Using Facetime Audio instead of Phone

[macsound1]

Trying to figure out if its just me being inept or if this feature is burried.

I love that messages with all of my friends with iPhones default to iMessage. Everything that SMS was missing.
Why doesn't the same happen for phone calls?

My boss and I often talk on Facetime Audio because she doesn't have good cell reception in her office. I'm often in another building that has good wifi but wifi calling doesn't always kick in. Facetime Audio is always flawless.

Also when either me or my spouse if out if the US, Facetime Audio is a great way to have a free conversation since we get unlimited foreign data but $1/min for phone calls.

Is there a way that I'm not seeing to change my Favorites to be callable with Facetime Audio instead of phone?

Why doesn't Apple push this? Seems like a great way to move iPhone-iPhone calls to a way better sounding platform, espically when you're in a great cell or wifi coverage area.

 

[yass31]

Yes you can choose FaceTime audio as the mean to call contacts you add in the favorites list. To do so, do as if you were adding a contact in the list and then clic on the little arrow in the call line, it should give you options like FaceTime audio, WhatsApp etc

 

[macsound1]

Maybe it's just because they dropped the word "Audio" that confused me.

When adding a contact to favorites you get 4 choices: Message, Call, Video, Mail.
After choosing Call there is a Facetime choice, I guess I assumed it still meant regular Facetime with video since it didn't specifify audio. I'll give it a try.

Still wondering why Apple doesn't automatically push iPhone convos to a platform they control...

 

[C DM]

Still wondering why Apple doesn't automatically push iPhone convos to a platform they control...

Potentially because that uses data which might not be something that users might not have available at times or want to use for something like calls, depending on their cell plan and connection. Also since iPhones are generally there to work with carriers the idea is that calls would go through them.

 

[macsound1]

So maybe then making it clearer if you'd prefer to use facetime audio.

Not exactly what changed but after the iOS 14 update, I haven't been able to easily make a facetime audio call, hence starting this thread.

On a different note, since updating to iOS 14, including on my new 12 Mini, wifi calling doesn't work for me but does work for my 2 roommates, who are on the same plan as me.