What are WiFi calls on mobile and how to take advantage of it

When you activate the Wi-Fi call function, you can make calls via connection to the Wi-Fi network of your phone. For this function to work, your phone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network and an active SIM card must be inserted.

How to activate the Wi-Fi call function on a Galaxy phone

The Wi-Fi call function allows you to take or receive a phone call if you have a Wi-Fi connection in an area where the cell coverage is low or zero. You are covered by a voice call with the Calling Wi-Fi function of participating operators. Consult the guide below on the Calling Wi-Fi function.

Before trying the recommendations below, be sure to check if your phone software and associated applications are updated to the latest version. To update your mobile phone software, proceed as follows:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Software update.

2nd step. Tap on Download and install.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

How to activate the Wi-Fi call function

When you activate the Wi-Fi call function, you can make calls via connection to the Wi-Fi network of your phone. For this function to work, your phone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network and an active SIM card must be inserted.

Noticed: This function may not be available depending on the country and the operator.

Step 1. Open the application Phone, Then press the icon More options (the three vertical points).

2nd step. Select the menu Settings.

Step 3. Find and press the button to activate the function Wi-Fi call.

You can also activate the Wi-Fi call from the quick settings panel. Brow down from the top of the screen, then press the Wi-Fi call icon to activate it.

Check on your phone if you cannot use the Wi-Fi call

You can check some things on your phone if the Wi-Fi call function is not available.

First, check that you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. If the network signal is low or unstable, the Wi-Fi call function may not work. Open the quick panel and check the Wi-Fi icon to make sure you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

In addition, to use the Wi-Fi call function, you must insert an active SIM card from an operator supporting this function. Check with your operator if your SIM card is supported. If this does not solve the problem or if access to the function is not authorized, contact your operator to obtain additional assistance.

Noticed: screenshots and device menus can vary depending on the device model and software version.

If you encounter difficulties with your mobile devices, tablets or connected objects Samsung, you can send us a question in the Samsung Mill application.

This allows us to examine more closely what is happening. The data is anonymized and is only kept for the duration of the survey. To find out more about sending an error report, see the section “How to use the Samsung Members application”.

What are WiFi calls on mobile and how to take advantage of it ?

Thanks to the VOWIFI functionality also called “WiFi calls”, it is now possible to use any Wi-Fi network to make a call or send an SMS via its smartphone when the mobile network is not accessible.

Tiffany Gaspard – Modified on 10/26/2022 at 2:24 p.m. Summary

1. What is Vowifi or Voice Over Wifi ?
2. How it works WiFi calls on mobile ?
3. Orange and Sosh WiFi calls
4. Activate Wi-Fi calls at SFR and Red
5. Wi-Fi calls at Bouygues Telecom
6. WiFi calls at Free
7. Voice Overwifi: How much does it cost ?
8. What are the phones compatible with WiFi calls ?
9. How to activate the Vowifi service on your iPhone ?
10. How to activate WiFi calls on Android ?
11. The limits of the “WiFi calls” function

You live in an area poorly covered by the networks of mobile operators ? With Wi-Fi calls, you have a practical solution to improve the situation if you are very difficult to capture in your accommodation with chopped conversations or a punctual 4G connection.

What is Vowifi or Voice Over Wifi ?

With the Vowifi functionality (Voice Over Wifi), you can make and receive voice calls and SMS via a WiFi network, when your mobile phone does not capture the mobile network or weakly.

You can enjoy the “Wi-Fi calls” service wherever you are in mainland France, at home or outside. To summarize, this VOWIFI service allows you to be reached and to communicate via any Wi-Fi network, in places where the mobile network is not available.

This technical device is therefore a way to fight against white areas in the territory and thus reduce the digital fracture. It is above all an excellent way to take full advantage of your mobile plan at home when the network coverage of your operator is not good inside your accommodation.

How it works WiFi calls on mobile ?

To make your calls or send SMS via the Wi-Fi network, you don’t need to install a specific application. However, to take advantage of the Wi-Fi call service, you must be equipped with a compatible mobile phone.

Once the “Wi-Fi calls” service is active on your mobile, if the mobile phone does not capture (low or non-existent mobile network) and you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can then pass your voice or SMS communications in Wi-Fi.

Conversely, if the mobile network is sufficient to make a good quality call, the Vowifi function will not be activated on your mobile. When your phone goes through the Wi-Fi network for your communications, the latter informs you by indicating the mention “WiFi calls” on Apple terminals or by displaying an icon with the Wi-Fi symbol for smartphones under Android.

Other important information, all are compatible with the VOWIFI technical solution: your Wi-Fi network at home, at your workplace but also on all public hotspots and boxes of the various Internet suppliers in mainland France.

