What is Samsung wifi calling? Communication without a network: operators allowed Russians to make calls via Wi-Fi

All tips

Billions of dollars have been spent by mobile operators recent years to improve cellular network coverage. Despite this, there are still places in our country where mobile communications leave much to be desired. Fortunately, most operators offer new feature Wi-Fi calling, which makes it possible to make calls or receive messages from almost anywhere where a Wi-Fi connection is available.

In this article we will talk in more detail about Wi-Fi calls and smartphones that support new technology. You will also learn how to enable and use this feature.

What are Wi-Fi calls?

The first thing you need to know about Wi-Fi calling ( Wi-Fi Calling) is that they do not require special hardware or applications. This free service, which is offered by many operators mobile communications all over the world.

For many people, their first acquaintance with Wi-Fi calling was thanks to Skype applications, WhatsApp or Google Hangouts. Mobile operators decided to keep up with third party applications, therefore, they offer a built-in function in smartphones for making Wi-Fi calls.

Benefits of using Wi-Fi calling through an operator

There are several benefits of using Wi-Fi calling from your mobile operator. Unlike third party providers like Skype, WhatsApp and others, you can use your phone's phone pad and contact list to make Wi-Fi calls.

In addition, there is smooth transition between cellular and Wi-Fi call. When your smartphone loses cellular signal, the device automatically switches to Wi-Fi.

When to use Wi-Fi calling

Of course, the most obvious way to use Wi-Fi calling is when you're in a dead zone cellular communication. Wi-Fi calls will also be useful in places with poor coverage.

For example, there is a coffee shop near my house with amazing Wi-Fi. Unfortunately the building it is in has poor cellular coverage. In this case, Wi-Fi calling is an amazing opportunity to connect with another person.

How to enable Wi-Fi calling

To enable Wi-Fi calling on your iOS device, open " Settings>Phone>Wi-Fi calling". On this screen, switch " Wi-Fi calling on this device" to position " On" It is worth noting that on iOS devices By default Wi-Fi calls are disabled.

Activating Wi-Fi calling on Android depends on the device manufacturer. In most cases, you can find Wi-Fi calls in wireless and network mode of your smartphone in the " Additionally».

How do I know if I have Wi-Fi calling enabled?

Once you have enabled Wi-Fi calling in the settings, your smartphone will independently determine the best moment to use it. When your smartphone uses Wi-Fi calling, you should see a "Wi-Fi" icon next to your carrier's name at the top of the screen.

Summing up

Thanks to new Wi-Fi calling technology, cellular dead zones are no longer a problem. As long as you have access to a Wi-Fi network, you can make calls.

The technology is currently in development, so you should check with your carrier to see if it supports Wi-Fi calling. If yes, then be sure to enable this feature in the settings of your smartphone.

Last week, MTS began supporting Wi-Fi Calling technology. However, it only works on smartphones for now. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. I now have the last one in my hands (good, bastard!), so it would be a sin not to try the technology in action.

It’s funny that a long time ago, when I was working as a PR person (it was 12 years ago), my client was promoting the so-called NGN, Next Generation Network communication technology. And one of the features there was seamless switching of the phone from a mobile network to Wi-Fi. Like, convenience, savings, everything. At the time it seemed fantastic, fortunately I had a mobile phone Sony Ericsson T630 or something like that. But years have passed, and the once fantastic technology began to work as usual after updating the firmware on the smartphone.

The characteristic handset with the Wi-Fi icon means Wi-Fi Calling is working

What's the point?

In fact, Wi-Fi Calling replaces femtocell. All operators have this trick: if the reception at home or in the office is bad, you buy a kind of surrogate base station for reasonable money (around 5 thousand rubles), you connect to your Internet and life improves dramatically. I once almost bought one from MegaFon, but the fear that my femtocell would make calls from half the house stopped me, and the speed home internet will sag “slightly”. In the case of Wi-Fi Calling, a femtocell is not needed. All you have to do is buy the right smartphone (for a ridiculous 50-60 thousand rubles, hehe), enable the function in the menu - and off you go. Moreover, all this works, of course, not only at home, but also wherever there is Wi-Fi.

When the function is available, at the top, near Wi-Fi icon, another, characteristic one appears. All calls using new technology are marked with the same icon. You don’t need to do anything, everything works without settings. You can prioritize mobile network or Wi-Fi.

At home I didn’t feel any difference, my MTS receives well. The difference appeared in the subway car - before, when I entered a tunnel, the connection was lost, but now you can talk without problems, even if you can’t get reception mobile network(in the Moscow metro there is free wifi). In the editorial office we have a dead corner where the editor-in-chief dumps the corpses of deadline violators; MTS barely catches them. I have a habit (quite common) of walking back and forth during conversations, and I had to constantly shorten the route so as not to wander into a bad corner. And for three days now I’ve been walking wherever I want, because via Wi-Fi Calling the voice can be heard everywhere perfectly, just some kind of HD Voice.

