TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • DSP Leaders
  • Great Telco Debate
    • |
    • Follow
    • |
    • Subscribe
  • |
  • More
  • Webcasts
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Great Telco Debate
  • |
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • |
    • Subscribe
    • |
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Follow TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi

Vodafone rolls out WiFi calling in UK

Ian Scales
By Ian Scales

Sep 11, 2015

via Flickr © Wesley Fryer (CC BY-SA 2.0)

via Flickr © Wesley Fryer (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Vodafone says it roll out WiFi Calling across its UK network in the coming weeks. That means Vodafone ‘Red’ users will be able to make calls over any old WiFi (their own, in the office and at a hotspot, if the hotspot is up to it) should they want to for whatever reason (no or patchy cellular signal, for instance).

Since both Apple and some Android phones now have WiFi as a ‘native’ OS-level option, triggering a WiFi call is straightforward and is most often likely to be used in the home environment behind thick walls or down in basements where cell signal is tricky.  The option doesn’t enable users to roam from WiFi onto cell and back while making the one call, although this is bound to come eventually (I’ve seen it demonstrated at least twice, several years ago).

In the UK EE has already pressed ‘go’ on its WiFi calling option, perhaps understandably as it’s the operator with the least wall-penetrating signal and the one that has traditionally had the most problems with reception.

There’s no word from Vodafone yet on exactly which devices will support WiFi calling, although observers point out that both iPhone and Samsung Galaxy are already supported on EE so those seem likely early candidates.

WiFi calling has been around for ages - in fact the Orange part of EE had it as a feature on some of its phones years ago, so why now? Because operators no longer fear call substitution like they used to. By the same token, if they offer ‘free’ WiFi calling they don’t fear demands that users be given a price break on every call made across WiFi.

Right now, not only are calls actually cheap enough for most people not to worry about ‘nickle and dime’ call savings, but most mobile users now operate comfortably within a generous minutes bundle so are not really incentivised to find ways to eke out the pennies.

As a result WiFi calling can be offered as a ‘benefit’ even though it offloads traffic from the cell network without there being any sort of reciprocal recompense for the user.

Related Topics
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • News,
  • Telco & CSP,
  • Vodafone,
  • Wi-Fi

More Like This

5G

Swiss operator Salt sprinkles some Fixed Wireless Access

Jan 19, 2021

Access Evolution

CommScope to showcase new, innovative SURFboard home network devices during CES 2021

Jan 11, 2021

Access Evolution

What’s up with… Cisco, Acacia, Red Hat, India

Jan 8, 2021

Access Evolution

BT announces ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme for kids and families

Jan 8, 2021

Access Evolution

CommScope expands its Wi-Fi 6 residential gateway portfolio with an integrated GPON gateway

Jan 5, 2021

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

1:4:29

Great Telco Debate: Live Debate – Day 2 (On-demand)

1:18:20

Great Telco Debate: Live Debate – Day 3 (On-demand)

43:08

Developing an ecosystem for vRAN

2:23

The TelecomTV Snapshot: The Great Telco Debate 2020 - CSP Highlights

  • TelecomTV
  • Decisive Media

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media

Menu
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Directory
  • Smart Studio
 
  • Surveys
  • Debates
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About Us
Our Brands
  • TelecomTV Tracker
  • TelecomTV Perspectives
  • DSP Leaders
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • The Great Telco Debate
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070

Request a Media Pack

Follow
  • © Decisive Media Limited 2021. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Legal Notices