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Carrier Anyone else notice AT&T Wi-Fi calling being used more lately?

zorinlynx

zorinlynx

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 31, 2007
8,490
19,621
Florida, USA
Not too long ago, the phone would only switch to Wi-Fi calling when the signal was fairly weak; 1-2 bars and even then, only sometimes.

These days I notice the phone is on Wi-Fi calling even with 3-4 bars. Is AT&T reducing the threshold required to switch to Wi-Fi calling?

Maybe they're trying to shed some load from the cellular network? Interesting.
 
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I had no idea WiFi calling had anything to do with signal strength. For me it pretty much always switches.

I love having WiFi calling just bc it seems pretty legit haha.
 
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I think the whole point of them providing wifi calling is to get people off their towers as much as they can. It would not be surprising if they always prefer wifi. Maybe something changed with your Internet config that is allowing it to go through wifi now?
 
orev said:
I think the whole point of them providing wifi calling is to get people off their towers as much as they can. It would not be surprising if they always prefer wifi. Maybe something changed with your Internet config that is allowing it to go through wifi now?
Click to expand...
The thing is that AT&T and Verizon didn't really do that and would only switch when the signal was low enough.
 
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If I had to guess, the threshold has been increased. More folks on WiFi = lower stress on the towers, which is especially important when it comes to data transmission speeds. A lot of the bigger carriers are hurting from the recent unlimited data plans.
 
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Also, the "beta phase" (even if it was never declared as such) is pretty much over now that the operators have gathered insight and experience with WiFi Calling, so they might very well put more customers on it to offload the towers.

At the beginning, with more dropped calls and what not, I guess they were being more cautious.
 
C DM said:
The thing is that AT&T and Verizon didn't really do that and would only switch when the signal was low enough.
Click to expand...

Huh? Why do you say that? You could be right, but I have used wifi calling since available, and it was always based on my wifi, never knew signal had anything to do with it.
 
Lobwedgephil said:
Huh? Why do you say that? You could be right, but I have used wifi calling since available, and it was always based on my wifi, never knew signal had anything to do with it.
Click to expand...
Because that's how it has been working. When you have WiFi calling enabled and you are on WiFi you aren't automatically using WiFi calling unless your cellular signal isn't all that good and the device actually switches to use WiFi calling. (At least that's how it has been with Verizon and AT&T, for example.)
 
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C DM said:
Because that's how it has been working. When you have WiFi calling enabled and you are on WiFi you aren't automatically using WiFi calling unless your cellular signal isn't all that good and the device actually switches to use WiFi calling. (At least that's how it has been with Verizon and AT&T, for example.)
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that is how it worked for me too. I don't use public Wifi. But, for some reason my house is the only place I need it. I am in a valley with lots of trees and probably in a weak signal spot. I always have signal unless deep into a building and sometimes even then.
 
The last few cellular modem updates for Verizon (yes I know, not AT&T but I thought I'd mention it anyway) has made wifi-calling always on at my house whereas it would go back and forth frequently because I have 2 bars at my house. Now it stays WiFi calling - and I see wifi-calling a lot more frequently when I'm out and about even with 3+ bars. Loving it because I prefer it. I have noticed this over the last few weeks.

Before reading your post, if I had to say it - wifi-calling only turned on with 1-2 bars. Now it'll turn on with 3-4 bars. Since I only get 2-3 at my house, this is really nice for me.

I've had 2 carrier settings updates in the last few weeks (really rare) for Verizon. Usually we only get these once every handful of months.
[doublepost=1511277876][/doublepost]
Newtons Apple said:
How do we know if the iPhone is using cellular or WiFi for calls?
Click to expand...

On Verizon it will say: VZW Wi-Fi to the left of the WiFi symbol.
 
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C DM said:
Because that's how it has been working. When you have WiFi calling enabled and you are on WiFi you aren't automatically using WiFi calling unless your cellular signal isn't all that good and the device actually switches to use WiFi calling. (At least that's how it has been with Verizon and AT&T, for example.)
Click to expand...

Gotcha, I guess I always assumed it was on, since every time I have been on wifi, the phone has said wifi calling, but I have never bothered to double check it.
 
Hieveryone said:
I had no idea WiFi calling had anything to do with signal strength. For me it pretty much always switches.

I love having WiFi calling just bc it seems pretty legit haha.
Click to expand...

Yes for AT&T and Verizon it always had to do with signal.
They way it's setup for them it switches to wifi calling when signal is low and prefers the carrier network over your router.
Carriers can make adjustments and change those parameters though.
Personally I'd like my phone to stay connected to wifi calling while on wifi no matter what the carrier signal is.
 
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I believe when Wifi calling for AT&T was first released, the prompts to enable it said something along the lines of, "When low cellular signal and available Wi-Fi connection." There was a At&t carrier update in the last few months, and that probably increased the threshold.
 
blairian89 said:
If I had to guess, the threshold has been increased. More folks on WiFi = lower stress on the towers, which is especially important when it comes to data transmission speeds. A lot of the bigger carriers are hurting from the recent unlimited data plans.
Click to expand...

Wifi calling is for calling only.
Obviously if you're connected to wifi you're not using carrier data;)
 
I was on a business flight last week, purchased wifi for the flight and was amused to see wifi calling enabled. Was able to send/receive text (green) as if I was on the ground. lol. Didn't try to call though.
 
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Applejuiced said:
Did you do a speed test?
Wonder what those speeds are like on in-flight wifi.
Click to expand...

Sorry to say I didn't think of it at the time, but I was downloading megabyte files as if I was on a really good connection. lol. My work paid me to use WiFi on the flight to assist with a setup at work while I was flying so I didn't think of it. Damn :). I'd wager that a wifi call would be possible.
 
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BigMcGuire said:
The last few cellular modem updates for Verizon (yes I know, not AT&T but I thought I'd mention it anyway) has made wifi-calling always on at my house whereas it would go back and forth frequently because I have 2 bars at my house. Now it stays WiFi calling - and I see wifi-calling a lot more frequently when I'm out and about even with 3+ bars. Loving it because I prefer it. I have noticed this over the last few weeks.

Before reading your post, if I had to say it - wifi-calling only turned on with 1-2 bars. Now it'll turn on with 3-4 bars. Since I only get 2-3 at my house, this is really nice for me.

I've had 2 carrier settings updates in the last few weeks (really rare) for Verizon. Usually we only get these once every handful of months.
[doublepost=1511277876][/doublepost]

On Verizon it will say: VZW Wi-Fi to the left of the WiFi symbol.
Click to expand...
Hasn't changed for me. I fluctuate as far as signal goes between 1 and 3 bars at home for the most part, and sometimes I'm on WiFi calling and other times I'm not (essentially how it has been in the past).
 
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I turn off cellular if calling around home. wifi calling much better quality. one can also switch during a call if forget before beginning.
 
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