Verizon Will Support Wi-Fi Calling on Other iCloud Devices on iOS 10.3

[2298754]

AT&T has had this for a while now...

 

[ignatius345]

This is great. I just went to South America and even though I didn't buy a local SIM card, I was able to make and receive free calls to the States using my Verizon number by connecting to wifi and using the "VZW Wifi" network it then puts you on. I didn't try making calls to South American numbers, because I assume that would technically count as a "US to overseas" call? I wasn't sure, so I just used Google Voice instead to be safe.

Not sure how this new feature would change things in this scenario except to make it possible to do what I just did using an iPad or Mac.

Between Skype, FaceTime, and Google Voice, does anybody pay full price for international calls at this point?

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

Good to see Verizon is just now catching up to a feature T-Mobile customers have had for about four years.

As a former Verizon customer, they can tout their network all they like, but it doesn't change that I have 1 bar of coverage in my basement, regardless of whether I'm on Verizon or T-Mobile. Wi-Fi Calling is an essential feature and should be an industry standard, because as it turns out, a cell tower a few miles away can't get a good signal into people's basements. Cell networks are nice and all, but there's a reason most people still have home wi-fi, even if it means putting up with Comcast or Time Warner.

A little confusing, but good catch- I take it Verizon supported wi-fi calling on the iPhone itself, but not wi-fi calling on your other Apple devices (iPad, Mac, etc) until now? Strange- but still, that's been a feature on my T-Mobile iPhone for at least a year.

You'd think for $30 upgrade fees and all the overage charges they get away with, you would also get premium features from Verizon first. Maybe that's just me.

Funny thing... I am the exact opposite of you.... I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile. The reliability of T-Mobile is garbage... especially when traveling. Lots of place along the highway with "No service" or EDGE data (unusable in 2017)... these same places are blanketed in Verizon LTE.

That being said... Verizon has had Wi-Fi calling for a while now.

This article is about the Continuity feature "Allow Calls from other devices." I actually wasn't aware of any limitation by Verizon. Literally switched to Verizon about a week ago... during this time, I never experienced any interruption of this feature... and I am not on any betas. Here are screencaps from my iPhone 7 Plus on 10.2.1 and my Macbook Pro on 10.12.2.

iPhone 7 Screens:

Macbook Screens (one in which I am calling into my own Google Voice number from Verizon numer on my Mac):

 

[manu chao]

Yes, this is different. The way Verizon works now (without 10.3 beta) is when you call someone from your Mac, it's routing it through your iPhone. With the way it will work is your phone call from your Mac will go directly to Verizon over Wifi and place the call with your iPhone phone number without your iPhone being near by.

I can confirm this as a current T-Mobile customer who left Verizon last week. This new way is superior. I can place phone calls over LTE from my iPad and it will show up on the callers side as coming from my iPhone.

What happens if you call yourself (ie, call your cellphone number using your Mac while the iPhone is out of reach of the WiFi network)?

 

[devinthomas]

Cellular Continuity is the best thing to ever happen to iOS/watchOS/macOS.

 

[Beerstalker]

So if I'm understanding this correctly, if say a babysitter was at my house and needed to make a phone call they could pick up my iPad and call someone, and it would be just like they were calling from my cell phone? Even if I am out of my house with my cell phone so it isn't on my home WifI? If so this sounds like a great feature, and one less reason many people keep landline phones around.

Does this mean they add the phone app to the iPad, or do you use facetime etc to place an outgoing call?

 

[Mattreed78]

Verizon customers running the new iOS 10.3 beta have discovered that the carrier has added an option for Integrated Calling (Calls on Other Devices).

The feature enables iPhone users to make and receive Wi-Fi calls on other iCloud-connected devices, including the iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, and most 2012 or later Macs, even if the iPhone is turned off or not on the same Wi-Fi network. The devices must be signed into the same Apple ID used on the iPhone.

AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile already support Wi-Fi calling on supported iCloud-connected devices, so Verizon was the last holdout among the four major carriers in the United States. The feature is also supported by smaller U.S. carriers MetroPCS and Simple Mobile and by a few other carriers internationally.

Wi-Fi calling on other devices may not be live yet for all Verizon customers on iOS 10.3 beta, but it should be ready in time for the final version.

Article Link: Verizon Will Support Wi-Fi Calling on Other iCloud Devices on iOS 10.3

This is not new I have had this on my Verizon iPhone and have used it.

 

[zauriel]

I guess I'm slightly confused about one aspect of this ... how exactly does one initiate a phone call on an iOS device that wasn't originally designed to make phone calls (iPod Touch, WiFi-only iPad, Mac)? Where do you access the number pad to dial?

