Wi-Fi Calling
Wi-Fi Calling is a technology that enables a smartphone user to make and receive calls over a wireless internet connection as opposed to the typical cellular connection. In addition to facilitating voice calls, Wi-Fi Calling also supports wirelessly sending and receiving text messages and utilizing higher data speeds than most cellular connections.
The Wi-Fi Calling technology transfers the cellular packets of a phone call or text message from a smartphone so that they are sent over the internet wirelessly, and then sends the packets back to the cellular network prior to being delivered to the recipient party.
Only the sender of a call needs a smartphone that supports Wi-Fi Calling; the receiver can be on a wireless, cellular, or landline connection.
The State of Wi-Fi Calling Support from Cellular Providers
Wi-Fi Calling has gained mainstream attention recently, particularly following the release of Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, which are the first Wi-Fi Calling-compatible smartphones from Apple.
While not all cellular carriers currently support Wi-Fi Calling, a few have supported it for a number of years, including T-Mobile, which added Wi-Fi Calling support in 2007. Sprint added initial support for Wi-Fi Calling in 2014, and AT&T and Verizon expect to add Wi-Fi Calling capabilities in 2015.
There is concern that Wi-Fi Calling connections can be disconnected when the sender moves between a Wi-Fi and cellular network, and as a result, some cellular providers are looking to complement Wi-Fi Calling with another technology called Voice over LTE (VoLTE) that facilitates seamless handoffs between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Read Also:
- Single Pane of Glass (Single Pane View)
Also referred to as single pane view, single pane of glass is an information technology (IT) phrase used to describe a management tool — such as a unified console or dashboard — that integrates information from varied sources across multiple applications and environments into a single display. Single Pane in the Data Center In the […]
- Rezence
Rezence is a wireless charging technology and specification based on the principles of magnetic resonance and developed to wirelessly power smartphones, tablets, wearable computing devices and other mobile electronics. The name Rezence is derived from the words resonance and essence. The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) organization is responsible for maintaining, promoting and evolving the […]
- Utopic Unicorn
Utopic Unicorn is the Ubuntu codename for version 14.10 of the Ubuntu Linux-based operating system. Officially released in October 2014, Utopic Unicorn follows the Trusty Tahr (v14.04 LTS) release and introduces a variety of improved application deployment and orchestration capabilities. Other additions in the Ubuntu Utopic Unicorn release include the new Linux 3.16 kernel, the […]
- Microsoft Band 2
The Microsoft Band is a small “wearable computing” device worn on a user’s wrist. While its form is more of a band in lines with a fitness band like Fitbits and the Nike Fuelbands, as a wearable computing device it also competes with smartwatches like the Apple Watch. Also known simply as “Band,” the Microsoft […]
- Miracast
Miracast is a peer-to-peer wireless technology that enables users to mirror, or share, their computer or mobile device screen to other computers, TVs, projectors, streaming players or other electronic devices. In order for Miracast to work, both devices need to support the technology, although wireless Miracast adapters can be purchased for devices that lack built-in […]