Do you have to repeat your words continuously when you call someone at home with your mobile phone? Or do you pace from one room to another, looking for some range? If you recognize yourself in this, we have the solution for you. Call via WiFi!
Normally you call via your provider’s mobile network. If you instead enable WiFi calling on your phone, you make calls via your own internet network.
Useful if you live in a (new-build) house with thick concrete walls, which can disrupt the signal of a mobile network.
Is calling via WiFi possible for you?
First of all, it is good to know that not all providers support this. You must also have a reasonably new device that is up to date with the latest updates.
Calling via 4G
All is well and good. But what if you have poor coverage along the way? You will then not be able to connect to your ‘own’ WiFi network. In this case, you can use calling via 4G.
Unlike when you normally use 4G, it does not detract from your data bundle. So you don’t have to worry that you will suddenly be well above your bundle. Just like with WiFi calling, calling via 4G uses your calling minutes.
Pros and cons
There are a number of, although sometimes minuscule, advantages and disadvantages to calling via 4G or WiFi:
Advantages
- The biggest advantage: you finally have a good conversation while calling indoors;
- Are you calling someone? Then the other person’s phone will ring sooner when you call via WiFi. This really concerns milliseconds;
- You can look up something online more quickly on your phone during a phone call.
Cons
There is actually 1 disadvantage, and that is that it is not possible in the following situations:
- …when you have a prepaid phone;
- …when you are with a provider that does not support it;
- …when you are abroad.
What is the difference with calling via WhatsApp?
There are a number of differences. First of all, with WhatsApp, you make full use of the internet, and it does not go through your provider’s mobile network. See all the differences:
| Differences | Call via WhatsApp | Calling via 4G / WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| network | You make full use of the internet. | You call partly via the internet, and partly you use your provider’s network. |
| app | You and the person you are calling must have WhatsApp installed and have internet access at the time of the call. | The person you are calling does not need to have anything installed. You can also call this person if he/she does not have WiFi or 4G calling. |
| calling minutes US data | Are you calling via WhatsApp on a WiFi connection? Then it’s free. Do you use a mobile network? Then this will be deducted from your data bundle. The same goes for the person you call. | Calling via 4G or WiFi always deducts from your calling bundle. |
What internet speed do you need?
You don’t have to upgrade your entire internet package: according to mobile providers, you need at least 1 Mb/s.
This is less than you need, for example, when you watch interactive TV or want to watch Netflix, for which you need about 8 to 10 Mb/s.
Most households have 30 to 50 Mb/s at their address. It is therefore very likely that your internet speed is more than sufficient for calling via WiFi.
