For a number of objective reasons, Internet calls are becoming more and more popular all over the world. At the same time, the quality of communication is constantly growing, and the final price of a conversation is usually significantly lower than for a call via a cellular network, or is completely absent.
In contact with
Of course, the development of IP telephony is mainly influenced by the spread of free Wi-Fi internet distribution points. For example, while abroad, you can make calls from a hotel without roaming charges, or contact the required subscribers from a subway car in a tunnel where cellular communication is simply not available.
One of the main problems with Wi-Fi calls in the past was the need to have appropriate clients on the devices of both subscribers. That is, in order to contact via Skype, for example, both users had to install the appropriate application on their smartphone (or deposit money into their Skype account and make paid calls to regular phone numbers). Now everything is a little simpler.
Function allows you to make and receive phone calls even in places with minimal or no cellular coverage. To use this feature, you need an iPhone 5s or later.
Currently the only operator fully supporting at the hardware level, is "MTS" (how to set up, see below).
In the case of MegaFon, Tele2 and SberMobile, to make calls via the Internet, you will need to install a special operator application (links below), but Beeline users still have to be content with third-party solutions, such as Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp, Skype and other VoIP clients.
How to enable Wi-Fi Calling with iPhone
First, you need to enable support for Wi-Fi calls by going to "Settings" → "Telephone" → ... If your operator supports this function, it can be activated, after which the following message will appear in the status bar immediately after the operator's name "Wi-Fi".
To call emergency services, you may need to additionally provide or confirm your address. Typically, the iPhone uses cellular for emergency calls, however, if it is not available, calls will be transmitted over Wi-Fi. However, the device can reveal your location even if location services are turned off.
How to make and receive Wi-Fi calls on other devices
You can also make and receive Wi-Fi calls from other iCloud-connected devices, even when iPhone is turned off or connected to a different Wi-Fi network. This feature can be used on the following devices: iPad and iPod touch with iOS 9 or later, Apple Watch with watchOS 2 or later, Mac with OS X El Capitan (not available on computer models, including Mac Pro released before 2012).
In order to make a call via Wi-Fi using an iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch or Mac, the user needs to:
1. Add a device to use the function in the iPhone.
2. Open the FaceTime app.
3. Select "Audio".
4. Enter a contact or phone number and then tap the handset icon.
5. In addition, this function can be used by clicking on the phone number in the programs "Contacts", "Mail", "Messages", Safari etc.
How to make a Wi-Fi call using Apple Watch
1. Open the application "Telephone".
2. Select the desired contact
3. Press the handset icon.
4. Select a phone number or FaceTime address and then call.
How to add a device
Before adding a device, you should update its software to the latest version.
1. Go to the menu "Settings" → "Telephone" and activate the functions and "On other devices".
2. Select the required devices for Wi-Fi calling.
4. Turn on the function on the device.
On iPad or iPod touch, go to "Settings" → Facetime → IPhone Calls and select .
On your Mac, open FaceTime and go to Facetime → "Settings" → "Settings" and then select IPhone Calls → Update for Wi-Fi Calling.
5. A 6-digit code will appear on the screen, which you will need to enter on the iPhone and press "Allow".
Apple Watch activates automatically when the option is enabled "Calls to other devices".
If you have problems adding a device, you need to check the following:
On iPhone, check if features are enabled and "Allow Calls"... Also make sure the device you are using appears under "Allow calls on devices".
Billions of dollars have been spent by mobile operators in recent years to improve cellular coverage. Despite this, in our country there are still places where mobile communication leaves much to be desired. Fortunately, most carriers are offering a new Wi-Fi calling feature that allows you to make calls or receive messages from almost anywhere a Wi-Fi connection is available.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at Wi-Fi calling and smartphones that support the new technology. You will also learn how to enable and use this feature.
What are Wi-Fi calling?
The first thing to know about Wi-Fi Calling is that it doesn't require any special hardware or apps. This is a free service offered by many mobile operators around the world.
For many people, their first acquaintance with Wi-Fi calling was through the Skype, WhatsApp or Google Hangouts applications. Mobile operators have decided to keep up with third-party applications, so they offer a built-in function in smartphones for making Wi-Fi calls.
Benefits of using Wi-Fi calls through an operator
There are several advantages to using Wi-Fi calls from your mobile operator. Unlike a third party provider like Skype, WhatsApp and others, you can use your phone pad and contact list to make Wi-Fi calls.
