Bad network – With a hidden function you can make calls despite the dead zone

You can use your cell phone number not only to make calls via the mobile network, but also via WLAN. This has the advantage that you can easily bridge dead spots in certain situations, such as when cell phone reception is limited in buildings. You can still be reached at any time, even without a cell phone network.

But for WiFi calling to work, a few things must be in place. Your mobile phone must play along, as must the provider, your mobile phone tariff and the ports used must also be available in the WLAN. But it doesn’t hurt to check if you can make calls via WiFi.

WiFi calls on Android

There are several names for the same child, Wifi calling, WLAN call or WLAN calls are common. Your calls are made via VoIP (Voice over IP) over the WLAN. This creates other abbreviations such as VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi). You don’t need to know the shortcuts to use the feature, just check if it’s available on your device.

Switch to the call app and use the three dots to navigate to the settings. From there, tap on “Calls”. Now you should see “WLAN Call” as an option. If this is not the case, the provider or your tariff does not play along. The best thing to do is to inquire about WLAN calls on the hotline.

If the function is available there, you can switch it on and off with a tap of your finger.

WiFi calling for iPhones

iPhone users dive into the “Settings” in the “Phone” area. There, in the “Calls” menu, there is an item called “WLAN calls”. You can turn Wi-Fi calling on and off using this feature.

When WiFi Calling is available, WiFi Call appears after the carrier name in the status bar. In this case, you will automatically make a Wi-Fi call.

Expenses on vacation

Call is call, isn’t it? Unfortunately, WiFi calling is a bit complicated. You might think the calls are on WiFi, so they’re free. But that’s not true. Ultimately, WLAN calls cost the same as calls over the mobile network in Germany because they are processed via the cell phone number, because they are billed by the providers like normal calls. For the provider, you are logged into the German home network via WLAN, as far as billing is concerned.

This is great for calls to Germany from a holiday destination abroad. You can use your flat rate to make calls to Germany from the USA, for example, via WLAN because it is billed like a domestic call. However, you have to be careful when calling numbers in your holiday destination, as this is an international call.

Be careful, especially in other EU countries. The roaming rule actually applies there, which does not result in any increased costs in the EU. But that doesn’t apply to WiFi calls. Means, for example, if you call a restaurant around the corner from the hotel in France and do it via a WLAN call, you pay for a call from Germany to France.

In this case, it is useful to issue WLAN calls in advance, because you benefit from cheap EU roaming with the domestic tariff via the mobile network.