Everything you need to know about EE Wi-Fi Calling
EE launched its Wi-Fi Calling service recently and customers can now make a phone call, send a text message or receive a phone call even when there is no mobile connection; instead, the service will use Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi Calling was first announced by Apple last year and is now available to EE customer on selected handsets.
The new service is designed to allow a seamless changeover when required. The way in which calls are made and texts are sent will appear just the same for the customer, who will not have to open an app to access the service or alter any settings on their handset. Any Wi-Fi network can be used; for example, customers travelling on the tube in London will be able to make calls using London Underground’s Wi-Fi, where previously they would not have been able to due to a lack of signal. The system enables calls to be made in areas where mobile reception is not great; for example, EE’s research showed that 10% of the population have at least one area in their home that does not get any mobile reception.
Many people will be wondering about the charges for the service, which will be charged at the same rates and in the same way as when using the standard mobile network; therefore, people who have inclusive minutes or texts as part of their package will be using them in exactly the same way. Wi-Fi Calling does not mean cheaper calls or free calls; instead, it ensures that people can make a call in areas where this would not previously have been possible. Customers will need a price plan that includes the Wi-Fi Calling service, which at the present time it is available to pay-monthly and business customers.
Wi-Fi Calling has been approved by the emergency services and calls to 999 can be made regardless of the type of network being used. This sets Wi-Fi Calling apart from other Wi-Fi phone apps, such as Skype, which do not have this certification.
It should be noted that the Wi-Fi Calling service is disabled when you travel abroad. If you are connected via a foreign network Wi-Fi Calling will not work and you will only be able to use standard roaming services.
Wi-Fi Calling needs to be supported by both hardware and software, and at the present time there are a limited number of handsets that can do this. The Microsoft Lumia 640, Samsung S6 Edge and Samsung Galaxy S6 are currently available with Wi-Fi Calling and most new models should support the service; also, there may be upgrades available for some other handsets. Wi-Fi Calling can be enabled on iPhones with iOS 8.3; however, users will have to switch between Wi-Fi Calling and the continuity feature, as they are unable to run at the same time.
EE hopes that the service will be available to around five million customers by summer 2015; meanwhile, other networks are set to launch the service soon, as they already have the technology in place.