Intro to Your Tech: Wi-Fi Calling

Smartphones are pretty ubiquitous nowadays, and they come packed with more features than most people know about, let alone understand. For instance, Wi-Fi calling… what is it, and what does it do to help you communicate?

Let’s get into it.

Wi-Fi Calling Uses the Internet When It’s Available

It’s as simple as that.

With Wi-Fi calling activated, your voice calls won’t be transmitted via the cellular network. Instead, your mobile device will use its Wi-Fi connection to send and receive call data via the Internet. This helps improve your call quality, at least regarding your reception.

Think about it: a traditional cellular signal, shared between your device and the nearest cell tower, has the opportunity for numerous factors to impede it. A building, inclement weather, or even being too far away can all leave you with less quality as you participate in a call… and that’s not even factoring in the fact that too many people connecting to a single tower has the same effect.

Comparatively, Wi-Fi calling effectively converts your call into an encrypted VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) call. Provided that the carrier offers Wi-Fi calling capabilities, enabling the feature will ensure your call is routed through the better, stronger signal… and while new cellular signals that offer comparable call clarity are becoming more popular, Wi-Fi usually still beats it out in terms of reliability.

Even wireless carriers benefit, as their networks need to deal with less data and infrastructure issues can be worked around.

All that said, Wi-Fi calling isn’t perfect by any stretch. Public networks can be congested, diminishing call quality, as does distance from the wireless signal’s source. It also often requires you to provide a home address to supply to emergency services as Wi-Fi networks and signals are far harder to locate than a cellular signal is.

How to Turn on Wi-Fi Calling

Generally speaking, there is a set process for activating Wi-Fi calling based on your device platform, but different Android manufacturers may have altered it as they customized the operating system to their brand. That said, here’s the general process (but searching your settings for Wi-Fi calling should help you find it, too).

Activating Wi-Fi Calling on Android

1. In your Phone app, access the triple-dot menu and select Settings.
2. Navigate to Calls.
3. If your carrier offers it, select Wi-Fi calling to turn it on.

Activating Wi-Fi Calling on iOS

1. In your Settings, select Phone.
2. Under Calls, select Wi-Fi Calling.
3. Toggle Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
4. You will likely be presented with a popup to confirm your address, but if not, you can tap Update Emergency Address to do so.
5. If Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices is available, you can go back to Setting>Phone>Wi-Fi Calling and select which devices you can make and place calls on (provided your phone is nearby) via Calls on Other Devices.

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