The Joys of Wi-Fi Calling

 

If your cellular coverage is weak or unavailable, your device can still make and receive Calls and Texts via Wi-Fi with "Wi-Fi Calling". This means you may be able to make and receive Calls and Texts while outside the US without extra roaming charges. You'll need a Wi-Fi Calling-capable device and an active Wi-Fi network. This helps when you're in a poor coverage area, in a foreign country, or when your device is in Airplane Mode with Wi-Fi enabled.

Benefits of Wi-Fi Calling:
▷ Increased network coverage, you can make calls & texts where there is poor or no coverage including outside the US.
▷ No app or special number is needed to use. You can use your assigned phone number.
▷ Wi-Fi Calling usually gives you a much clearer and high fidelity sound than normal phone circuits, even better than a wired home phone.
▷ Wi-Fi Calling is available on many, but not all, wireless devices. To set up Wi-Fi Calling, follow the instructions in your phone's Settings.
▷ Your connection is automatic after initial setup. Wi-Fi Calling can be disabled at any time by toggling it off in your device settings. This is convenient when your phone tries to connect to a weak and unusable Wi-Fi signal.
▷ Note: If you call 911 while using Wi-Fi Calling and they are unable to find you using your device location, the address provided during Wi-Fi Calling Setup will be used. The call will be routed to the nearest emergency response center that can send police, medical assistance or fire responders to that location. To ensure proper routing of emergency calls, please keep the address of your Wi-Fi Calling location up-to-date. Otherwise, you'll be connected to the nearest emergency center based on the cell site's location.

For Wi-Fi Calling to Work:
▷ Wi-Fi must be turned on and connected.
▷ Wi-Fi calls always act like they originate in the US, even when you're outside of the US. You'll need a country code to complete calls even if it is a local call.
▷ Calls to US numbers are billed the same as your Talk & Text plan, normally it is "Unlimited" (except for 411 or premium calls).
▷ Calls to international numbers are billed according to your international long distance plan even if you're in the country you're calling.
▷ "Wi-Fi Calling" must be activated on your phone. If it is not available on your phone's menu, your carrier may not permit Wi-Fi Calling.
▷ In order to activate Wi-Fi Calling, you normally must provide an address for 911 calls. Keep this in mind if you are not calling from that address. Your address info gets transmitted to the emergency dispatcher for all 911 Wi-Fi calls. If address validation fails, you'll be required to re-enter a valid address.
▷ To select your calling preference while traveling outside your wireless coverage area or internationally, ensure "Wi-Fi Calling" is turned on and select 'Prefer Wi-Fi' or 'Prefer other cellular networks', then restart the device.

▷ How to Set up Wi-Fi Calling on Android or iPhone

▷ Prepaid Phones That Support Wi-Fi Calling

T-Mobile Price Headaches? Head for an Alternative!

T-Mobile introduced the "Un-Carrier" moniker as an alternative to the 'mainstream' wireless carriers several years ago. Like so many technical innovations, the scappy contender now appears to be as mainstream as the other carriers and, as a result, they are flexing their newly-developed muscles and trying to increase their prices. This even applies to customers who thought they had a "Price For Life."

There are numerous legal challenges being made to these aggressive T-Mobile moves, but you can do something about it right now. We have composed a list dedicated just for wireless users who want to use the T-Mobile network, and their existing T-Mobile phone, but without dealing with T-Mobile directly. These are Prepaid carriers, and they may be easier to deal with than T-Mobile themselves. From the OZ Wireless T-Mobile alternative page, we have several great choices that use the T-Mobile network:

• RED POCKET MOBILE: A real bargain carrier that actually lets you choose more than just the T-Mobile network.
  
  
• US MOBILE: This highly-recommended low-priced carrier includes Calling and Texting to other countries and Roaming in over 100 foreign countries.

In addition, there are carriers that are owned by T-Mobile that still offer good deals and features, minus the funny business, and should be easily accessed with your existing T-Mobile phone:

• METRO BY T-MOBILE: Yes, it's owned by T-Mobile but they have lower prices and no added fees, and your existing T-Mobile phone is instantly compatible. They even have local stores.
  
  
• MINT MOBILE: Recently acquired by T-Mobile, they save you money by offering longer refill periods.
  
  
• ULTRA MOBILE: This newly-acquired Prepaid has seen some improved features that make it an attractive alternative to your old T-Mobile service.

One of the nice attributes of these alternaives is that they'll automatically deduct your payment from your credit card or checking account, eliminating that monthly bill you received from T-Mobile. Read more about all the alternatives with price comparisons at Mountain Prepaid.

Home Phone Alternatives Shuffle

 

I recenlty noticed that my home phone couldn't make outgoing calls through its associated VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service: it's "no longer being supported". So I went shopping to find another inexpensive way to keep the old home phone number active and discovered that VOIP providers have become quite pricey, most at $15 per month or higher, plus taxes!

Like it is for most other families, our home phone has become almost redundant, but how many of us hesitate letting go of the home phone number and completely eliminating the security of a communications device in nearly every room in the house? Yes, I realize there are many households who never had it to begin with. 

Now that VOIP is no longer the lowest-cost alternative to the landline, we have returned to the home phone savior of last decade, the Wireless Home Phone. Now that US Mobile is offering their wireless home phone for only $10 a month, all these old but still cool cordless phones around the house are back in touch, if for no other use than as a cell phone finder.