WiFi calling on AT&T
Jan 11, 2017, 5:14 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
Really there is no need to enable WiFi calling in the USA if (1) You have an unlimited minutes plan (vast majority of us do) and (2) You are rarely outside of an area with sufficient cell tower coverage. Even so you could still use one of the apps listed above just as easily from a location that has wifi.
I live pretty much dead smack in the middle of Silicon Valley, and in my apartment I have zero AT&T coverage. I would kill for Wifi calling (and will be getting it shortly when I upgrade my phone)
Jan 12, 2017, 7:31 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,784
If you port your mobile number to Google Voice, then you get the benefit of Google Voice calling AND carrier calling. It will ring every number you assigned to it including any carrier number (wireless or WiFi) or landline.
I had it ring everything, work phone, cell phone, work cell, tablet, pc... whichever one I pick up first will answer. And I can make calls on everything. I can even have it ring a temporary work office phone. I can have it ignore every call and forward to voicemail and email me a transcript.
You pretty much have your phone with you if you have a device around you that could either receive call or connect to the internet.
I had it ring everything, work phone, cell phone, work cell, tablet, pc... whichever one I pick up first will answer. And I can make calls on everything. I can even have it ring a temporary work office phone. I can have it ignore every call and forward to voicemail and email me a transcript.
You pretty much have your phone with you if you have a device around you that could either receive call or connect to the internet.
Jan 18, 2017, 10:29 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA 1MM 0P, AA, DL, *wood, Lifetime FPC Plat., IHG, HHD
Posts: 6,912
WiFi calling works exactly the same as cellular calling on your phone. The only difference is that your call is connected via WiFi instead of your carrier's cellular network. There is no difference how the calls are made and received. There is no need to install or use any special apps. My phone switches automatically and seamlessly midcall from cellular to WiFi when I am in a weak cellular reception area.
Technically, in order to have a seamless handoff between the wifi trunked call and the cellular network there has to be an LTE connection and the availability of the HD VOICE protocol connection (which only works on LTE) for a seamless transfer of the call TO a cellular network.
For the reverse to be able to occur, I think one has to have already been connected to the WIFI network from the inception of the Cellular call for the handoff to WIFI calling to be able to occur without dropping the call.
Normally in bad areas, LTE isn't available and seamless handoff will not occur back and forth between a 4G connection and WIFI or the reverse from WIFI to 4G.