How much does Wi-Fi calling cost?

Most of the time, Wi-Fi calling doesn’t cost anything extra on top of what you already pay for internet or mobile network usage. Smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and other manufacturers come with built-in Wi-Fi calling. Making calls over the Wi-Fi network uses the internet that you — or the location where you’re working — already pay for; you don’t use any of your mobile data allowances.

Major mobile providers such as Verizon and AT&T allow for Wi-Fi calls to be made on capable devices. However, you may well be charged for phone calls or texts to non-U.S. numbers. These calls are typically charged at the normal long-distance rates per your current agreement.

Advantages of Wi-Fi calling

A 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center reports that 91% of the U.S. population owns a smartphone. A combination of those mobile devices and business VoIP phone apps empower remote and hybrid teams to work together from disparate global locations.

How does Wi-Fi calling elevate the benefits of smartphones and cloud-based business phone solutions?

• Save money — Wi-Fi calls don’t use cellular data and are free to make and receive on most provider networks.

• Free roaming — When your team members are out of the country, Wi-Fi calling lets them communicate while bypassing potential roaming charges with affordable international calling.

• Improved coverage — Wi-Fi signals penetrate where network coverage can’t, such as thick-walled buildings or remote locations.

• Better call quality — You have the option to use strong router signals when network connectivity is poor for clearer phone calls.

• Boost flexibility — WiFi calls give employees more options for remote working, allowing them to make calls as long as they are connected to the local network.

• Longer battery life — High-speed standards like 5G or LTE use more power to make phone calls than Wi-Fi. The weaker the network signal, the more mobile data drains your battery.

• Easy to use — You can set up Wi-Fi calling on any capable device in a few simple steps, or use a VoIP calling application.

Which devices support Wi-Fi calling?

Apple and Android smartphones have supported Wi-Fi calling for nearly a decade; it’s rare to find a device that doesn’t support the feature. However, you’ll need a plan with a provider.

Supported mobile phones include:

• iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, SE, XR, and older models

• Samsung Galaxy S24, S23, S22, Galaxy Z Fold 5G, and older models

• Huawei P50, P40 Pro, P30, and older models

• Google Pixel 9, 8, 7, 7a, and older models

Any laptop or desktop computer can also support Wi-Fi calling via VoIP phone software or similar solutions.

How to use Wi-Fi calling

If you want to gain the benefits of Wi-Fi calling, you’ve got to set up a few things. Luckily, configuring your devices for Wi-Fi calling is as straightforward as it gets:

Check your device compatibility

The journey begins by finding out whether your device is capable of Wi-Fi calls with your current provider. A quick Google search of your device model number will likely answer any compatibility questions you have. You can also try contacting your provider’s customer support to get answers.

As long as you have a smartphone that isn’t 20 years old, it should be compatible with Wi-Fi calling.

Enable Wi-Fi calling

Now that the first obstacle has been cleared, you need to enable the Wi-Fi calling feature on your device. Most of the time, this involves navigating a system menu and simply toggling the option to “on” or “yes.”

With Wi-Fi calls enabled, your device will automatically use local wireless networks for calls and texts when they’re available.

Connect to a Wi-Fi network

To make Wi-Fi calls, you need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. Find the network you want to connect to and enter the associated password (if there is one). You’ll need to do this for every wireless connection you want to use.

Make a call

Now it’s time to test that everything is working correctly by making a call. Dial someone on your team as usual, and see what happens. Once the call connects, you should see the Wi-Fi icon (ᯤ),  along with a long phone symbol at the top of your screen.

Troubleshooting

If Wi-Fi calling isn’t working, there are a few likely culprits. First off, do you have an active SIM and calling plan with a provider? Remember, you can’t make a Wi-Fi call without a monthly phone plan.

Another place to look is the Wi-Fi network. Do you have internet connectivity? Try loading some web pages in the device browser. Visit a website like fast.com to verify you have a viable connection.

Finally, is your device up-to-date? Check for operating system and app updates. If you still can’t make a Wi-Fi call, then it’s worth contacting your provider for assistance.

How to enable Wi-Fi calling

A recent Statista report shows that Android OS accounts for over 72% of all mobile devices. Apple’s iOS represents nearly 27.5% of all mobile operating systems. That means only around 1 out of 200 of your employees are using smartphones with an alternative operating system. So, if you know how to activate Wi-Fi calling for Android and iOS, you’re pretty much covered.

Android devices

1. Unlock the device and open the Phone app

2. Go to Settings

3. Select Calls

4. You should see an option to turn on Wi-Fi Calling

If you don’t see the option to turn on Wi-Fi calling, it likely means your carrier doesn’t support this feature.