EDIT: Nevermind, I assume one must use the FaceTime app to dial. Not sure why that slipped my mind.

 

[Beerstalker]

I guess I'm slightly confused about one aspect of this ... how exactly does one initiate a phone call on an iOS device that wasn't originally designed to make phone calls (iPod Touch, WiFi-only iPad, Mac)? Where do you access the number pad to dial?

EDIT: Nevermind, I assume one must use the FaceTime app to dial. Not sure why that slipped my mind.

Yeah, I'm thinking either the Facetime app, or possibly just by clicking on the phone numbers in the Contacts app? I think it would be nice if they added the Phone App to the iPads so it would be simpler. Maybe someone with AT&T or T-Mobile can explain how it works since I guess it already works for them?

This is not new I have had this on my Verizon iPhone and have used it.

If I understand the article correctly this is different. Currently if you get an incoming call and your iPhone/iPad/etc are on the same WiFi network they both will ring and you can answer from either. This sounds like it can work when they are not on the same WiFi network, or your phone can be turned off and only your iPad will ring. It also sounds like you can place outgoing calls from the iPad, which I don't believe you can do at this time.

 

[railroader777]

Good to see Verizon is just now catching up to a feature T-Mobile customers have had for about four years.

As a former Verizon customer, they can tout their network all they like, but it doesn't change that I have 1 bar of coverage in my basement, regardless of whether I'm on Verizon or T-Mobile. Wi-Fi Calling is an essential feature and should be an industry standard, because as it turns out, a cell tower a few miles away can't get a good signal into people's basements. Cell networks are nice and all, but there's a reason most people still have home wi-fi, even if it means putting up with Comcast or Time Warner.

Move out of your parents basement.

 

[campyguy]

Good to see Verizon is just now catching up to a feature T-Mobile customers have had for about four years.

As a former Verizon customer, they can tout their network all they like, but it doesn't change that I have 1 bar of coverage in my basement, regardless of whether I'm on Verizon or T-Mobile. Wi-Fi Calling is an essential feature and should be an industry standard, because as it turns out, a cell tower a few miles away can't get a good signal into people's basements. Cell networks are nice and all, but there's a reason most people still have home wi-fi, even if it means putting up with Comcast or Time Warner.

As a current VZW/ATTWS customer with 3 job sites in rural locations and with an elderly parent in a rural location, I gave up and purchased one of Wilson Electronics new boosters - weBoost eqo - and it improved connectivity far better than I had hoped for on both networks, going from "No Service" indoors on both of my iPhones (VZW 6S+ and ATTWS 6S) to decent LTE service. I tether to one of my VZW iPads and regularly see 30 down/2-3 up, stream Hulu/Netflix/Amazon Video with no lag and a perfect picture (still on UL data!). 300 feet from my mom's house, there's no service whatsoever and the quo I bought for her works perfectly. There's a decent signal outside, of course, the eqo doesn't need an internet connection - it's a true booster solution, and with a bit of positional tweaking it's a solid buy. I've been tethered to a cell network for a work week at a time with no issues now…

 

[CarlJ]

How is the "best" network always the last one to all parties? Hahaha

Can we please, please, stop quoting an entire article to add one line? Every comment is assumed to be, at least in part, a reply to the original article. There is absolutely no need to quote the entire thing - it's up there at the top of the thread for everyone to see. Simply scroll down to the bottom of the thread, write your comment, and click "Post Reply" - don't hit the "REPLY" button on the original article.
[doublepost=1485373308][/doublepost]

A little confusing, but good catch- I take it Verizon supported wi-fi calling on the iPhone itself, but not wi-fi calling on your other Apple devices (iPad, Mac, etc) until now? Strange- but still, that's been a feature on my T-Mobile iPhone for at least a year.

On Verizon, WiFi calling from the iPhone has worked for quite a while. So have calls routed through one's other devices (e.g. answering a phone call on one's iPad or Mac). What this appears to bring to the mix is Macs, iPads, etc. being able to make or receive calls even if the iPhone is not around (or is off, broken, etc.). Sounds like a nice capability to have, but in practice, my iPhone is never far away, so it doesn't add much. Most of the folks crowing about "welcome to 2015!" need to read a bit more carefully.
[doublepost=1485373803][/doublepost]

What happens if you call yourself...?

If you call yourself, and you answer, things start getting pretty weird.

 

[citi]

my iPhone is never far away, so it doesn't add much. Most of the folks crowing about "welcome to 2015!" need to read a bit more carefully.

At my office my vz coverage sucks. If I can answer from my mac or iPad using wifi only, I could actually be more productive.

 

[CarlJ]

At my office my vz coverage sucks. If I can answer from my mac or iPad using wifi only, I could actually be more productive.