All calls are charged at normal rates. That is, no freebies at home. The latter appears when traveling abroad: calls to Russia are at home rates (including as part of paid packages), and incoming calls are free. This celebration of life will last until November 17, 2017, and then we’ll see.

Yes, of course, S7/S7 edge are not the most common phones. And not everyone uses MTS. So it’s difficult to call a mass service yet. Maybe from the beginning of 2017 the number of compatible devices will increase, but it will still be something quite sophisticated and expensive.

But the technology exists, it really works and, I think, will become commonplace for all operators quite soon. Certainly faster than in 12 years.

April 2018 was marked by a pleasant innovation for MTS subscribers, thanks to which it became possible to make calls via Wi-Fi networks. And today in our article we will look at information about possible options use of the new offer, and also talk about who it is available to.

Calls via the Internet using VoLTE technology on MTS

This technology allows you to make voice calls via 4G/LTE networks, in which the sound quality is at HD level. In addition, such calls can be made together using mobile internet. This means that you can, for example, have a conversation over speakerphone or through a headset, and at this time surf the net, play videos or audio recordings in various online services. Another advantage of the technology is almost instant dialing, even faster than in today's popular instant messengers.

The option of calls via VoLTE to MTS is available for use on all modern SIM cards, and Internet traffic when making calls is not consumed from the prepaid quota.

The disadvantages of the technology are, perhaps, only the following points:

Inability to use the service international roaming;
Temporary operation of the service only in the capital and Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Voronezh and their regions (the zone is constantly expanding);
Outgoing calls are provided for a fee (according to the tariff conditions of the tariff plan used);
The service is available only on relatively new devices, starting with SamsungS7, iPhone6/SE and newer.

How to connect or disable VoLTE on MTS

USSD combination *111*6# connects calls via VoLTE;
Combination *111*6*01# disables;

Internet calls via Wi-Fi Calling on MTS

The Wi-Fi Calling service allows MTS subscribers to make calls via Wi-Fi networks even if there is no operator network coverage. It is noteworthy that for this you do not need to install any applications similar to instant messengers, and the service works even abroad.

In order to make a call using Wi-Fi Calling technology, subscribers must complete next steps:

Activate the Wi-Fi Calling service on your smartphone (for example, on an iPhone this is done like this: “Settings” > “Phone” > “Wi-Fi Calling”).
Connect to any Wi-Fi networks (be it a home router, or a guest network in a hotel, cafe, train station, airport).
Check the activity of the Wi-Fi Calling icon, then make a call the way you are used to doing it via cellular networks(that is, absolutely usual).

Outgoing calls within the Wi-Fi Calling service are charged according to the standard conditions of the tariff plan used. Incoming calls are available free of charge.

As for connecting the service, the activation/deactivation procedure is performed using the same commands as in the case of VoLTE ( *111*6# And *111*6*01# to enable and disable respectively).

Calls via the Internet using MTS Connect

The third option for making calls to MTS via the Internet implies the need to use special application"MTS Connect". The application is an almost complete analogue of today's popular instant messengers. Its functionality includes the following main features:

Text correspondence tête-à-tête and group chats;
Making calls via the Internet;
Sending files;
Exchange of geo-position;
Setting statuses, avatars and photos;
Possibility of use in international roaming.

You can download the corresponding version of the application today for iOS and Android devices via the following links:

For iPhone (works on iOS 8.0 and higher);
For Android devices (works on Android 4.0 and above).

Cost of calls through the MTS Connect program

Outgoing calls to MTS numbers from any country in the world on all tariffs are free and unlimited. If you have a tariff with packages of minutes, then calls through MTS Connect do not use this limit.
Incoming calls are free and unlimited on all tariffs.
Outgoing calls to numbers of other operators cost according to the terms of the tariff for calls to home region(there is no extra charge for roaming).

Cost of using traffic when calling via MTS Connect

On the “X” tariff (“IKS”, formerly “Hype”) or with the “VNet” option connected, traffic for calls to the Russian Federation and abroad is free and does not consume the package in the tariff;
On others tariff plans When making calls in Russia, traffic is not charged and is not consumed; for calls when the subscriber is abroad, traffic is paid, according to roaming rates for each country.

It is recommended to make calls via MTS Connect while abroad via Wi-Fi networks.

In the end

Summarizing the information discussed about calls via the Internet from MTS, it can be emphasized that the operator does not stand still and tries to quickly catch up with all modern trends in the field of technology, and this is commendable. However, in a specific case, speaking about making calls over the Internet, neither VoLTE, nor Wi-Fi Calling, nor, especially, MTS Connect, can be called full-fledged competitors to such instant messengers as Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram. Especially if we're talking about about the need to make calls while staying outside of Russia.

Therefore, before you start using new offers from MTS, I recommend carefully weighing all the pros and cons in order to understand how rational such services are specifically in your case.