IOS devices

1. Unlock the device and open the Settings app

2. Click on Phone

3. Scroll down and turn Wi-Fi Calling to On

Again, if you can’t see Wi-Fi calling, your network provider may not support it.

Challenges of Wi-Fi calling and solutions

By now, Wi-Fi calling sounds like a great and easy way to improve how your business operates. While that’s true, it can also come with a few challenges you must be aware of.

Relies on the local network

We suggested earlier that connecting to local networks is a strength of Wi-Fi calling, but it can also present a challenge. Wi-Fi calls suffer in quality when the signal is poor. This weakness is not exclusive to Wi-Fi calling, of course. Normal mobile phone calls are affected equally when cellular signals are weak.

What this means is that your ability to make a call is at the whim of your local network. Equipment failure, network congestion, and outages all impact Wi-Fi calling. Avoid these issues by signing up with providers that offer solid SLA uptimes. And ensure you have enough router bandwidth to handle employee traffic to avoid slowdowns and dropped calls.

Not always suitable for video calls

In crowded places such as airports or hotels, Wi-Fi networks are typically overstretched. If you need to have a quick video chat with team members while on the move, this can lead to choppy video and delayed, incoherent audio.

You might find better results by switching to your cellular network. However, this is often not the case in busy areas. A better solution is to stick with voice calls and save video meetings for more suitable environments.

Cybersecurity threats

If you use public networks and hotspots to make Wi-Fi calls, they may be susceptible to cyber attacks. Call data can be intercepted while moving across the public internet. You can protect the content of your phone calls by using secure carriers and communications solutions protected by top-end security measures. Vonage Communications APIs, for instance, are SOC 2 Type II compliant and secured by end-to-end encryption.

Limited mobility

Wi-Fi routers typically only reach up to between 100-150 feet, and that’s in an ideal situation. Walls, electronic devices, and other users cause interference and weaken signal strength. If you’re making a call and moving around the office, you may end up with spotty call quality.

Solve this issue by using Wi-Fi boosters and extenders to maintain signal strength over greater distances. Also, make sure your device has cellular data turned on. In the case of a lost router connection, the call won’t drop, instead switching to 4G or 5G.

Best practices for effective Wi-Fi calling

Wi-Fi calling is simple and easy. You just need to do a few things to keep those phone calls clear and running smoothly:

Update everything

It probably goes without saying, but there’s only one way to keep your internet calling functional: update everything. That means wireless routers, Ethernet equipment, mobile devices, apps, and anything else you use for communication.

Confirm whether the hardware is using the most recent firmware. Update to the highest OS version for mobile devices and computers. Check the app store for mobile app updates. Staying up to date gives you the best chance to avoid compatibility and security issues.

Check your router placement

An easy place to start optimizing your Wi-Fi calls is with router placement. Consult technical documentation to find out the range of your wireless routers. Find central locations that maximize the signal radius, covering your workspace.

Configure for 5GHz

Go into your router settings and enable 5GHz to limit interference from other devices. Set up a separate service set identifier (SSID) for Wi-Fi calling. By doing this, you can limit bandwidth for other devices, prioritizing the network for voice calls.

Limit interference

Today, offices are full to the brim with electronic devices. Despite this, do your best to limit interference with the Wi-Fi network. Place routers and boosters as far away as possible from classic culprits like microwaves and Bluetooth-heavy devices. Test signal strength in various positions to confirm whether a piece of equipment is interfering with signal strength.

Should I turn on Wi-Fi calling?

You should turn on Wi-Fi calling if you want the flexibility, convenience, and cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi calls. In most cases and for most businesses, the pros far outweigh the cons. Here are some reasons why you should consider making phone calls with your Wi-Fi network:

• Your offices get poor cellular network reception.

• You want to better support remote and hybrid team members.

• Your business is looking to reduce communication costs.

• You want to prolong battery life for salespeople and other team members “out in the field.”

• Executives, managers, and other staff are frequently traveling as part of their work.

Unlock seamless communication with Wi-Fi calling

Your business can’t operate without reliable and constant communication with its team and its customers. You don’t want to put all of your eggs into the mobile network basket. Wi-Fi calling adds another layer of reliability for consistent call quality.

Modern teams work from all over. Knowing you can reach them in any place with a stable Wi-Fi network is reassuring and helps maintain business continuity.

Better still, VoIP-based solutions like Vonage Business Communications (VBC) give you a broad range of channels and functions, virtually anywhere you have an internet connection — Wi-Fi included.

There are many VBC plans and pricing to meet your VoIP and Wi-Fi calling needs. Get in touch and find out more about VBC and how it can help your business today.