The Wi-Fi callingWiFi calls or simply VoWifi, combine the best of voice calls with one of the most popular wireless technologies. The result of this union is power call whoever you want although the mobile coverage let it be desired or conspicuous by its absence. Also, thanks to a good Wi-Fi connectivityyou can talk to someone with a Very good sound quality.
Although we are used to making calls through the mobile line, it is increasingly common to use the Internet to send audio messages or even make voice calls. But it is one thing to use the internet through the 4G or 5G networks or of WiFi networks and a somewhat different one is the technology known as VoWifithat is to say, Voice over Wi-Fi.
What are Wi-Fi calls
WiFi calls use the popular Wi-Fi network available around you to make a voice call. For this you need a compatible mobile phone With technology VoWiFi either Voice over Wi-Fi. It should not be confused with similar technologies such as VoIP calls or VoLTE calls.
While WiFi calling works over the wireless WLAN network, calls VoIP runs on the internet, be it mobile, wireless or cable network. And finally the calls VoLTE employ 4G mobile networks to work.
Thus, the voice calls that we make by default with our mobile phones use the mobile network available. Whether it’s 2G, 3G or, in the case of VoLTE, 4G. But the most modern terminals allow take advantage of Wi-Fi coverage and, in places where there are no mobile antennas but wireless internet, you can make calls over Wi-Fi.
The benefits of Wi-Fi calling
Although mobile operators have extended their antennas and installations In most cities and towns, it is always possible to find blind spots where there are little or no coverage. The necessary for an emergency call and little else. On the contrary, the wired internet connections They have spread to places where there was no mobile coverage or internet before. And where there is internet, there is usually one or more Wi-Fi antennas.
The main advantage of WiFi calling is its sound quality, superior to the calls by mobile network. Another advantage is that they are free calls. Although today, most mobile plans offer free calling hours, not everyone has them within their reach. And the third advantage is that, unlike VoIP calls, you don’t need to install apps on your phone. The mobile itself is used to make calls over Wi-Fi.
In a previous article I explained how you can make WiFi calls if you have an Android phone or an Apple iPhone. Now we will see how to carry out this type of calls depending on which telephone operator you have contracted Basically because in addition to a compatible mobile, you will need to your company or operator also offers this service.
Configure Wi-Fi calls in Movistar
Movistar offer in your page official WiFi calling service with the headline “improve your mobile coverage”. In his own words, “you just need connect to a Wi-Fi network (domestic or public) and activate the Wi-Fi calls in the settings from your mobile device.
In the case of Movistar, “calls made in this modality They will be charged according to the rate you have contracted”. In other words, free is relative. “For example: if you have unlimited calls in your rate, you will not have any additional cost. However, if you have a rate with X minutes and you have exceeded that limit, you will be billed according to your rate.”
With Movistar, to make calls over Wi-Fi you will need a iPhone 6S onwards with iOS 13.4 or higher. Or an Android terminal with Android 9 onwards.
To turn on WiFi calling on iPhone:
- go to settings
- Go into Mobile data
- Activate the option Wi-Fi calls
To turn on WiFi calling on Android:
- go to settings
- Go into calls > Wi-Fi calls
- Activate the option Wi-Fi calls clicking on the corresponding button
Set up Wi-Fi calling on O2
O2 is a mobile operator that depends on Movistar and also has the service of Wi-Fi calls. In principle, the same thing that applies to Movistar works for O2. But on its help page, it gives us some additional indications, such as WiFi calls “follow the same rules as traditional calls in Roaming”.
It also specifies that “if you activate WiFi Calls on your Android mobile phone, they take precedence over VoLTE calls.” And it shows a list of mobile terminals compatible with both VOLTE as with Wi-Fi calls.
