Three Users Can Make Calls And Send Texts Over Wi-Fi Without An App

Three users can now make calls and texts over a wireless Internet connection natively after the operator rolled out embedded Voice over Wi-Fi  (VoWi-Fi) for iOS And Android.

iPhone users will need to have iOS 10.2 installed in their device and must activate it via the settings application. Android users simply need to have a compatible device with the latest software update and do not have to alter anything.

All iPhones from the 5C and 5S onwards are compatible, as are the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and LG G5. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will be supported from mid-February.

Three Wi-Fi calls

Three has offered VoWi-Fi via the Three InTouch application since June 2014 and had rolled out Voice over LTE (VoLTE). However it has been late to the game with regards to native VoWi-Fi, which is supported by other operators too.

“[Native VoWi-Fi] removes the need for the previous Three InTouch app that was able to also route calls and texts through Wi-Fi,” said Three. “However all the activity was separate which led to confusion on call logs or messaging conversations, as you had to check two apps for any communications.

“InTouch users will now receive a pop-up message informing them that they can now delete the app.

The idea is that by using a home, office of public Wi-Fi connection, customers can enjoy a better quality call in areas where there is poor cellular coverage. Three is also rolling out 800MHz spectrum, which has longer range but less capacity than other bands, in a bid to improve indoor and rural coverage.

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Steve McCaskill

Steve McCaskill is editor of TechWeekEurope and ChannelBiz. He joined as a reporter in 2011 and covers all areas of IT, with a particular interest in telecommunications, mobile and networking, along with sports technology.

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