Orange and Sosh WiFi calls

Orange for all its mobile subscribers (including SOSH customers) have been proposed to an unlissed voice package, Wi-Fi calls for all several years, for all its mobile subscribers (including Wi-Fi. To have them Wi-Fi calls with Orange, As with Sosh, you must first go to the settings of your smartphone. Once this option is activated you can go through Wi-Fi to send and receive your SMS/MMS as well as your calls. The Wi-Fi calls option can be used both at home on the Wi-Fi network of your Livebox or in any public hotspot or on a box from another operator.

Good to know: Wi-Fi calls made at Orange or Sosh are deducted from your voice package.

Activate Wi-Fi calls at SFR and Red

To be able to make Wi-Fi calls at SFR or Red by SFR, you must first hold a 4G or 5G SFR package (except SFR the card) and activate the Wi-Fi calls option in the Smartphone settings. The operator specifies that, By default, the option is included in SFR packages. If it does not, however, appear in your SFR customer area, you will have to contact customer service by phone to activate it for free.

As with Orange, SFR invoices voice calls directly on your package, such as the price of conventional consumption. Good to know also: WiFi calls abroad have the same pricing as calls abroad.

Wi-Fi calls at Bouygues Telecom

You have a B & You Subscriber or Sensation ? So good news, you can have access to Wi-Fi calls at Bouygues Telecom ! Once the Wi-Fi calls option have been activated on your smartphone, it could take up to 48 hours to be effective. With Wi-Fi Bouygues Telecom calls you can: make and receive calls or sms from mainland France, make international calls and SMS as well as to special numbers.

WiFi calls at Free

Long after all its competitors, Free Mobile launched Wi-Fi calls. The operator has indeed made available the vowifi but under certain conditions. For the moment, only subscribers to the FREE 5G package (with 5G or not phone) and free pro on access to this service. The € 2 package and the Free series are not compatible for the moment. To be continued ! To activate the service on your line, simply send “volte” by SMS to 1337. Once this manipulation has been carried out, you may have to go to your smartphone settings to activate the volte on your iPhone, Samsung or Xiaomi, if it is not already activated.

Voice over wifi: how much it costs ?

VOWIFI (or “WiFi calls”) services offered by these different operators are free. Communications to and from mainland France are deducted under the same conditions as a call or SMS made by the mobile network.

WiFi calls abroad also have the same pricing as calls abroad from the mobile network. If your Orange, SFR or Bouygues Telecom mobile package does not include this type of international use, it is advisable to consult the operator’s mobile tariff guide.

What are the phones compatible with WiFi calls ?

Rest assured of many recent mobiles are compatible with the voice over wifi. At Apple, the Voice Over Wifi natively works with All iPhone from the iPhone 6. On the side of smartphones incorporating the Android operating system, let us quote references in Samsung, Sony, Huawei, OnePlus and Honor:

• Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23
• Samsung Galaxy A20, A40, A50, A70
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8, note 9, note 10
• Google Pixel 4, 5, 6 and 7
• Huawei Mate Y6, Huawei Mate 40 Pro
• OnePlus 6 and 6t
• Apple iPhone 14, 13, iPhone 12, 11.
• Oppo Reno 4, Oppo Find X2.
• Xiaomi Mi 10T, Mi10T Pro.

For information, compatibility with “WiFi calls” is a technical characteristic mentioned on the description of the phone. Note, however, that certain software updates may also be necessary to take advantage of this functionality.

How to activate the Vowifi service on your iPhone ?

To activate the “WiFi calls” service on an iPhone, go to mobile “settings”, then:

• Select the “phone” and “wifi calls” section,
• Then you just have to slide the cursor to the right to activate this functionality,
• Your iPhone then indicates an information message on this function, to continue activating this service, click “Activate”.

Likewise, you can deactivate “WiFi calls” on your iPhone. Note that an update of the operating system may be necessary to access “WiFi calls” on your device. To do this, go to “settings” then “general” and “software update”.

How to activate WiFi calls on Android ?

For Android mobiles, the approach to activate “WiFi calls” is also simple. In the smartphone menu, go to “settings”, then:

• Select “connections” or “wireless and networks”,
• You must then click on “WiFi calls” and slide the cursor to the right to activate the service,
• An information message is displayed on the screen of your mobile, to continue activating the WiFi calls service, all you have to do is click on “OK”.

This service is also activated under Android from the shortcuts of your mobile, in the “WiFi calls” section. To deactivate this service, you must do the same approach in the settings of your Android phone.

The limits of the “WiFi calls” function

This feature which allows you to remain reachable and make your calls in places where the mobile network is low or non -existent, especially in white areas, still lists some constraints starting with the coverage limits. Indeed, if you leave the wi-fi coverage during a call, the communication will be cut. Nevertheless, if the 4G network is available, your call will switch to it without cutting. To date, it is not possible to make “WiFi calls” from WiFi access outside Metropolitan France. You cannot therefore make and receive calls and SMS from abroad in Wi-Fi.