Sometimes we find ourselves in places where mobile coverage is weak or nonexistent. The result: we're left without communication, and our mobile phone suddenly becomes useless. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these inconvenient situations thanks to technological solutions like Wi-Fi calling.
However, for this alternative to work, we need a stable internet connection nearby. This will allow us to communicate via text messages, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram , and also by making phone calls.
In this article we are going to see what WiFi calls are and how to activate them on our mobile phones and how we can use them.
WiFi or VoWiFi calls
This is probably the first time you've heard of Wi-Fi or VoWiFi calls (short for Voice over Wi-Fi ). That's because this type of call isn't particularly popular and isn't used very often. However, it's an incredibly practical feature. To use it, all you need is a smartphone and a home internet connection.
In other words, the difference between conventional calls and WiFi calls (or WiFi calls) is that the former use the coverage provided by the operator's towers, while the latter use the user's wireless network.
The result is a stable and free phone connection (provided there is compatibility between the mobile phone and the operator). Thus, they work without requiring mobile network coverage and offer very good audio quality.
To all this we must add one more advantage of this type of call: since the smartphone is not permanently connected to cell towers, it needs less energy to function, which translates into a considerable saving in battery consumption.
Apart from the WiFi icon that will be activated on the screen, the interface of our phone will have the same appearance when we use this type of calls. On the other hand, when we call someone through this system, the recipient of the call will not notice any difference either: our number will be displayed and they will receive our SMS without having to activate the Wi-Fi calling option on their phone. In any case, what you will notice is a clearer and higher quality sound.
How to turn on Wi-Fi calling
As long as your phone and carrier support this feature, activating Wi-Fi calling is very simple. Among phone brands, it's worth noting that virtually all Samsung models and iPhones offer this functionality; as for carriers, Orange is the best in this area, although almost all of them now offer this type of service.
The steps to follow to proceed with the activation may vary slightly depending on the brand and model of each phone, although the steps are usually always the same. Also in the case of iPhones, as shown in the image above:
- First, go to the menu Configuration o Settings of the mobile.
- From there we go to the section of Connections.
- If our mobile is compatible, we will find the function there Wi-Fi calls. To activate it, you have to move the switch. From that moment on, all the calls we make will be made through the WiFi network to which we are connected.
If following these steps the activation option does not appear, it means that our mobile is not compatible with WiFi calls, or that the operating company is not offering this service. The solutions to this are to change the operator or buy a more modern smartphone that does offer this option.
Differences between WiFi, VoIP and VoLTE calls
The concept of WiFi calls or VoWiFi should not be confused with others that sound similar but actually have nothing to do with it, such as VoIP or VoLTE. Let's see the differences:
VoIP calls
VoIP (Voice over IP) calls use a similar method to WiFi calls, although with some notable differences.
The main difference lies in how the internet is used to make the call. VoIP can use both mobile data and a Wi-Fi connection , while VoWiFi calls are only possible via a Wi-Fi network. In other words, VoWiFi is essentially a component of VoIP.
VoLTE calls
VoLTE stands for Voice over Long Term Evolution . Unlike VoWiFi, this system bases calls on your carrier's data connection instead of a Wi-Fi network.
In addition to this, a VoLTE connection can also be applied to establish communications through other applications such as Skype or WhatsApp.