{"id":19802,"date":"2021-03-03T12:54:30","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T11:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sendapp.live\/?p=19802"},"modified":"2021-03-12T12:43:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T11:43:16","slug":"what-is-wi-fi-calling-how-does-it-affect-your-phone-calls-sendapp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sendapp.live\/it\/2021\/03\/03\/what-is-wi-fi-calling-how-does-it-affect-your-phone-calls-sendapp\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Wi-Fi Calling & How Does It Affect Your Phone Calls?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you heard about Wi-Fi calling, but not exactly sure how it works? Or, more importantly, how to turn it on? We\u2019ll break down everything you need to know about calling over Wi-Fi for you.<\/p>\n

Apple and Android devices support Wi-Fi calling. Without using your phone service provider as the middleman. It\u2019s is a great solution to achieve high-quality calls indoors.<\/p>\n

As companies shift their staff to work remotely, you\u2019ll likely get acquainted with Wi-Fi calling and its limitations. The best part is that if you have strong Wi-Fi network coverage, you can communicate with your team using HD Voice over a\u00a0cloud phone system<\/strong>. Unlike cellular service,\u00a0HD Voice\u00a0has much higher quality sound and clarity\u2014a must for any team.<\/p>\n

What is Wi-Fi Calling?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wi-Fi itself operates on a series of standards established by the IEEE and the Wi-Fi Alliance. If you have a high-speed broadband connection, odds are that you also have a router capable of providing this wireless coverage.<\/p>\n

Typically, a wireless router offers approximately 150 feet of range from its location, depending on building materials and other factors.<\/p>\n

Wi-Fi calling gives you the chance to make phone calls using a wireless internet connection. It doesn\u2019t go through a traditional telecommunications provider like AT&T or Verizon. Additionally, Android and iOS devices now have accepted, universal standards (APIs) for VoIP calls in a way that is optimized for battery life and the user experience.<\/p>\n

Thinking through\u00a0business continuity<\/strong><\/a>, it\u2019s important to have a backup connection. If your company\u2019s network connection fails, you need to be able to conduct business over an LTE-based cellular connection. Wi-Fi calling takes place over both when configured correctly.<\/p>\n

One of the trends we discovered in the\u00a02020 Business Communication Report<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is the positive attitudes around remote work. Current events have also accelerated this shift to empowering employees to work away from the office. Nearly four out of ten companies now have their teams working remotely.<\/p>\n

How Does Wi-Fi Calling Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The simplest way to make a Wi-Fi call is through a\u00a0VoIP<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(Voice over Internet Protocol) system. It works by reaching a carrier over the internet connection to establish a phone line. There\u2019s a lot of happening\u00a0under the hood<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to make this possible, but to you, it\u2019s practically effortless.<\/p>\n

Apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger\u00a0use VoIP technology<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to make calls. With today\u2019s capable devices, you don\u2019t have to do much to achieve a strong network connection. Apps like Nextiva\u00a0let businesses make Wi-Fi calls from any device<\/a>\u2014even if it doesn\u2019t have a cellular connection (or SIM Card).<\/p>\n

Fundamentally, Wi-Fi calling uses VoIP to provide callers a better calling experience. You can select the right rate plan and\u00a0phone number<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that works for your business. It\u2019s also a great way to skip paying your cellular company high international rates. With modern advances in wireless routers, you leverage them for reliable network connections without any dropped calls.<\/p>\n

Do You Get Charged For It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Traditionally, phone calls made using a cellular connection come from your monthly allowance. The Wi-Fi calling feature is similar. Wi-Fi calls have no additional charge; it\u2019s taken from your monthly voice plan.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fantastic option for\u00a0employees that telecommute<\/a><\/strong>. You won\u2019t pay sky-high international calling rates for making cross-border calls. You\u2019re\u00a0simply using data<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0from your allowance to make international long-distance calls. Just for perspective, more than 100 million voice calls are made on WhatsApp\u00a0every day<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The best part? Cisco predicts that by 2021, there will be 542 million wireless network\u00a0hotspots<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0all over the world that support Wi-Fi calls.<\/p>\n

