Verizon Gets Green Light on FCC Waiver Needed for Wi-Fi Calling

[MacRumors]

Verizon Wireless is the only major carrier in the United States that has not introduced Wi-Fi calling, but it appears that could change in the near future as the FCC today approved the company's request for an FCC waiver [PDF] that will allow it to move ahead with its plans.

Like AT&T, Verizon applied for an FCC waiver to delay implementing a teletypewriter (TTY) service for deaf and hard-of-hearing people until December 31, 2017. Verizon plans to use real-time text (RTT) as an alternative and the waiver will allow it to avoid offering a TTY service until its RTT technology is deployed and operational.

On its website, Verizon says it plans to support Wi-Fi calling "in the future," but has not specified when Wi-Fi calling could be implemented. When AT&T was approved for Wi-Fi calling, the feature was turned on within days of receiving the go ahead from the FCC.

Wi-Fi calling will allow Verizon customers to make phone calls over Wi-Fi in situations where their cellular signal is low, automatically transitioning between Wi-Fi and a cellular connection as needed. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile have all already implemented Wi-Fi calling, but Sprint and T-Mobile have done so without obtaining the necessary waivers from the FCC.

Article Link: Verizon Gets Green Light on FCC Waiver Needed for Wi-Fi Calling

 

[AppleFan91]

Hooray!!! Now put it in 9.2 lol

 

[kch50428]

I believe wifi calling is already in iOS9.x - just need a carrier settings update to "turn it on". Look for that next week sometime...

 

[AdonisSMU]

Wait why do you need the FCC to enable wifi calling? Government overreach at its finest.

 

[nepalisherpa]

That logo, ugh!

 

[fontman]

Really Already Switched to tmoblie

 

[SlipperySlop]

Hooray!!! Now put it in 9.2 lol

Not necessary.

Wait why do you need the FCC to enable wifi calling? Government overreach at its finest.

It's not government overreach. It's you not reading the article. Look for the term "waiver".

 

[Leonard1818]

Wait why do you need the FCC to enable wifi calling? Government overreach at its finest.

It's that first "C" in FCC.

Why do you care? Something new to complain about? Starbucks cups getting old already?

 

[Zorn]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

 

[iansilv]

But when you walk out of the wifi area the call drops! I had to run this off because of that.

 

[Vanilla Face]

Wait why do you need the FCC to enable wifi calling? Government overreach at its finest.

They need a waiver (not the FCC to enable it) because federal regulation requires that telephone services support teletypewriter (TTY) for the hearing-impaired. Wifi calling does not support TTY.

 

[sziehr]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

Right............ you keep on believing that. I know of so many places that have "Great" service and you can not hold a call to save your life. So in these places the wifi calling is going to be a boon. I also will no longer have a dead iPhone from straining to get service.

 

[tjleonard]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

I completely agree, although I live in a biggish city (Raleigh), I still do not have coverage at my house...it's actually due to the elevation most likely. The cell extenders are terrible...and to be clear, there is only 1 local carrier that has cell service in my house.

The wifi calling is a huge benefit for me since I wouldn't need the cell extender, that again, is horrible because it can take 5 minutes to activate once i get home. It also makes for talking to someone while at home while walking out the door impossible...I do get service about 50 ft from the house. Anyway - I can't wait...

 

[Glacial Truffle]

After years of no home reception, this is awesome news!

 

[gsmornot]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

Domino's has the best pizza. (commercial said so)

 

[KPOM]

But when you walk out of the wifi area the call drops! I had to run this off because of that.

Not if you are in a VoLTE area. Wi-Fi calls on AT&T hand off to VoLTE (but not 3GSM).

 

[Shark5150]

I completely agree, although I live in a biggish city (Raleigh), I still do not have coverage at my house...it's actually due to the elevation most likely. The cell extenders are terrible...and to be clear, there is only 1 local carrier that has cell service in my house.

The wifi calling is a huge benefit for me since I wouldn't need the cell extender, that again, is horrible because it can take 5 minutes to activate once i get home. It also makes for talking to someone while at home while walking out the door impossible...I do get service about 50 ft from the house. Anyway - I can't wait...

I'm in the same boat! I live in philly suburb. Can't wait!!

 

[machpost]

Does Wi-Fi calling require a newer device? I'm guessing it's not going to work on my iPhone 5.

 

[dannyyankou]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

My family room disagrees.

 

[k1121j]

unless you have no service it sucks at least on att its just as bad as the microcell its takes forever to place a call and then you are lucky if they can hear you when they pickup I keep mine turned off this is my experience with wifi calling

 

[CraigB1960]

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

Might be so, at least that is what their CEO keeps saying. I myself cannot wait until they turn it on, my coverage in my house is terrible. Have to go outside for most calls.

 

[cdodge]

About time!!

Now I just need them to have carry over data and Number Sync like what attnt has. I want to have an Iphone, Android and a Windows Phone that share the same number.

 

[SlipperySlop]

That logo, ugh!

Who really cares about this?

Verizon is probably the least important carrier to enable this, since their coverage map is so strong compared to the others.

That's absurd. Even if the best coverage map, what good does it do if you can't get good cell reception in a specific area?And their are plenty of areas with bad coverage for any given carrier.

But when you walk out of the wifi area the call drops! I had to run this off because of that.

Doesn't happen to me.

 

[nathan.l.larsen]

Does Wi-Fi calling require a newer device? I'm guessing it's not going to work on my iPhone 5.

It requires an iPhone 6 or newer.

 

[ghostface147]

$45 activation fee! Bam! $15 dollar first time use fee! Bam!