Ever wondered whether Wi-Fi calling is worthwhile? This article will explain everything you need to know about this new technology.
What is Wi-Fi Calling?
Before we can get into the benefits of Wi-Fi calling, we must first establish what it is.
Wi-Fi calling is a “voice over internet protocol (VOIP)”, meaning you can send your voice directly to another person over the internet.
If you’ve ever used an app such as Skype or WhatsApp, you’ve used a VOIP.
Here’s how it works. Your phone will convert your voice into a signal. The network will then pass your voice message through the internet, and the recipient’s device will convert the signal into sound.
All of this happens in a matter of nanoseconds.
The big difference between Wi-Fi calling and WhatsApp is that when you use WhatsApp, both participants need an internet connection. But, Wi-Fi calling can still work if only one of you does.
Does Wi-Fi calling work if only one phone uses it?
Let’s say you’re using Wi-Fi calling to contact your mother who doesn’t have Wi-Fi.
The receiver can still receive your calls in this scenario because both Wi-Fi and cellular networks use radio waves.
As sophisticated as the Wi-Fi is, it uses the same waves as a good old FM radio and so, for that matter, does 4G and 5G.
So, whether it travels via a 4G network, Wi-Fi, or just through the phone’s network, your sound signal will travel in the same form.
Benefits of Wi-Fi Calling
Here are some of the main benefits of Wi-Fi calling.
You can still make high-quality calls if you’re ever somewhere with weak cell phone coverage; ideal for people who live in the bush and have internet access but poor coverage.
It can also benefit campers who may need access to ambulances in an emergency.
Today, most phone contracts cover unlimited calls and texts—all calls made via Wi-Fi calling use your call allowance, not your data allowance.
Therefore, even if you don’t have Wi-Fi access, making Wi-Fi calls will not impact how much data you have left.
If you want to make a call via WhatsApp or Skype, you will need to install the applications. Not a problem for most people, but for some, it can take up valuable storage space on the device. Plus, Wi-Fi calling uses BOTH Wi-Fi and cellular networks, but WhatsApp only uses the internet.
When your phone is searching for a cellular network, it can drain the battery. It takes energy for your phone to seek out a nearby network that will enable it to send your call. However, if it can use Wi-Fi instead, this will be much easier to find and use less of your battery life.
This is particularly important for those on the road who may not always have access to charging facilities.
The bandwidth required for a phone call is only 1MB per minute. Therefore, there is little worry about too many people using Wi-Fi calling at once and slowing down any cellular infrastructure.
And finally, depending on which telecoms you use, calls to international numbers can be significantly cheaper if you call via Wi-Fi calling because the signals travel through the same infrastructure as calls made on WhatsApp.
Disadvantages of Wi-Fi calling
But, Wi-Fi calling isn’t a magic technology with no flaws. Let’s now look at some of the potential disadvantages of Wi-Fi calling.
The first one is that it’s not available on all devices. Although most modern devices allow it, some older devices still do not. Therefore, if two people speak to each other on devices that don’t allow Wi-Fi calling, they will rely on a good cellular network.
Also, even if you do have Wi-Fi calling, what do you do if you’re somewhere with poor signal, no 4/5G access, and no Wi-Fi?
Although such a scenario is rare in cities, it’s far more common in the bush.
If your phone is making a call via Wi-Fi, having other applications can cause the phone call to experience faults since the device or network may struggle to maintain the phone call and other tasks.
For example, if you’re scrolling on Twitter whilst talking on the phone, you may notice their voice cutting out more often.
We mentioned earlier that most contracts come with unlimited calls and texts. But what about the ones that don’t? And what about the people who use pay-as-you-go? For these people, using Wi-Fi calling uses up their call credit.
Wi-Fi Calling with Telstra
If you use Wi-Fi calling with Telstra, there will be no additional charges, so long as you’re calling someone else in Australia.
Unfortunately, Wi-Fi calling with Telstra is restricted to Australia. Calling someone overseas will be done via the mobile network and will cost.
You’ll be able to see that Wi-Fi calling is enabled when you see the Wi-Fi symbol and phone symbol sharing a button.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi calling was announced with a splash a few years ago and then largely died – at least in the minds of Australian phone users.
However, for some, Wi-Fi calling can be a helpful feature. It’s easy to enable and, in a world where everyone can be a customer of the NBN and have, at worst, a decent internet connection speed, Wi-Fi calling offers people in the bush the chance to make phone calls from the device they usually employ and have a signal where, in other circumstances, they might not have one. The call quality is also, often, better than what you’re used to – thanks to the amount of bandwidth available to transmit the nuances and broad frequencies of your voice. You’re most likely to be told about Wi-Fi calling by a phone company representative trying to help you solve a coverage problem. It’s simple to enable on your phone and, for some, the perfect solution to a tricky problem.