With\u00a0cloud phone services<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0like Nextiva people can call as much as they want across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. And when it\u2019s time to call abroad, they can call around\u00a0the world for as low as a penny per minute.<\/p>\n

How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on an iPhone<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ready to make your first Wi-Fi call? You no longer need old-fashioned apps like Skype.\u00a0This process works the same on iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, iPhone X, iPhone XS.<\/p>\n

To make a Wi-Fi call on your iPhone, head to your Settings, and hit the Mobile Data option. Here, you\u2019ll see a section for Wi-Fi calling:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Click the button, and slide the Wi-Fi calling toggle to On:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Your iPhone is now ready for you to make a call via Wi-Fi connection.<\/p>\n

But to exclusively use\u00a0Wi-Fi for calling on your\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>iPhone<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(rather than your cellular network), you\u2019ll need to turn off your mobile data.<\/p>\n

Do this by heading to your smartphone\u2019s\u00a0Settings > Cellular Data, and switching the toggle to Off:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot
Source: Apple<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

iPhones, iPads, and iPods all have the same settings since they run on iOS.<\/p>\n

However, some Apple devices automatically use Wi-Fi connections. iMessage is a popular messaging service that uses this. Users connect to the internet to send and receive text messages rather than cellular data. These messages still come from your U.S. number, so your recipients won\u2019t know the difference.<\/p>\n

The only difference? This only happens when texting an Apple device from another Apple device. If an iPhone texts a Google or Samsung phone, iMessage won\u2019t be supported. The message will be sent as a normal text through a cellular connection.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a011 Best Wireless VoIP Phone Options for 2020 (Wi-Fi & DECT)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on Android Phones<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Can you still make Wi-Fi calls if your device uses the Android operating system? Yes!<\/p>\n

To enable Wi-Fi calling on your Android device, head over to your Settings. Hit the Network & Internet button. Then, click Wi-Fi Preferences and tap Advanced:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot
Source: MakeUseOf<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here, you\u2019ll see a toggle for Wi-Fi calling. Switch the button to On:<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot
Source: HowToGeek<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ll then need to turn off your standard mobile phone data. You can do this by turning your Android phone to Airplane Mode.<\/p>\n

Airplane Mode will stop your device from relying on cellular data usage. Incoming and outgoing calls will be done automatically via Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Difference Between Cellular Data and Wi-Fi Calling?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wi-Fi calling allows you to speak to people in remote locations. You don\u2019t need to be near a cellphone tower. You simply need an internet connection. However, providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon supply mobile data\u2014so long as you\u2019re near one of their towers.<\/p>\n

However, Wi-Fi can have a weaker connection than cellular data. Voice quality can be sacrificed if lots of people are using the Wi-Fi hotspot at the same time. This usually happens in crowded places like shopping centers or stadiums.<\/p>\n

One drawback of Wi-Fi calling is that it can be subjected to disruptions from your network among other\u00a0VoIP problems<\/strong><\/a>. These issues are preventable, but you might have echoes or delays if you have a faulty network connection.<\/p>\n

Video calls made using Wi-Fi can suffer as a result. For this reason, it might not be the best option for\u00a0remote employees<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0stuck in airports with an overcrowded Wi-Fi connection. They\u2019d probably have a stronger cellular connection. That\u2019s because cellular coverage areas are reliable in urban areas.<\/p>\n

And if that wasn\u2019t enough, Wi-Fi calls could\u00a0extend your battery life<\/strong><\/a>. A device that continuously searches for a cellular network to connect to can drain your battery. A device using Wi-Fi calls doesn\u2019t. It simply connects to one network\u2014and stays there until you disconnect.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1) How do I make Wi-Fi calls with Nextiva?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You can make Wi-Fi calls using Nextiva\u2019s\u00a0VoIP app<\/strong><\/a>. Head over to your App Store and search \u201cNextiva\u201d to download the app to your device. (Note that you might need an Enterprise account to use the app.)<\/p>\n