MILLIONS of Android owners have been urged to download a free upgrade that instantly boosts their phone signal.
Crackly phone calls due to a poor signal can be infuriating, as people raise their voices in the hope shouting might solve the problem.
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However Wi-Fi Calling allows users to use their home broadband ISP or other WiFi connection to make mobile voice calls.
According to Virgin Media, it’s a “useful feature that allows you to make calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of the mobile network.”
“A Wi-Fi call will work if you have access to a Wi-Fi network and have Wi-Fi calling enabled on your device,” the network provider explained in a help page on its website.
“So you can chat away like normal, even with a low mobile signal.”
However many Android owners have struggled to make Wi-Fi calls due to technical glitches.
Now the team at Lebara have said the issue could be solved with
Google’s recent software update for their Pixel devices.
Initial reports suggest the update has helped solve the problem for Lebara and TalkMobile.
However tech website www.ispreview.co.uk has reported that the latest update doesn’t extend to all of Google’s devices. Users with Pixel 4 or older series could continue to struggle.
It’s important to note that Wi-Fi Calling is free when connected to a real broadband connection.
But as Virgin Media notes, “roaming charges can really rack up if you make calls abroad if they aren’t included in your plan.”
Turn on Wi-Fi calling
First, grab your phone and open your settings.
Click on the Mobile Service tab, near the top of the screen.
Here, you will see an option for Wi-Fi Calling – which will probably say ‘Off’ next to it.
If you click on the Wi-Fi Calling tab, there will be a toggle to switch it on.
If you click the toggle, and it turns green, you have successfully switched on Wi-Fi Calling.
I don’t see it in my settings?
If you don’t see the Wi-Fi Calling tab in your settings, then your phone might be too old to support it.
The feature is usually only available on iPhones or newer Android models.
The company advises “you connect to any local Wi-Fi, you can chat hassle-free without paying crazy roaming fees”.
