No cellular signal? No problem. Here’s why. Everyone’s favourite underdog telco, U Mobile has rolled out a ground-breaking new service – WiFi Calling, an industry-first. With WiFi Calling, you can make and receive calls over a personal or public Wi-Fi connection. This effectively, and seamlessly make every Wi-Fi station in the world a U Mobile network tower.
The perfect solution for weak cellular coverage
Telcos of late have been competing over data and pricing, and introducing myriad ways to help consumers spend data. All which are well and good. Until you experience weak or non existent cellular coverage in outskirts, high-rise buildings, car park basements and indoors.
It’s an inherent problem with cellular technology. And it’s a problem you and I face daily.
With U Mobile WiFi Calling, uses existing, available Wi-Fi connections to deliver voice coverage.
WiFi Calling is free
The service is offered to both its prepaid and postpaid customers with immediate effect at no additional charge. You can use the service as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi connection.
The cool thing about WiFi Calling, Wi-Fi calls can be made using your native dialer in your phone, using your existing mobile number. Unlike Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls like Skype and WhatsApp, WiFi Calling doesn’t need an app.
No roaming call charges
The other interesting thing is that it’s perfect for those who travel a lot. With WiFi Calling, there is absolutely no roaming charges for any calls made via a WiFi connection. Every call you make via a WiFi Malaysian number, no matter anywhere you are in the world, the call will use local rates. Calls to non-Malaysian numbers will use IDD rates.
To use WiFi Calling, you need to make sure that the WiFi Calling function on your smartphone is enabled, and you are connected to U Mobile’s WiFi Calling service.
Calls made and received via WiFi Calling will be in High Definition (HD) Voice.
iOS only for now, Android support coming soon
Currently, it is available for U Mobile customers with iPhone 5c, 5s, iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s and 6s Plus. Support for Android will come in Q3 this year.
It’s about time
As mentioned in my earlier post, Wi-Fi Calling makes perfect sense for consumers and telcos. It extends coverage effectively using existing Wi-Fi infrastructure, for little or no cost.
It enhances overall user satisfaction, thanks to superior voice and video calling coverage in homes, buildings and indoors.
The service is available for iOS users for now, while Android users will need to wait till Q3.
From feedback that I gather from friends who have used similar services in the States (T-Mobile, with Sprint joining the fray soon), it has been very positive. I expect a similar experience from U Mobile WiFi Calling, here.
If you’re an iPhone user and are a U Mobile customer, try it out and let me know what you think of it.
Want more information? Head over to U Mobile’s WiFi Calling page.
