Airtel was the first telecom company to announce the WiFi calling feature for its users of Airtel Broadband or Airtel Xstream Fibre network. Soon thereafter, Jio also launched its Wifi Calling service in India. Both companies had a public release after a few months of limited circle testing.
In brevi, VoWiFi or WiFi-based VoIP technology should result in superior Indoor coverage and better call quality in congested urban areas. The inception was in Delhi NCR and eventually followed by a nation-wide roll-out.
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What is VoWiFi?
Simply put, VoWiFi uses the internet as the mode of transmission for calls, SMS, and MMS. It stands for voice over WiFi. It works with the existing Airtel/Jio SIM, through the default phone dialer and messaging app without any need for 3rd party app or log in. You can make WiFi calls to the other person regardless of their phone supporting WiFi Calling or not. The recipient can be on any network, be it 2G/3G/4G/VoLTE/WiFi.
You may be already familiar with VoLTE, which is short for voice over LTE ( a 4G standard). While it uses a data network, the VoWiFi depends on WiFi mesh your device is connected to. In principle, both VoWiFi and VoLTE can work in tandem. If WiFi gets disconnected, the call will take place over your mobile data.
Just like VoLTE, VoWiFi also displays an indicator in the phone’s status bar. If you’re wondering, yes, it does work whilst you’re on roaming. With that said, let’s see its value proposition to you.
Benefits of VoWiFi/ Wi-Fi Calling
The Wi-Fi calling has the following perks for the customers –
- Use your prevailing phone number. No need for separate Airtel/Jio pack, 3rd party app or logins.
- Calls without any mobile signal.
- If you’re in a strong Wi-Fi radius, you would get better indoor coverage and faster connectivity
- This results in clear conversations
From the companies’ standpoint, this is a nice bait for luring more customers and gaining revenue. It will have an upper hand over the competition until they introduce their own service.
Further, this enables operators like Jio/Airtel to sideline Instant Messaging or OTT (Over The Top) apps like Whatsapp, Hike, and Viber, which uses VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol). This is not operator dependent and hence a SIM card is not required. If you’re connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data, then you can make the call.
But, it comes with caveats –
- Foremost, WiFi calling is not free as you may mistake it to be. It is underlined that ‘A Wi-Fi call will be treated exactly the same as a regular call.’ So, calls and texts will reflect in your Airtel/Jio master balance.
- WiFi Calling doesn’t support international calls or roaming calls from a foreign country to India. However, the operators are not at fault here as this is mandated by Law Enforcement Agencies.
- Calls made using either Jio/Airtel’s WiFi Calling Services to any other network or number not having Wi-Fi Calling Services would be possible and will be charged for at the existing prices/ plans as applicable to other networks for the duration of the call.
- It doesn’t work if the Airplane mode is turned on.
- You may find more terms and conditions here- for Airtel and Jio.
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Now that you have a fair idea about what is it and why it matters, let’s get down to the actual setup process.
Steps to activate WiFi Calling on Android and ioS (Airtel/Jio)
Depending upon the brand of your phone, this might differ a little (In any case, refer to the above image). It’s really simple. The only perquisites are compatible phones with the latest software and an Airtel/Jio 4G SIM.
- If you have a Samsung phone, head over to Quick Settings Panel and turn on the WiFi calling option.
- Xiaomi users can find the option within the device Settings > SIM cards and Mobile Networks > Airtel > Make Calls using WiFi
- Similarly, OnePlus users will get the option within Settings > Mobile Network > SIM 1 or SIM 2 > WiFi Calling
- Lastly, if you’re an iPhone user, go to Settings > Mobile Data > WiFi Calling
- Ensure both VoLTE and VoWiFi enabled for an enhanced experience.
Note: For a better experience, you should enable both VoLTE and VoWiFi.