But the phone itself will switch to "VZW WiFi", routing calls to/from Verizon over your WiFi when that's markedly better than the VZW cellular connection (this has been available for a long time), and the phone can hand off calls to a Mac or iPad - how does having the Mac or iPad talking to Verizon directly, make you more productive?

 

[RF9]

It seems like there is a lot of confusion. WiFi calling has worked on Verizon for a while, even from other devices (mac, watch, and iPad,) but calls on those devices would route through the phone which would make the actually Wi-Fi or LTE call through Verizon's network.
The new feature just decouples the phone and allows those calls do go directly to Verizon over Wi-Fi calling without the phone being on. That may have existed on other networks for a while (I don't really know and it doesn't really matter.)

As for Verizon #1 yadda yadda. All I can say is that I had AT&T for ages, switched to Verizon. I also still have phones on T-Moble. Verizon has been far more reliable, but your mileage will vary depending on where you live, I suppose.
Even though I have Verizon Wi-Fi, it's off 99% of the time because I never have a problem getting an LTE call out no matter where I am.
I hope I can turn on WiFi calling on my iPad and Apple watch, but leave it off on my iPhone (so it stays on LTE.) WiFi isn't super reliable at work (so neither are the wifi calls) whereas LTE calls are rock solid.

 

[iGeek2014]

I guess I'm slightly confused about one aspect of this ... how exactly does one initiate a phone call on an iOS device that wasn't originally designed to make phone calls (iPod Touch, WiFi-only iPad, Mac)? Where do you access the number pad to dial?

EDIT: Nevermind, I assume one must use the FaceTime app to dial. Not sure why that slipped my mind.

I'm in the UK and those networks who support WiFi Calling don't have it enabled for when iPhone is turned off (yet).

However I imagine it's like Continuity; on Mac for example I open the contacts app and to the right of the number is a phone icon.

I tap that and it places the call.

I think it's the same for iPod Touch & iPad too.

 

[grobik]

Doesn't seem to work for Apple watch. All the settings are turned on. Calls on other devices on. My Mac shows up but not my watch. Put iPhone in airplane mode and can't make a call from watch. Just call failed.

Just tried on my Mac too. won't call out. Even though my Mac is available as a device in the settings for calls on other devices.

 

[Cmd-Z]

What happens if you call yourself?

- People will think you're crazy
- You'll go blind

 

[sirozha]

Good to see Verizon is just now catching up to a feature T-Mobile customers have had for about four years.

As a former Verizon customer, they can tout their network all they like, but it doesn't change that I have 1 bar of coverage in my basement, regardless of whether I'm on Verizon or T-Mobile. Wi-Fi Calling is an essential feature and should be an industry standard, because as it turns out, a cell tower a few miles away can't get a good signal into people's basements. Cell networks are nice and all, but there's a reason most people still have home wi-fi, even if it means putting up with Comcast or Time Warner.

This article is not about "Wi-Fi Calling". It is about "Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices," which is an extension of wi-fi calling allowing one to call from an iPad (even when on cellular data connection only) as well as from an Apple Watch and a Mac when the iPhone is not on the same wi-fi or even turned off. Regular wi-fi calling requires that a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPod be on the same wi-fi network as the iPhone and iPhone be turned on.

I'm sure Verizon has had wi-if calling available for a while. "Wi-Fi calling on Other Decices" has not been out for four years. It's a relatively new feature released by Apple. This is the only reason I bought Apple Watch 2 because I can leave my iPhone in the locker room in my gym and still be able to receive and make calls on the exercise floor from my Apple Watch. In fact, I can turn my iPhone off, and as long as my Apple Watch is on a wi-if, it functions beatifully as a phone on my wrist so I don't have to bring my iPhone with me to the exercise floor.
[doublepost=1485428547][/doublepost]

Doesn't seem to work for Apple watch. All the settings are turned on. Calls on other devices on. My Mac shows up but not my watch. Put iPhone in airplane mode and can't make a call from watch. Just call failed.

Just tried on my Mac too. won't call out. Even though my Mac is available as a device in the settings for calls on other devices.

Reboot everything.
[doublepost=1485428764][/doublepost]

It seems like there is a lot of confusion. WiFi calling has worked on Verizon for a while, even from other devices (mac, watch, and iPad,) but calls on those devices would route through the phone which would make the actually Wi-Fi or LTE call through Verizon's network.
The new feature just decouples the phone and allows those calls do go directly to Verizon over Wi-Fi calling without the phone being on. That may have existed on other networks for a while (I don't really know and it doesn't really matter.)

