There are many places where people spend time where the cellphone network is weak, preventing them from making or receiving a call or text. Some areas lack cellphone networks, making it difficult to call or receive calls.

Nowadays, using cellphone networks to make calls can be very expensive, and the network is not always available everywhere. This feature can be an alternative in these situations.

In response to threats posed by virtual communication tools like Skype, Facetime, Dropbox, etc., telecommunication carriers introduced their Wi-Fi calling service option years ago. To combat this threat, telecommunication carriers included this amazing feature in their offerings.

Although everyone is not familiar with the concept of call over Wi-Fi, many people have questions about the pros and cons of this feature. This article will provide the necessary information regarding the pros and cons of wi-fi calling.

What Is Wi-Fi Calling?

Wi-Fi Calling refers to when a call is made through a Wi-Fi network rather than a cell phone network. This functionality is used to redirect the call to a Wi-Fi network.

It is identical to a regular phone call. You dial a phone number as you used to do, and you can use all the features of a regular phone call like speakerphone, three-way calling, etc.

The difference between regular and Wi-Fi calls is that regular phone calls are routed to a cell phone service provider network. Calling calls are routed to Wi-Fi signals or wireless internet access in Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi Calling can be a beneficial alternative in places where cell phone networks are weak or unavailable. You can make a phone call in these places with the help of this feature by connecting your phone to a Wi-Fi network, and it is also cheaper than the cell phone service provider.

Difference Between Wi-Fi Calling And VoIP

VoIP stands for “Voice over Internet protocol.” It is a technology that uses a broadband internet connection to make voice calls instead of using a regular phone line. Some VoIP only works on your computer or a particular VoIP phone.

VoIP converts your voice into a digital signal that travels over the internet. It allows you to make a call directly from a computer, a particular VoIP phone, or a traditional phone with the help of an adapter.

Many platforms and applications run on VoIP like WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, Google Meet, etc. Cellphone service provider companies used this technology to develop Wi-Fi Calling.

The difference between VoIP and Wi-Fi calling is that VoIP requires the installation of specific applications to use, but Wi-Fi Calling is already available on your phone. There is no need to install any application to use this feature. You only have to enable a feature and allow some permission to use this feature on your phone.

Working Of Wi-Fi Calling

When you use Wi-Fi calling, your phone will automatically find the strongest network available. Depending on which network is available at the time, the call will be routed through either a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Using the Wi-Fi Calling feature does not mean your call will be routed through Wi-Fi networks only; instead, your call will only route through a Wi-Fi network if the network is more vital than your cell phone’s network.

Your cell phone carrier treats Wi-Fi Calling as a regular call in most cases. This means you don’t have to pay any additional fees to use this feature.

Reasons To Use Wi-Fi Calling

There are various reasons for using Wi-Fi Calling because it is less expensive and can be used without installing any application. Some of the reasons are mentioned below:

Less Expensive:

One of the main reasons to use Wi-Fi calling is that it is less expensive or saves your money on phone calls. Users don’t have to pay any additional charge for using this feature.

Cellphone networks are not available everywhere:

Sometimes, you have to visit places where cellphone networks are fragile or unavailable. In those situations, Wi-Fi calling can be a reasonable alternative. Thus using this feature, you can quickly call by connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

Wi-Fi Availablity:

These days Wi-Fi is available everywhere and you can easily access Wi-Fi networks at malls, stations, public places, transport, etc. Wi-Fi networks are available even in those places where cellphone networks are weak. Hence by connecting to a Wi-Fi network, you can easily make a Wi-Fi call.

The above given are some of the reasons to use Wi-Fi Calling. Now let’s see the Pros and Cons of Wi-Fi Calling.

Pros And Cons Of Wi-Fi Calling

When you cannot efficiently manage time at work to make a call for your household, even if you are not connected to a mobile network, wifi calling allows you to do so.

As we all know, everything has its pros and cons, just like that Wi-Fi Calling also has its pros and cons. Let’s see in detail the pros and cons of calling over a Wi-Fi network.

Advantages of Wi-Fi Calling:

Alternative Solution for poor Celluar Service:

People can use the Wi-Fi Calling feature where Cell Phone networks are weak or unavailable, and calling over a Wi-Fi network can be an alternative solution for those problems.

It can act as a backup for your phone conversations and it is good to have a backup plan if you reside in areas with a weak cellphone network or are traveling to such areas.

Voice Quality Improved:

Wireless operators and internet service providers are working on improving wireless connectivity around the globe, due to which LTE audio sounds are also getting improved. Hence you can listen to the voice clearly over a Wi-Fi call.

No need to install any additional App:

The Wi-Fi Calling feature does not require any additional app. But make sure you have to enable the Wi-Fi calling feature on your phone and allow some permissions to make calls over the Wi-Fi network.

Free Calls:

The Wi-Fi Calling feature also allows you to make phone calls free of cost. By connecting your phone to a solid Wi-Fi network, then you can make calls free of charge. It means that you can call over a Wi-Fi connection if you have not paid phone service providers for regular calls.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Calling:

Doesn’t Support on Every Device:

The Wi-Fi Calling feature is not available on all devices, and it is only available on smartphones. Many smartphones and the latest versions of iPhones have in-built Wi-Fi calling features.

Wi-Fi is not available everywhere:

You cannot be sure that you can access Wi-Fi networks everywhere. Some places don’t have Wi-Fi connections, and you will not be able to call over Wi-Fi if you don’t have access to a Wi-Fi network.

Poor Signal Strength in Public Places:

Wi-Fi Calling can be less effective in public places as lots of users share the same Wi-Fi connection in public places, and hence your phone has to compete for sufficient bandwidth, due to which the quality of the call decreases.

How To Enable Wi-Fi Calling?

As a default, your smartphone does not support Wi-Fi calling, but you can enable it by switching it on.

Let’s see the steps to Enable Wi-Fi calling:

How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone?

Follow the simple steps below to enable Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone:

1. Open Settings from the home screen
2. Click on Celluar
3. Select Wi-Fi Calling
4. Slide the Wi-Fi calling on this iPhone to green
5. Tap on enable

How to Enable Wi-Fi Calling on Android? 

Follow the simple steps below to enable Wi-Fi Calling on Android:

1. Open settings from the home screen
2. Click on Networks and Internet settings
3. Click on Mobile Network
4. Enable Wi-Fi Calling

Note: Naming can be different depending on the brands of smartphones.

Conclusion

If your cellphone network is weak or not available and you have access to a Wi-Fi network, you can make a phone call using Wi-Fi Calling feature that is inbuilt in your smartphone. Then you have to enable this feature to be a reasonable alternative for making calls in places with weak networks.

Wi-Fi calls have better audio quality and are more secure than regular phone calls. As discussed above, you can easily enable this feature on your android or iPhone device and make a call over a Wi-Fi network to gain knowledge regarding the pros and cons of wi-fi calling.