In addition, there is a smooth transition between cellular and Wi-Fi calling. When your smartphone loses cellular signal, the device automatically switches to Wi-Fi.
When to use Wi-Fi calling
Of course, the most obvious option for using Wi-Fi calling is when you're in a cellular dead zone. Also, Wi-Fi calls will be useful in places with poor coverage.
For example, there is a coffee shop near my house with amazing Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the building it is in has poor cellular coverage. In this case, Wi-Fi calls are a great way to connect with another person.
How to turn on Wi-Fi calling
To enable Wi-Fi calling on an iOS device, open “ Settings> Phone> Wi-Fi Calling". On this screen, toggle " Wi-Fi calls on this device"To position" On". It's worth noting that Wi-Fi calling is disabled by default on iOS devices.
The activation of Wi-Fi calling on Android depends on the device manufacturer. In most cases, you can find Wi-Fi calling in wireless and network mode of your smartphone under “ Additionally».
How do I know if my Wi-Fi calls are enabled?
After you have turned on Wi-Fi calling in the settings, your smartphone will independently determine the best moment to use it. When your smartphone uses Wi-Fi calls, you should see a “Wi-Fi” icon next to your carrier name at the top of the screen.
Summarizing
With new Wi-Fi calling technology, cellular dead zones are no longer a problem. As long as you have access to a Wi-Fi network, you can make calls.
The technology is currently under development, so you should check with your carrier if they support Wi-Fi calling. If yes, then be sure to enable this feature in your smartphone settings.
MOSCOW, November 15 - RIA Novosti / Prime. MTS and Samsung Electronics have begun to provide Wi-Fi Calling in Russia, which allows subscribers to use the operator's voice communication services in any available Wi-Fi network (Voice over Wi-Fi) at home rates, MTS Vice President for Strategy and Marketing told reporters Vasil Latsanich.
Next week, Tele2 will launch a similar service, Beeline is working on the implementation of this technology, and Megafon already has a similar service, the companies told RIA Novosti.
How it works
The Wi-Fi Calling service allows you to make calls even where there is no cellular signal, but there is a stable Wi-Fi connection - in the subway, long-distance trains, basements, etc. There is no need to install a separate application, you only need to activate the corresponding function on your smartphone once and make calls in the usual way. If there is a connection to a Wi-Fi network, the call is automatically made in the Voice over Wi-Fi format.
The fundamental difference between Wi-Fi Calling and existing OTT services is that a call is made using a mobile operator's network and is an ordinary phone call from a subscriber's mobile number to another subscriber's number in any network. In this case, the Wi-Fi network acts as the operator's base station.
Contactless payment service Android Pay will start working in Russia in 2017Mastercard notes that the recently launched services Samsung Pay and Apple Pay are very popular in Russia, while people are starting to pay with their phones where they have not previously paid with cards.According to Latsanich, payments for calls via Wi-Fi will be carried out in accordance with the tariffs of the home network. In roaming within a year from the moment of the service launch the tariffication will also be "home", he noted.
At the first stage, MTS subscribers in the Moscow region who have Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge phones will be able to use the service. According to Latsanich, the choice of Samsung as a partner is due to the fact that the smartphones of this manufacturer are the most popular in Russia. During 2017, it is planned to expand the list of devices on which the connection of the MTS Wi-Fi Calling service will be available, and the geography of the service.
Competitors are ready
Next week, a similar service - "WiFi-calls" - will be launched by Tele2, a representative of the company Konstantin Prokshin told RIA Novosti. According to him, unlike MTS, the Tele2 service will work on all smartphones with operating systems (OS) Android 4 and higher and iOS 7 and higher.
Through the "WiFi calls" application, a subscriber can make calls to any mobile phone numbers, short numbers, 8-800 numbers, as well as landline numbers without the called subscriber's application installed, as well as send and receive sms.
There is no subscription fee for the "WiFi-calls" service. All calls through the application will be made at the subscriber's "home" tariff, even when in international roaming, and this will be valid on an ongoing basis, and not as a special offer for a certain period.
VimpelCom (Beeline trademark) is also working on the implementation of this technology in its network, but its development is influenced by a rather limited number of smartphones, which in practice support it in the networks of Russian operators, said the press secretary of the company Anna Aibasheva. According to her, vendors do not seek to implement this technology in the networks of Russian operators.