As for Verizon #1 yadda yadda. All I can say is that I had AT&T for ages, switched to Verizon. I also still have phones on T-Moble. Verizon has been far more reliable, but your mileage will vary depending on where you live, I suppose.
Even though I have Verizon Wi-Fi, it's off 99% of the time because I never have a problem getting an LTE call out no matter where I am.
I hope I can turn on WiFi calling on my iPad and Apple watch, but leave it off on my iPhone (so it stays on LTE.) WiFi isn't super reliable at work (so neither are the wifi calls) whereas LTE calls are rock solid.

Wi-Fi calling on the iPhone only kicks in if the regular cellular connection is not available or sub-par. Otherwise, the calls always use the cellular connection.
[doublepost=1485429077][/doublepost]

But the phone itself will switch to "VZW WiFi", routing calls to/from Verizon over your WiFi when that's markedly better than the VZW cellular connection (this has been available for a long time), and the phone can hand off calls to a Mac or iPad - how does having the Mac or iPad talking to Verizon directly, make you more productive?

Having you Apple Watch talking to carrier directly makes you more productive.
[doublepost=1485429813][/doublepost]

This is not new I have had this on my Verizon iPhone and have used it.

You have not had the feature described in this article on your Verizon iPhone. What you have had is "Wi-Fi Calling". With Continuity, Wi-Fi calling is similar to the "Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices" except one minor but important difference. You had to have you iPhone turned on and joined to the same Wi-Fi as other devices (and the Wi-Fi must allow clients to communicate with one another, which is disabled on public Wi-Fi networks for security considerations). With "Wi-Fi Calling on Other Devices" your iPhone can be turned off, and all your other Apple devices, including your Apple Watch, can make and receive calls as long as they have internet connectivity. iPads can use Wi-Fi or cellular internet. Macs can use Wi-Fi or wired networks, Apple Watch and iPod Touch have only Wi-Fi. All of these devices can be on completely different networks and be in different physical locations and still be able to make and receive phone calls.

 

[driceman]

Funny thing... I am the exact opposite of you.... I just switched to Verizon from T-Mobile. The reliability of T-Mobile is garbage... especially when traveling. Lots of place along the highway with "No service" or EDGE data (unusable in 2017)... these same places are blanketed in Verizon LTE.

That being said... Verizon has had Wi-Fi calling for a while now.

This article is about the Continuity feature "Allow Calls from other devices." I actually wasn't aware of any limitation by Verizon. Literally switched to Verizon about a week ago... during this time, I never experienced any interruption of this feature... and I am not on any betas. Here are screencaps from my iPhone 7 Plus on 10.2.1 and my Macbook Pro on 10.12.2.

iPhone 7 Screens:
View attachment 685452 View attachment 685453
Macbook Screens (one in which I am calling into my own Google Voice number from Verizon numer on my Mac):
View attachment 685451 View attachment 685454

The "calls on other devices" section has been on my T-Mobile phone since iOS 9 launched, I think. Verizon is definitely behind on features.

But your mileage may vary. I have no doubt that in some areas, one carrier is significantly better than the other, but here in Colorado, the coverage difference between Verizon and T-Mobile is negligible to nonexistent. So I'm certainly not going to pay way more for Verizon to treat me like garbage every time I'm in there stores and give me minuscule shared data buckets to work with. I would only go back to Verizon if they were literally the only carrier that had coverage where I lived.
[doublepost=1485445464][/doublepost]

Move out of your parents basement.

Thank you for your intelligent contribution.

 

[jocamero]

Has anyone on Verizon gotten this to work on 10.3 DP1? I've enable it in the updated settings on my iPhone, but it's not working on other devices without having a connection to the iPhone.

Can't wait for this to start working. As a former T-Mobile customer, I really miss this feature.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Really? How so? Genuinely curious as I have a bunch of home automation and haven't had a land line for 10 years (assuming you mean phone/POTS line)?

Sorry. I meant an internet connection. A non cellular hard internet connection.

 

[profets]

Sorry. I meant an internet connection. A non cellular hard internet connection.

Ahh. Yes, lol definitely would want a solid/stable internet connection.

 

[pcorrado]

Has anyone on Verizon gotten this to work on 10.3 DP1? I've enable it in the updated settings on my iPhone, but it's not working on other devices without having a connection to the iPhone.

Can't wait for this to start working. As a former T-Mobile customer, I really miss this feature.

I have it working on my iPad Mini 4 but it only started working after it was updated to the beta. My guess is we will have to wait for updates to get it to work on all devices. I have an Apple Watch which it does not work on yet and I am updating my mac to the latest public beta tonight so I can check that tomorrow.

 

[falkedup]

Does the Apple Watch not count as a device for this?