Telstra brings Wi-Fi Calling to iPhone

Telstra is rolling out Wi-Fi Calling to more devices, today adding support for every iPhone newer than (and including) the iPhone 6. Previously, Wi-Fi Calling was only available on Samsung's top-end Galaxy smartphones.

Wi-Fi Calling technology is designed to let people make and receive phone calls over their household Wi-Fi networks, to help address situations where one may live in a mobile blackspot or not have cellular coverage in certain parts of their home.

To enable Wi-Fi calling on your iPhone, you'll need to be running the latest version of iOS, and you may also need to open your carrier settings. Tapping "Service Provider" in the Settings app should trigger the update, if you need it. After this, you can go to the "Phone" menu, where you'll find Wi-Fi Calling. 

You don't have to have bought your iPhone through Telstra to use Wi-Fi calling. All you need is a Telstra SIM in it.

Telstra Wi-Fi Calling will only kick in when there's insufficient network coverage to make or receive a phone call. If you've got Wi-Fi Calling enabled, your phone will be able to seamlessly handover from cellular to Wi-Fi (or vice-versa) when coverage worsens. Wi-Fi Calling only works with calls; SMS and MMS messages still require a 3G or 4G connection.

Telstra also says that you'll need either a Telstra Gateway modem or a modem that is less than four years old for Wi-Fi Calling to work. If you're also a Telstra fixed-line broadband connection, you'll be able to use Wi-Fi Calling without eating into your home broadband data allowance.

The following smartphones are now compatible with Telstra Wi-Fi calling:

• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S6
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy S7
• Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy S8
• Samsung Galaxy S8+

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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