Finding yourself in an area with weak or no mobile phone reception and needing to make an important call can be incredibly stressful. Thankfully, Wi-Fi calling has come to the rescue! 

What is WiFi calling?

WiFi calling is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone and video calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of the regular mobile network. This feature is built into your phone, so you don’t need to download a separate app (although there are apps like Messenger or WhatsApp that allow it). By connecting to a WiFi network, you can make and receive calls and messages from areas with weak or no mobile phone signal. 

This feature was initially launched on iPhone back in 2014 with a major iOS 8 update. Today, more and more smartphones offer this feature, with most major ISPs offering Wi-Fi calling in some form.

Is WiFi calling free?

Most mobile carriers typically provide Wi-Fi calling at no additional cost; the price you pay for your plan already covers the cost of the service!

While these Wi-Fi calls are generally free within Australia, some providers may charge an additional fee if you make and receive calls (and text messages) from international numbers. MATE doesn’t offer international roaming on our mobile plans at this stage.

In most cases, Wi-Fi calls don’t even use up your mobile data! To make sure you don’t get charged, go to Settings on your iPhone and turn on Airplane Mode.

How do I activate WiFi calling (iPhone)?

Enabling WiFi calling is easy. Simply go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and turn it on. During setup, you may be prompted to enter or confirm a physical address (which serves as your emergency address) for emergency services.

That’s it! Once you enable WiFi calling, your phone will automatically use it if it connects to a Wi-Fi network your phone recognises. For example, you go to your favourite coffee shop and log in to its Wi-Fi. Once your phone recognises that, it will switch to Wi-Fi calling. When you leave, it will revert to your provider’s cellular network, even if you’re in the middle of a call.

If you’ve done all the necessary steps and still can’t use Wi-Fi calling or make a Wi-Fi call, there are some easy ways to troubleshoot the problem. Follow the instructions below, making sure to wait about two minutes between steps.

1. Get your iPhone and go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling. Make sure it’s turned on.
2. Restart your iPhone.
3. Try connecting to another WiFi network.
4. Turn Wi-Fi Calling off and then turn it on again.
5. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
6. Tap Reset Network Settings.

How do I know if the WiFi calling feature is turned on?

If Wi-Fi calling is on, you should be able to see your carrier name and ‘Wi-Fi’ after it on the top right-hand corner of your screen. This indicates that your calls and text messages will be using the Wi-Fi connection.

How do I make a WiFi call?

When Wi-Fi calling is turned on, you can make and receive phone calls as normal! Your phone will automatically revert to WiFi calling instead of using the minutes from your phone plan. All you need is a strong, reliable connection, and you’re good to go. 

If you have a poor Wi-Fi connection, the quality of the call may suffer, or you may drop it entirely. This won’t be a problem with award-winning providers like MATE. WiFi calling is now available with MATE, so it’s easy to enjoy Wi-Fi calling without a hitch.

How do I make emergency calls with WiFi calling?

Placing emergency calls on a WiFi network is the same as normal phone calls. If you make an emergency call and your phone is on Wi-Fi calling, your carrier will use your device’s location to find you and route you to the nearest dispatcher (even if you didn’t enable location services).

When you make an emergency call, make sure to provide your address, especially if you’re not at the physical address you entered during setup. If you decide to change that address at any time, you can do so by going to Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling > Update Emergency Address.

Can I turn on WiFi calling on other Apple devices?

WiFi calls aren’t just limited to your phone. In fact, you can also add other Apple devices to your account, allowing you to use them with Wi-Fi calling when your iPhone isn’t nearby. Before anything else, you want to make sure the device you want to add uses the latest version of the relevant software.

1. Get your iPhone and go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling.
2. You’ll see Add Wi-Fi Calling for Other Devices. Turn that on.
3. Get back to the previous screen and choose Calls on Other Devices.
4. You’ll see Allow Calls on Other Devices. Turn that on, and a list of devices will appear under Allow Calls On.
5. Turn on every Apple device you want to use with Wi-Fi calling.

Make sure your iPad or Mac can accept calls from your iPhone. Here’s how to do it:

• Get your iPad and go to Settings > FaceTime. You’ll see Calls from iPhone. Turn that on.
• Get your Mac and open the FaceTime app. Go to FaceTime > Preferences. You’ll see Call from iPhone. Turn that on.
• If you’re using Apple Watch, Wi-Fi calling is automatically enabled once you turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices.

Stay connected even in areas with low signal strength

Wi-Fi calling offers a ton of benefits, including improved call quality and emergency response. Most notably, it allows you to connect with family and friends even without a cellular network. If you have questions on how to enable Wi-Fi calling on your iPhone (or Android devices), contact your trusted provider today.