Image of Wifi icon cut out in scenic setting

What is WiFi calling? How do you enable it on iPhone & Android?

We’re extremely excited to announce that WiFi Calling is available to all Unlimited and Pooled Plan customers. This has been one of the most requested features by our customers bar none. And it’s easy to understand why.

When you have cellular coverage problems, you might find yourself holding your phone up to the ceiling, avoiding certain areas of the office, and sticking your arm out the window to try and get more bars. This problem can be solved quickly and easily with WiFi Calling. So, what is WiFi calling, and how does it work?

What is WiFi Calling?

WiFi Calling works like other voice over IP (VoIP) applications—think WhatsApp and Skype. However, there are a few key differences that make it unique.

  1. You don’t need any apps for WiFi Calling.
    • Unlike FaceTime, Skype, Whatsapp, Viper, etc., you don’t need any special apps to make and take calls or send & receive messages. WiFi calls are like regular calls—you can just use your phone’s built-in dial pad or messaging app.
  2. The person you are trying to call or text does not need any special apps either.
    • Since WiFi calls and texts are eventually routed over a cellular network (after passing through your WiFi) the person or number you are contacting will receive the call on their phone as if you made a regular call. They don’t need to have any special apps on their phone either.
  3. Calls & texts look like they came from your number.
    • The people who receive your call and texts will see them coming from your number. This is particularly beneficial for services like 2FA or account registrations that don’t accept VoIP numbers.
  4. You can call regular numbers like landlines and toll free numbers.
    • Other cell phone users aren’t the only people you can reach over WiFi Calling. You’ll be able to reach landline numbers, customer service lines, and 911 emergency dispatch the same way you would over a cellular connection.

How does WiFi calling work?

On VoLTE, your phone encapsulates voice into data packets and uses LTE to send that information upstream. On WiFi, your phone does the same thing. The data packets go through different streams, but they all end up at the core data network, rerouting that information back to the recipient. 

Diagram showing how WiFi Calling concept works

(This simplification, of course, does not address all the nuances and brilliant technology like IMS that facilitate this sort of interoperability.)

Pros & Cons of WiFi calling

What are the benefits of WiFi Calling?

There are quite a few benefits to using WiFi calling including:

  • Stay connected in more places.
    • With WiFi Calling you will be able to make calls, take calls, and send & receive texts wherever you’re connected to WiFi. You’ll be able to make calls from the corner in the back office, the subway station deep underground, and rural areas where it’s hard to find cell service.
  • Transition seamlessly without dropping calls or missing texts.
    • When you’re transitioning from an area with strong cellular connectivity to a dead zone, WiFi Calling will kick in automatically. There’s no need to worry about dropping calls when you move about your home, office, or through public transportation. You’ll find that text messages will still go through when you have no bars, too.
  • Emergency services can still locate you when you dial 911.
    • As you set up WiFi Calling for the first time, you’ll be prompted to input an e911 address. This is a street address that, when contacting emergency services over WiFi, a 911 dispatcher will use as your default primary location. Location accuracy is necessary to ensure emergency services can assist you. If your phone is changing locations, it is imperative that you change your e911 address so that you can be located.

WiFi calling is a seamless, hassle-free, and free last-mile connectivity solution for expanding indoor cellular coverage to dead zones, where carriers’ tower signals cannot reach.

Man making a call in the subway.

What are the cons of WiFi calling?

Although WiFi calling provides many advantages, there are a few downsides to consider before using this feature:

  • Insufficient bandwidth on WiFi.
    • WiFi will lag in hotels, airports, universities, stadiums, and other crowded venues just because of the sheer number of people using the same network.
  • Not all devices support calling via WiFi.
    • You’ll need to use a smartphone to have access to this feature. WiFi calls are supported by most recent Android phones and iPhones. Go to Settings and search for the feature to check your phone’s connectivity, or check with your carrier.

How do I turn on Wifi Calling?

How to enable WiFi calling on iPhone

  1. Go to Settings> Phone > WiFi Calling
  2. Switch the Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone slider on, to the right.
  3. Choose “Enable” to activate the feature.

See this article for a more detailed walkthrough and troubleshooting tips on iOS.

How to activate Android WiFi calling

  1. Swipe up on your phone to see all your apps
  2. Tap on Settings> Network & Internet > Mobile Network> Advanced
  3. Tap on the switch next to turn it on
  4. In case you can’t find this option, search for “WiFi calling” on your phone and you should find the correct menu page.

Check out our in-depth guide for activating and troubleshooting on Android.

As US Mobile continues to lead the next generation of wireless networks, WiFi Calling is offered to our users for free. Be sure to check our how-to guides to enable the feature in your iPhone and Android settings and expand your coverage. If you’re thinking about joining us, rest assured that you can keep on calling and texting in more places than ever!

FAQs

Will I use data when calling via WiFi?

Calls made over WiFi will use your router’s data to make calls. However, it will not use the main data balance of your cell phone plan.

How much data does a WiFi call use?

It varies, but you can assume about 1 MB of data per minute for a call and 6-8 MB of data per minute for a video call.

Do all phones support WiFi calling?

No. You need to have a phone that’s VoLTE enabled and has the WiFi calling feature activated. If you don’t know if your phone is HD Voice-enabled, check this list.

What if my phone doesn’t support it? 

If your phone, or carrier, doesn’t support it, you can always call and text from WiFi via third-party apps. The most common ones are Skype, Google Hangout, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Viber.

How fast does my WiFi connection need to be?

The more bandwidth you have, the better your connection will be. A minimum of 1Mbps should be enough to make calls. However, we’ve seen reports that WiFi can hold a call as slow as 80Kbps, but the quality will be lower.