IN lately mobile operators began to actively implement new technology under called Wi-Fi Calling (in some cases it is also called VoWiFi or VoWLAN). In their short explanations, mobile operators usually say that Wi-Fi Calling will allow you to make calls via wireless network Wi-Fi, without really explaining why it is needed and what it gives to the end user. In this article we will try to explain the essence of this technology in more detail.

Wi-Fi Calling is a technology that allows you to use any Wi-Fi network as an alternative core network mobile operator. WITH using Wi-Fi Calling allows you to make and receive voice and video calls, as well as send and receive SMS messages, in any place where there is Wi-Fi with Internet access, even if there is no cellular operator coverage in this place or it is very weak. Such calls and messages work exactly the same as when using regular cellular communications. The only difference is how the phone communicates with your mobile operator. When making a regular call, the operator's base stations are used for this, and when using Wi-Fi Calling, communication is carried out via wireless Wi-Fi network and the Internet.

In addition to the ability to make calls from locations with bad signal, Wi-Fi technology Calling provides other benefits as well. For example, it allows you to save money, because such calls are usually paid for home tariff subscriber But, this point depends on the specific mobile operator and the tariff plan used.

It should be noted that Wi-Fi Calling does not require any additional applications. This is not another Viber for which both subscribers must have the application installed. Wi-Fi Calling is a feature that is supported at the phone level, and it works completely transparent to the user. After turning it on, the phone will decide for itself how to communicate with the mobile operator, using base stations or using a Wi-Fi wireless network.

Wi-Fi Calling technology is also sometimes called VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) or VoWLAN (Voice over Wireless Local Area Network). This name echoes another similar technology - . VoLTE technology solves a similar problem; it provides transmission voice calls through LTE network, but its operation requires a network of mobile operator base stations, while Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi, VoWLAN) provides communication anywhere there is Wi-Fi and the Internet.

How Wi-Fi Calling works

In order for Wi-Fi Calling technology to work, several conditions must be met. Firstly, this technology must be supported by your mobile operator. Typically, operators implement this technology together with VoLTE, since these technologies are very similar. Secondly, Wi-Fi Calling must be supported by your phone. Currently, calls over a wireless network are mainly supported only flagship smartphones. Here is a list of models that are on at the moment can work with Wi-Fi Calling:

Apple iPhone 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, SE, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X
Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL
Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S7, S7 edge, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, A3 (2017), A5 (2017), Note 8
Nexus 5X, 6P
Nokia 3, 5, 8
Lumia 550, 650, 950, 950XL
Sony Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact
HTC 10, U11, U11 Life
BlackBerry Priv, Dtek 50, Dtek 60, KEYone
Huawei P10, P10 Lite, P10 Plus, P Smart

Besides this, Wi-Fi function Calling must be enabled in the smartphone settings. We will tell you how this is done below. After enabling this feature, the phone begins to automatically switch between using Wi-Fi and base stations, depending on where the connection is better. In this case, the moment of switching occurs almost unnoticed by the user.

For example, if you are in an open area with good welcome signal from the base station, then the mobile operator’s base station will be used for communication. And when you enter the room, the phone will automatically switch to Wi-Fi, since the quality of communication through the wireless network is in this case, it will be much better. You can know that your smartphone has switched to using Wi-Fi Calling by the Wi-Fi sign that appears at the top of the screen.

How to enable Wi-Fi Calling

If you have a smartphone Android based, then you need to open the “Phone” application, click on the button with three dots on the right top corner screen and go to “Settings”. Next, you need to go to the “Calls” section and enable the “Wi-Fi Calling” function there. Also, in some cases, the “Wi-Fi calling” function can be enabled through the “Settings” application, in the section with wireless network settings.

And on Samsung smartphones There is a special icon in the top curtain that allows you to turn Wi-Fi Calling on and off with one click.

If you have an iPhone, then to enable this function you need to open the “Settings” application and go to the “Phone” section. Here you need to enable the “Wi-Fi Calling” feature

After enabling the Wi-Fi Calling feature, the phone will start working using Wi-Fi Calling.

The “Wi-Fi Calling” function (calls over Wi-Fi) was first introduced back in iOS 8. However, this technology only recently started working in Russia. The first operator to announce full support for this option was MTS. Let's take a closer look at what this function is.

What is Wi-Fi Calling

This technology allows you to make calls even if there is little or no cellular coverage. The call is made using the operator's network, with Wi-Fi playing the role of a base station.

But calls can also be made via Skype, what is the point of this technology?

The call is made as usual phone call using your number. Accordingly, the interlocutor does not need the Internet to communicate with you. This is the main difference.

Which iPhone models are supported?

What operators are supported?

To date, only MTS has received direct support. For now, you can make such calls only in Moscow and the Moscow region. In the future, it is planned to expand the geography of the services provided.

Is it more expensive than regular calls?

The cost does not change and is charged at home tariff, even if you make calls in another country.

How to enable this feature

Go to “Settings”.
Find “Wi-Fi Calling”. This item will not be available for unsupported operators.
Activate the slider.

After this, all calls will be made using the current Wi-Fi network.