Megafon already has a similar service, said Yulia Dorokhina, head of the operator's press service. "A similar functionality is provided by our own application E-Motion, which works with all models of smartphones, tablets and laptops. It allows subscribers to call from anywhere in the world to Russia via Wi-Fi or mobile Internet for 80 kopecks per minute to Megafon numbers and 1.5 rubles on the networks of all other operators, "she said.
At the same time, operator Yota (Scartel LLC, owned by Megafon) is not going to launch such a service in the near future.
“Our nearest plans do not include launching a similar technology. Mobile operator Yota is primarily focused on advanced users who use instant messengers more often than make calls,” said Olga Alekseeva, PR director of the mobile operator Yota.
"In addition, unlimited Internet and the absence of roaming in Russia allows subscribers to freely use all the capabilities of a smartphone on the terms of their home region without the need to search for and connect to Wi-Fi. And in international roaming, we do not take into account the cost of text traffic in the most popular messengers, which also allows our clients stay connected even with zero balance, "she added.
The function "Wi-Fi Calling" (calls over Wi-Fi) was first introduced back in iOS 8. However, this technology has only recently started working in Russia. The first operator to declare full support for this option was MTS. Let's take a closer look at what this function is.
What is Wi-Fi Calling
This is a technology that allows you to make calls even if there is minimal or no cellular coverage. The call is made using the operator's network, while Wi-Fi plays the role of a base station.
But you can also make calls via Skype, what's the point of this technology?
The call is made like a regular phone call using your number. Accordingly, the interlocutor does not need the Internet to communicate with you. This is the main difference.
Which iPhone models are supported
Which operators are supported
To date, only MTS has acquired direct support. So far, such calls can only be made in Moscow and the Moscow region. In the future, it is planned to expand the geography of the service provided.
Is it more expensive than regular calls
The cost does not change and is charged at the home rate, even if you make calls in another country.
How to enable this feature
- We go to "Settings".
- We find "Calls over Wi-Fi". This item will be unavailable for unsupported operators.
- We activate the slider.
After that, all calls will be made using the current Wi-Fi network.
Where has Wi-Fi Calling gone? Why do I see the name "Internet Calls" on my invoices?
We are expanding and improving services for calls over the Internet. Due to the increase in the number of users, from December 2017 to January 2018, the functionality of the "Wi-Fi Calling" technology is transferred to new equipment in order to ensure greater fault tolerance, reliability and bandwidth, as well as for further improvement and development of call services.
The "Wi-Fi Calling" technology has become part of an extended set of services called "Internet Calls", so you can see the new name "Internet Calls" in the invoices. Terms of tariffication and provision of services remain the same.
If for any reason you need to disable the "Internet Calls" service, dial * 111 * 6 * 01 # on your mobileHow to set up call forwarding?
Subscribers with the “Internet Calls” service can set up call forwarding only through their personal account on the ihelper.mts.ru website or by calling the contact center at 0890. Setting up call forwarding through the smartphone menu is not available for subscribers with this service.
How to set up your smartphone?
- make sure that you have the “Internet Calls” service in the list of connected services (for example, in the “Services” section of the “My MTS” application or in the “Personal Account” on the MTS website). If the service is not activated - activate it: dial * 111 * 6 #, press the "Call" button;
- register in an available Wi-Fi network;
- make sure that the icon appears on the top of the screen, indicating that calls are available via Wi-Fi (handset with a Wi-Fi icon). To make a call or receive an incoming call via Wi-Fi, no further action is required - all calls will automatically go through Wi-Fi.
My smartphone supports Wi-Fi Calling technology. Why is the service not working on my smartphone?
The service works only on devices certified for sales in Russia. If this particular device and service does not work for you, then:
- make sure that you have the “Internet Calls” service in the list of connected services (for example, in the “Services” section of the “My MTS” application or in the “Personal Account” on the MTS website). If the service is not activated - activate it: dial * 111 * 6 #, press the "Call" button. The service will not be activated if you had previously activated the MTS Connect service on your number (Internet calls and MTC Connect services are mutually prohibitive, i.e. if one of the services is connected, the other cannot be connected to the number before shutdown first). If the number has activated the service "MTC Connect" and you want to use the service "Internet calls", then to deactivate the service "MTC Connect" dial * 111 * 6 * 00 # on your smartphone. After making sure that the service is disabled, dial * 111 * 6 # to activate the "Internet Calls" service;
- make sure that the "Calls via Wi-Fi" (or "Wi-Fi Calling") function is enabled in the settings of your smartphone;
- check for registration in a Wi-Fi network with Internet access;
- make sure that an icon appears on the top of the screen, indicating that calls are available via Wi-Fi (a handset with a Wi-Fi icon);
- Not every Wi-Fi network supports Wi-Fi Calling. The operation of the service can be impeded by the settings of the Wi-Fi network, for example, if the network administrator has set a prohibition on data encryption (IPSec).