- Of ManzanaiPhone 6S or later with iOS 13.4 or higher
- Of HuaweiP30 (and P30 Pro), Mate 20 (and Mate 20 Pro), P40 (and Lite, Pro and 5G)
- Of OPPOA9 2020, A91, Find X2 Lite (and Neo and Pro), A72
- Of XiaomiRedmi 9
- Of samsung, Galaxy S9 and S9+, S10 (S10e and S0+), Note 9, A50, A51, Note 10 (and 10+), A71, S10 Lite, S20 (and S20+, S20 Ultra 5G and S20+ 5G), A6, A20e, A40 , J6, A70, A21s, A9 from 2018, A6+, Note 9 and A31
Here Do you have the complete list of phones compatible with WiFi and O2 calls. It can be expanded over time.
Configure Wi-Fi calls on Vodafone
If you have contracted the operator vodafone to talk on the mobile phone, their catalog of services includes Wi-Fi calls or, as they call them, Voice over Wi-Fi. In his words, “it allows you to enjoy a better quality in voice calls when you are in places with poor mobile coverage”.
To use Wi-Fi calling, vodafone recommends:
- Connect to a WiFi network regardless of the operator
- Update terminal software
- Activate Voice over Wi-Fi in Settings > Connections
- Also activate VoLTE service
As it happens with MovistarVodafone warns us that “voice calls made through Voice over WiFi are computed in the consumption of minutes voice of your contracted rate”.
The list of compatible mobile devices with Vodafone and Wi-Fi calls is very extensive. Consult this online PDF to see the complete list. Of ManzanaFor example, they serve the iPhone 8 onwards. Also includes most devices samsung current. as well as some OPPO and other brands like HONOR, NOKIA, Realme either ALIVE. Of Xiaomieg 10, 11, 12 and 13 series, Redmi 9T, 10, Note 10, 11 and 12.
For his part, lowiVodafone’s second brand in Spain, does not have VoLTE or WiFi service for now.
Configure calls over Wi-Fi in Orange
The third largest telephone operator in Spain, Orangealso has Wi-Fi calling. In its page oficial offers complete information about it for its clients. Although it does not specify which terminals it is compatible with, it limits itself to saying that “the service is compatible with most models of the terminals purchased both through Orange and from other distributors (Amazon, Media Markt, El Corte Inglés, etc.)”.
In its question section, Orange explains that we can access any WiFi network to make calls over Wi-Fi. Public, private, Orange or another provider. It also indicates that we can call any numbermobile or fixed.
To activate Wi-Fi calling, it will depend on whether it is iOS or Android, as we saw above. Usually you have to go to settings and look for the option Wi-Fi calling. On the Orange page you will find information for terminals Apple, Samsung, Sony and LG.
The small print of the service
The service is available at no additional cost for all our residential contract customers. In the case of business customers, the service is available to the self-employed and companies with less than 5 lines”. If we want to use the service with a rate not compatible, we will receive an SMS. In other words, like Movistar and Vodafone, “the calls you make in Wi-Fi coverage, will be charged as a normal call, according to your rate”. Also if we do International calls or we call special rate numbers. Rates for each type of call will apply.
Regarding the brands or operators that are part of Orange, jazztel It also allows you to activate the service Wi-Fi calling. Not so with the other brand though, Simyo. Something that may change in the future, but without a specific date.
Configure VoWiFi in MásMóvil and other mobile operators
We have talked about Movistar, O2, Vodafone and Orange. But in Spain there are many mobile operators. One of the ones with the most users is MoreMobile. Either through its main brand or through other associated brands: Euskaltel, Yoigo, Pepephone, Llamaya, Lebara, Lyca Mobile, Virgin Telco, Telecable and Guuk.
At the time of writing these lines, although MoreMobile has an entry on his official blog explaining what the Wi-Fi calling, includes a note indicating that “currently in MásMóvil we do not have Wi-Fi calling service”. On the other hand, the specialized media Broadband points to that Digi is working on offering Wi-Fi calling to its customers. But it is not known when it will be available.