What is WiFi Calling and Should you enable WiFi Calling on your iPhone or Android Phone?
What is WiFi Calling?
If you have used WhatsApp to make free calls from your smartphone, you have already made use of the WiFi Network to place Calls on your phone.
However, the WiFi Calling feature as available on iPhone and Android Phone works in a different way compared to the freely available WiFi Network on your Phone.
WiFi Calling works in conjunction with your Carriers network and allows you to make calls over a WiFi network, right from the Dial-pad of your Phone.
When WiFi Calling is enabled on your smartphone, you will be able to use both WiFi and Cellular Networks to make Calls and send Text Messages from your smartphone.
Advantages of Carrier Supported WiFi Calling
While you can easily make calls over WiFi Network using WhatsApp, carrier supported WiFi Calling has certain advantages.
1. WiFi Calling is built directly into the phone’s dial pad. Hence, there is no need to launch Apps or connect to a VOIP Service in order to make calls over a WiFi Network.
2. Carrier supported WiFi calling is designed to seamlessly switch from Cellular to WiFi Network, depending on whichever network offers better connectivity.
3. There is no need to download Third Party Apps or services to use this feature. Both iPhone and Android Phones support Carrier supported WiFi Calling.
4. Carrier Supported WiFi calling is easy to set-up, you just need to enable the WiFi Calling option on your iPhone or Android Phone.
Should You Enable WiFi Calling on your Phone?
Enabling WiFi Calling should improve the network coverage for your device, by allowing it to make use of available WiFi Networks, in addition to your Carriers Cellular Network.
For example, if you are working in a building where the Cellular connection is weak due to its location, you will find your Phone automatically switching to WiFi Network (if available).
Also, enabling WiFi Calling may help you avoid Long Distance and Roaming charges, as many Carriers do not charge any extra cost for making National and International Calls using WiFi Calling.
However, you need to be aware that certain carriers may charge extra cost for long distance calls made over a WiFi Network using WiFi Calling.
Cost of WiFi Calling
While WiFi calling makes use of Free WiFi Networks to place Calls, your telephone company may still count the minutes against your data plan.
If you are on a Limited data plan, it is better to use WhatsApp, Skype and other VOIP apps to make Calls using WiFi Network, instead of using Carrier supported WiFi Calling.