

      July 3, 2016 at 2:09 pm

      Hi Raymond, I’m very glad you found this article helpful. I hope you find Wi-Fi Calling to be helpful to you too. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.

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