- On Samsung Dual SIM phones, the Wi-Fi Calling technology works only if the MTS SIM card is installed in the main slot. Sony smartphones support Wi-Fi Calling technology through any slot if an MTS SIM card is inserted in it and data transmission priority is enabled.
- Yes, you can send and receive SMS as usual. To do this, you do not need to leave the Wi-Fi Network, but your phone must be registered in the 2G / 3G / 4G mobile network.
What to do if the connection is intermittently interrupted during a call via Wi-Fi, the audibility is poor or one-way?
For the correct operation of voice services in a Wi-Fi network, a minimum latency time is required - Latency, also known as ping. A delay of more than 80-100 milliseconds negatively affects quality. You can find out the latency of the Wi-Fi network through the Speedtest application.
The latency increases when the Wi-Fi router is exchanging a large amount of data (when watching online videos, torrents turned on, etc.) or several routers are working nearby at the same time on the same channel (for example, with neighbors).
What can help:- disconnection for the duration of the call of services that create an increased load - torrents, videos, etc.
- switching the router to a free channel
How do I make calls over the Internet?
Now, when calling from a mobile to a landline phone, you must always indicate 8 - area code - landline phone number. For example, to call a city number in Moscow, dial 8 (495) xx-xx-xx from your mobile. ...
Wi-Fi Calling technology is available on devices:
| Samsung | Highscreen | Apple | Sony | Lg | Huawei |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung: Galaxy A3 | Highscreen: Boost 3 | Apple: iPhone 5S | Sony: Xperia XZ | LG X Venture | Huawei: Nova |
| Samsung: Galaxy S6 | Highscreen: Boost 3 Pro | Apple: iPhone 5C | Sony: Xperia XA1 | Lg g6 | Huawei: Nova 2i |
| Samsung: Galaxy S6 Edge | Highscreen: Power Ice Evo | Apple: iPhone 6 | Sony: Xperia XA1 Plus | LG G7 (2018) | Huawei: Nova 2 Plus |
| Samsung: Galaxy S6 Edge + | Highscreen: Boost 3 Se | Apple: iPhone 6 Plus | Sony: Xperia XA1 ULTRA | LG Q7 (2018) | Huawei: Nova 2 |
| Samsung: Galaxy J2 | Highscreen: Boost 3 Se pro | Apple: iPhone 6S | Sony: Xperia XZ Premium | LG Qsytus | |
| Samsung: Galaxy J5 LTE | Highscreen: Razar | Apple: iPhone 6S plus | Sony: Xperia XZ1 | LG K11 | |
| Samsung: Galaxy J7 LTE | Highscreen: Fest | Apple: iPhone SE | Sony: Xperia XZs | LG V30 | |
| Samsung: Galaxy A7 LTE | Highscreen: Fest Pro | Apple: iPhone 7 | Sony: Xperia XZ1 Compact | LG K9 (2018) | |
| Samsung: Galaxy J2 Prime | Highscreen: Fest XL | Apple: iPhone 7 plus | |||
| Samsung: Galaxy A5 2016 | Highscreen: Fest XL Pro | Apple: iPhone 8 | |||
| Samsung: Galaxy J5 2016 LTE | Highscreen: Easy Power | Apple: iPhone 8 plus | |||
| Samsung: Galaxy A3 2016 | Highscreen: Easy Power Pro | Apple: iPhone X | |||
| Samsung: Galaxy J7 2016 LTE | Highscreen: Easy XL | ||||
| Samsung: Galaxy J5 Prime | Highscreen: Easy XL Pro | ||||
| Samsung: Galaxy A7 2016 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy S7 edge | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy S7 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy C5 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy A5 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy S8 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy J3 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy S8 Plus | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy A3 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy J7 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy A7 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy J5 2017 | |||||
| Samsung: Galaxy Note 8 | |||||
| LG Galaxy Note 8 |
