If you’re in a regional area or experience patchy mobile coverage around the home, and you have a qualifying iPhone or Samsung smartphone, Telstra’s native Wi-Fi calling is waiting for your call.
Remember those old "Why didn’t you call" commercials from the 80s?
Back then, people were worried about expensive phone calls, but today, the reason can be because of poor mobile coverage.
Thankfully, technology has caught up with mobile coverage woes by integrating Wi-Fi coverage with smartphones and native Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi), with Telstra the latest to extend its Wi-Fi calling capabilities to millions more of its Australian mobile customers.
What Telstra has done is to extend its native Wi-Fi calling to more devices including Apple 6 and 7 handsets, as well as the new Samsung GS8 and GS8+, both for those in regional areas and those who are plagued by in-home blackspots.
Some interesting facts about Telstra’s Wi-Fi calling below, but first, which smartphones does Telstra now allow to make Wi-Fi calls?
Here’s the latest full list:
- Apple iPhone 6
- Apple iPhone 6 Plus
- Apple iPhone 6S
- Apple iPhone 6S Plus
- Apple iPhone SE
- Apple iPhone 7
- Apple iPhone 7 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S6
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy S8
- Samsung Galaxy S8+
This adds to the S6 and S7 models that Telstra announced were compatible back in March, as you can read about here, with all iPhone SE and 6 models and up now added to the list, along with the latest S8 and S8+ models.
The list doesn’t end there, with Telstra promising it will “continue to expand native Wi-Fi calling to more devices throughout the year.”
So, what are some facts about Telstra’s Wi-Fi calling capabilities?
- Telstra first introduced Wi-Fi calling for its customers in late 2016.
- Telstra says it recently expanded the service to Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7+ devices following the Nougat Android update; the technology is native to the new Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets
- From today, Telstra customers who own Apple iPhone 6 or later will be able to access Wi-Fi calling by updating their device to the latest iOS software, then turning on the feature by going into their phone’s settings.
- Telstra Wi-Fi calling works by seamlessly transferring calls between Telstra’s 4G network and Wi-Fi (even while the call is in progress), and allows customers to make and receive mobile calls in Australia wherever there is an accessible Wi-Fi connection including over 900,000 Telstra Air hotspots across Australia.
- Wi-Fi calling will be of particular benefit to Aussies who live in areas where mobile coverage is limited, like regional or rural customers, or those who experience poor mobile reception inside their home or on their commute.
Telstra’s director of Device Management, Andrew Volard, said: "There are a number of environmental factors that can impact mobile coverage, including topography, building construction and geography.
“We can overcome some of these factors for our customers by extending Wi-Fi calling technology, making mobile voice calls accessible in places even the best mobile network can't reach.”
So, you now have fewer excuses than ever not to make that call. Go for it, and may the Wi-Fis be with you.
