Can you have Wifi Calling on a Carphone Warehouse phone?

DismayedOfUK

Can anyone tell me if phones bought through Carphone Warehouse (or Mobiles.co.uk) have limited functionality on them?  I'm due to upgrade or replace my phone but when I got it from CPW it had some kind of CPW bundled operating system that meant Wifi Calling has never been an option on it despite having the network operator enable it on my account.  Wifi Calling is essential to me as we don't get mobile signal in our house so if anyone can confirm whether phones bought through CPW can do Wifi Calling I'd be very grateful.  I contacted CPW yesterday about this but they didn't understand what I was talking about yet it's an absolute deal killer for me.

mrochester

DismayedOfUK said:

Can anyone tell me if phones bought through Carphone Warehouse (or Mobiles.co.uk) have limited functionality on them?  I'm due to upgrade or replace my phone but when I got it from CPW it had some kind of CPW bundled operating system that meant Wifi Calling has never been an option on it despite having the network operator enable it on my account.  Wifi Calling is essential to me as we don't get mobile signal in our house so if anyone can confirm whether phones bought through CPW can do Wifi Calling I'd be very grateful.  I contacted CPW yesterday about this but they didn't understand what I was talking about yet it's an absolute deal killer for me.

It depends on the network and phone model. 

If you have an iPhone it is simple as pretty much any iPhone from the 6 upwards will be supported. 

If you have an android phone it’s a different kettle of fish entirely. Not only do you need a phone model that your network supports but you might also need a phone containing the networks own firmware (which a phone from Carphone Warehouse won’t have). 

You will need to check carefully with your network. 

liggerz87

Apple and Samsung phones should be ok but depends on the networks also carphone don't have there own software on unless you get an id mobile sim and phone from them then maybe they do but on plus note you then get updates direct from manufacturer and network won't be able to stop it but WiFi calling txing might not work 

searchlight123

i have a moto G7 Power and that definitely supports wifi calling. where i work the mobile signal is so poor that it would be a deal breaker for me also.

DismayedOfUK

Did you buy it direct from the network or through a shop like Carphone Warehouse or MobilePhonesDirect?  Seems to make all the difference.

PHK

The situation is quite complicated. Dependent on which network, whether contract or PAYG and which handset.

I have successfully used SIM Free (non network firmware) Android handsets on Three and EE.

d123

PHK said:

The situation is quite complicated. Dependent on which network, whether contract or PAYG and which handset.

I have successfully used SIM Free (non network firmware) Android handsets on Three and EE.

Agreed, it's really trial and error (which is a bit annoying), most Huawei phones generally work with most networks as well.

giraffe69

Wifi-calling is essential for me also (lack of signal in the house) and I found the information given out by the major telco's to be misleading and inaccurate. I think they seek to ensure you buy their phone's and not others. In the end I bought a sim free Samsung A70 and shortly afterwards an A50 via amazon and switched to a sim only contract with Vodafone. Both phones work with wifi calling although it was "not guaranteed" I nearly switched to BT mobile but in the end the conflicting info on their website and via the reps was so confusing there seemed a real chance I would end up with a brick!