Wi-Fi Calling

LittlePurpleFlower

I'm so sorry if this has been asked before. I did try searching but couldn't find anything.

We have no mobile reception at home with any network so I'm looking for a contract that has Wi-Fi calling. (I don't mean Skype, VOIP, etc. Specifically the Wi-Fi calling service that EE, Vodaphone and O2 offer, so you can send and receive calls and texts using your usual mobile number).

I know to use Wi-Fi calling with EE you have to have a plan that specifically includes this from EE themselves, but they are so expensive I can't afford one of their plans.

I have found a contract with Vodaphone via a third party (mobiles dot co dot uk) but having spoken to them over the phone this morning they seem to have no clue whether or not the plan (Red Value) includes Wi-Fi calling. I also can't find any information whatsoever about what this plan includes, and apparently you don't even get a copy until you take out the contact and then it's in your welcome pack - is this even legal?? It forms part of the ts & cs, surely??

Does anyone have experience of Vodaphone, Wi-Fi calling or this third party seller please and could give me some advice?

Thanks in advance for any help!

System

Three do something called Three In Touch which is what I think you are looking for. I would use it myself but my phone isn't compatible (it's a Windows Phone, which means quite a lot of apps aren't available to me, but hey ho!!)

I reckon Three offer great value for money anyway, and have been with them since early 2007.

As I am a new forum user, I can't link to the relevant webpage here so hopefully this will do the trick and help you find your way there
three.co.uk/Discover/Three_inTouch

Ian011

What's wrong with using your landline for calls?

Around £8 per month (on Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and others) gets you unlimited anytime calls to:
- geographic numbers starting 01 and 02
- non-geographic numbers starting 03
- mobile numbers starting 071-075 and 077-079.
BT is conspicuous in not (yet!) including calls to mobile numbers.

The cost of calling premium rate 084, 087 and 09 numbers is also around 35p to 45p per minute cheaper on a landline than on a mobile.

Ant555

LittlePurpleFlower wrote: »

I know to use Wi-Fi calling with EE you have to have a plan that specifically includes this from EE themselves, but they are so expensive I can't afford one of their plans.

My £9.99 SIM only EE plan allows WiFi calling - I use it often.
Although the plan is a generic plan available to everyone, i'm not sure if that is a special cost for existing customers - it might be worth a phone call to their sales line.

LittlePurpleFlower

Thank you for your replies! I will definitely look into three because they seem to be quite a bit cheaper. Thanks, Alison!

Ian, that's exactly why I don't want to use the landline. Mobile calls cost a small fortune, and yes, we're with BT so there is no option right now to include them in our existing plan. If we could get away without calling mobiles we would, but it's not an option, unfortunately.

I've spoken to the EE sales team and the cost of a plan with phone is far more expensive than anyone else. I think you've done well there, Ant! SIM only deals are a lot cheaper but I can't afford to buy a phone outright. I don't have a problem getting one with a monthly contact but I do need to watch the pennies so want to make sure we're getting a reasonable deal that works for us.

davidsuffolk

As I understand it, it is whether the phone itself has EE firmware and is of the right model rather than the contract.
IF my Galaxy 5 hadn't come from outside of EE it would have worked and I am on a 7.99 a month sim only deal.

d123

LittlePurpleFlower wrote: »

I'm so sorry if this has been asked before. I did try searching but couldn't find anything.

We have no mobile reception at home with any network so I'm looking for a contract that has Wi-Fi calling. (I don't mean Skype, VOIP, etc. Specifically the Wi-Fi calling service that EE, Vodaphone and O2 offer, so you can send and receive calls and texts using your usual mobile number).

I know to use Wi-Fi calling with EE you have to have a plan that specifically includes this from EE themselves, but they are so expensive I can't afford one of their plans.

Any contract can use WifiCalling on EE, as long as the phone supports it (any iPhone, many Android, and one or 2 Windows phones)

Edit

Here's the EE page: http://ee.co.uk/help/phones-and-device/wifi-calling

WiFi Calling is available on all versions of the iPhone 5c and later models of the iPhone, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 edge, Note 7, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Lumia 550, 650, 950, 950XL, HTC 10 and Blackberry Priv.

It's only available on the EE version of all other Android and Windows devices, which can only be bought directly from us in one of our stores, online, or through our telesales team. At present other Android and Windows devices bought from other retailers will not be able to support WiFi Calling.

LittlePurpleFlower wrote: »

I have found a contract with Vodaphone via a third party (mobiles dot co dot uk) but having spoken to them over the phone this morning they seem to have no clue whether or not the plan (Red Value) includes Wi-Fi calling. I also can't find any information whatsoever about what this plan includes, and apparently you don't even get a copy until you take out the contact and then it's in your welcome pack - is this even legal?? It forms part of the ts & cs, surely??

Does anyone have experience of Vodaphone, Wi-Fi calling or this third party seller please and could give me some advice?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Vodafone is incredibly restrictive as to what handset will work, from memory it's only 1 or 2 Android phones and the iPhone SE, 6s and 7.

To add, Vodafone does NOT support SMS over WifiCalling like EE does, it's a pure voice call service.

Here's the Vodafone page: http://www.vodafone.co.uk/explore/network/network-improvements/wi-fi-calling/

To take advantage of Wi-Fi Calling, you need:

A Pay monthly Red or Red Value Bundle, Red+ or Business Premier*
A compatible device:
iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus or iPhone SE
A Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016), S6, S6 edge, S7, S7 edge or Note 7 bought directly from Vodafone at one of our stores, online or by phone through our customer services team

To add a comment on the Three inTouch, it's actually just an app like Skype or whatsapp that allows calls, it's not real wifi calling as offered by Voda or EE and suffers from the same things the other apps can, like really poor quality calls and the app freezing or crashing.

If you have a compatible phone EE offers the best service.

Gloomendoom

We use Three In-Touch and BT Smart Talk. Useful when there is no mobile signal.

They have saved a small fortune when ringing from abroad.

Ian011

LittlePurpleFlower wrote: »

That's exactly why I don't want to use the landline. Mobile calls cost a small fortune, and yes, we're with BT so there is no option right now to include them in our existing plan. If we could get away without calling mobiles we would, but it's not an option, unfortunately.

The changes made by Ofcom on 1 May 2015 mean there is no excuse for landline providers to charge more for calls to mobile numbers than for calls to landline numbers. BT cannot hold out for much longer.

In the meantime, BT is still offering inclusive calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers and there are numerous dial-through providers using these numbers thereby giving the opportunity to call UK mobile numbers at no cost.

john1

How about Google Duo
very simple to load and use

Video or speech works on next to nothing wifi speed

Free apps for Apple IOS and Android

Review here

And see this link

ballyblack

I agree Google Duo is simple , free and just works