Likewise, the number of supported devices is also limited at the moment. However, the list should grow in time. For now, check out if yours is in the list down below:
List of best VoWiFi-supported phones:
Note: VoWifi the service is universal and operator agnostic – it’s not tied to any one operator, but can be used by anyone with a supported device with WiFi access. Speaking of which, here are the best VoWiFi supported phones —
Compatible iPhones
- iPhone SE
- iPhone SE 3 2022
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14
Compatible Samsung phones
- Samsung Galaxy J6
- Samsung Galaxy On6
- Samsung Galaxy M30s
- Samsung Galaxy A10s
- Samsung Galaxy A50s
- Samsung Galaxy A71
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Samsung A33 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy M33
- Samsung Flip4
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22+
- Samsung Fold4
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S21plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z fold 2
- Samsung E426B (F42)
- Samsung A528B (A52s)
- Samsung M526B (M52)
- Samsung Flip3
- Samsung Fold3
- Samsung A22 5G
- Samsung S20FE 5G
- Samsung M32 5G
- Samsung F23
- Samsung A73
- Samsung M42
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A23
- Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
- Samsung Galaxy F13
Compatible Realme phones
- Realme C1
- Realme 2 Pro
- Realme X2
- Realme 5i
- Realme 3
- Realme 3i
- Realme 3 Pro
- Realme XT
- Realme 8s 5G
- Realme X7 Max 5G
- Realme Narzo 30pro 5G
- Realme X7 5G
- Realme X7pro 5G
- Realme 8 5G
- Realme X50 Pro
- Realme GT 5G
- Realme GT ME
- Realme GT NEO2
- Realme 9 5G
- Realme 9 Pro
- Realme 9 Pro Plus
- Realme Narzo 30 5G
- Realme 9 SE
- Realme GT2
- Realme GT 2 pro
- Realme GT NEO3
- Realme GT Neo 3T
- Realme Narzo 50 5G
- Realme Narzo 50 pro
- Realme Narzo 50i Prime
- Realme Narzo 50A Prime
- Realme C35
- Realme C33
- Realme C31
- Realme C30s
- Realme C30
- Realme 9i 5G
- Realme 10 Pro Plus
- Realme 10 Pro
- Realme 10
Compatible OnePlus phones
- OnePlus 7
- OnePlus 7 Pro
- OnePlus 7T
- OnePlus 7T Pro
- OnePlus Nord
- OnePlus 9
- OnePlus 9pro
- OnePlus Nord CE
- OnePlus Nord CE 2
- OnePlus 10 PRO 5G
- OnePlus Nord CE Lite 2
- OnePlus 10R
- OnePlus Nord 2T
- OnePlus 10T
- OnePlus 8
- OnePlus 8T
- OnePlus 8 Pro
- OnePlus 9RT
- OnePlus Nord 2
- OnePlus 9R
- OPPO Reno8 5G
- OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G
- OPPO Reno7 Pro 5G
- OPPO Reno7 5G
- OPPO K10 5G
- OPPO F21 Pro 5G
- OPPO F21s Pro 5G
- OPPO A96 4G
- OPPO A77s
- OPPO A77
- OPPO A76
- OPPO A57e
- Oppo A78
- Oppo Reno 8T
- OPPO Find N2 Flip
Compatible Xiaomi phones
- Poco F1
- Redmi K20
- Redmi K20 Pro
- Redmi Note 7
- Xiaomi Mi 10
- Xiaomi Mi 10i
- Xiaomi Mi 10T
- Xiaomi Mi 10Tpro
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra(K1)
- Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro
- Xiaomi Mi 11X
- Xiaomi POCO M3 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi POCO F3 GT
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite NE (K9D)
- Xiaomi K16A Redmi Note 11T 5G
- Xiaomi K3S Xiaomi 11T Pro
- Xiaomi K16 Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge
- Xiaomi Redimi Note 10T
- Xiaomi K6S(Redimi Note 11 pro plus)
- Xiaomi POCO M4 5G
- Xiaomi POCO M4 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi 12 pro
- XIAOMI 11i
- Xiaomi Redimi 11 prime + 5G(L19)
- Xiaomi Poco F4 5G
- Xiaomi Poco X4 pro
- Xiaomi Redmi K50i
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
- Xiaomi 13 Pro 5G
Compatible Google Pixel phones
- Google Pixel 3
- Google Pixel 3a
- Google Pixel 3a XL
- Google Pixel 4a
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
Compatible Vivo phones
- Vivo V11
- Vivo V11 Pro
- Vivo V15
- Vivo V15 Pro
- Vivo V9
- Vivo V9 Pro
- Vivo Y81
- Vivo Y81i
- Vivo Y91
- Vivo Y91i
- Vivo Y93
- Vivo Y95
- Vivo Y15
- Vivo Y17
- Vivo Y91
- Vivo Z1 Pro
- Vivo X50 Pro
- Vivo V20 Pro
- Vivo X60 Pro+
- Vivo X60
- Vivo X60 Pro
- Vivo V21 5G
- Vivo V21e
- Vivo X70 Pro
- Vivo X70 Pro+
- Vivo IQOO Z5 5G
- Vivo Y72 5G
- Vivo V23 5G
- Vivo V23 Pro 5G
- Vivo V23e 5G
- Vivo T1 5G
- Vivo Y75 5G
- Vivo T1 PRO
- Vivo X80
- Vivo X80 pro
- Vivo V25
- Vivo V25 Pro
- Vivo Y55 5G
- Vivo Y55s 5G
Other Compatible phones
- Motorola Moto G6
- Infinix Hot 7 Pro
- Infinix Smart 3 Plus
- Infinix Hot 6 Pro
- Infinix S4
- Lava Z62
- Lava Z92
- Lava Z60s
- Lava Z81
- Mobistar C1
- Mobistar C1 Shine
- Mobistar C2
- Mobistar X1 Selfie
- Mobistar X1 Notch
- Tecno Camon i4
- Tecno Camon I Sky
- Tecno Camon iTwin
We will populate the list as and when more devices receive the VoWiFi feature. So, you may as well bookmark this page for future reference.
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