[h=3]EE to offer phone calls and texts over WiFi[/h] Posted by Ahmed Bakr on Saturday, June 21, 2014
[h=2]Mobile users in areas with no signal will be able to start making calls over WiFi later this year[/h] UK mobile operator EE has announced that, from autumn 2014, customers will be able to make high-quality calls and send text messages, even when they are only connected by WiFi.
One of the biggest bugbears of mobile users living and working in areas of the UK with weak or no mobile signal is that they cannot make or receive calls or text messages. This can be as much of an issue inside buildings as it is in rural areas of the country.
Although there are apps that allow smartphone users to get around this by delivering voice and text over the internet – such as Skype and WhatApp – anyone trying to get in contact via conventional methods will be unsuccessful.
This means that a mobile user who is stuck in a so-called 'not-spot' for a sustained period of time will likely receive a barrage of missed calls, voicemails and text messages as soon as they step back into an area of signal.
EE's new voice-over-WiFi service will allow people to make calls and send texts over WiFi using the phone’s native dialler, and without the need for any additional third-party apps. In other words, the phone will retain full functionality, even when there is no mobile signal.
EE claims that its voice-over-WiFi service will offer a higher quality and greater degree of reliability than exisiting voice-over-internet services like Skype.
However, Tom Bennett, EE's director of network services, admitted that part of the motivation for providing voice-over-WiFi is to provide service in areas that are currently not well served by EE's 2G, 3G and 4G networks.
“There are going to be places where we don't currently penetrate," he said. "I'm confident I run the best mobile network in the UK, but equally I can't cover everywhere, so part of voice-over-WiFi is prioritising the best customer experience."
Ahead of the launch of its voice-over-WiFi service this autumn, EE is embarking on a process of testing as much public WiFi as possible, to ensure that customers only connect to networks that are capable of providing a 'carrier-grade' level of service.
"We will hold final control. Being perfectly frank, if the public WiFi isn't good enough I won't let it be used," said Bennett.
EE also revealed that it is working on enabling voice and text services over LTE (4G). Although around 3 million people subscribe to EE's 4G network for data services, they currently have to drop to 3G or 2G when they make phone calls.
Enabling 4G calling will not make a huge difference to consumers, as high-definition voice is already available over 3G, but it will allow operators like EE to offer additional services in the future.
EE will begin testing 4G calling later in 2014, using the 800MHz spectrum acquired in last year’s auction. The trial will expand data and voice coverage, bringing service to a previously unconnected part of rural Oxfordshire.
800MHz spectrum has better reach than 1800MHz spectrum, so can be used by EE to significantly increase the geographical coverage of its data and voice network, the company said.
Update: Three has announced that it is also launching an app, calledThree inTouch, which will allow customers to talk and text using a Wi-Fi connection. The app will be available to all customers from early August and will be offered free to all of Three's contract, SIM and Pay As You Go customers.
Source (telegraph.co)
Articles Pocket: EE to offer phone calls and texts over WiFi
[h=2]Mobile users in areas with no signal will be able to start making calls over WiFi later this year[/h] UK mobile operator EE has announced that, from autumn 2014, customers will be able to make high-quality calls and send text messages, even when they are only connected by WiFi.
One of the biggest bugbears of mobile users living and working in areas of the UK with weak or no mobile signal is that they cannot make or receive calls or text messages. This can be as much of an issue inside buildings as it is in rural areas of the country.
Although there are apps that allow smartphone users to get around this by delivering voice and text over the internet – such as Skype and WhatApp – anyone trying to get in contact via conventional methods will be unsuccessful.
This means that a mobile user who is stuck in a so-called 'not-spot' for a sustained period of time will likely receive a barrage of missed calls, voicemails and text messages as soon as they step back into an area of signal.
EE's new voice-over-WiFi service will allow people to make calls and send texts over WiFi using the phone’s native dialler, and without the need for any additional third-party apps. In other words, the phone will retain full functionality, even when there is no mobile signal.
EE claims that its voice-over-WiFi service will offer a higher quality and greater degree of reliability than exisiting voice-over-internet services like Skype.
However, Tom Bennett, EE's director of network services, admitted that part of the motivation for providing voice-over-WiFi is to provide service in areas that are currently not well served by EE's 2G, 3G and 4G networks.
“There are going to be places where we don't currently penetrate," he said. "I'm confident I run the best mobile network in the UK, but equally I can't cover everywhere, so part of voice-over-WiFi is prioritising the best customer experience."
Ahead of the launch of its voice-over-WiFi service this autumn, EE is embarking on a process of testing as much public WiFi as possible, to ensure that customers only connect to networks that are capable of providing a 'carrier-grade' level of service.
"We will hold final control. Being perfectly frank, if the public WiFi isn't good enough I won't let it be used," said Bennett.
EE also revealed that it is working on enabling voice and text services over LTE (4G). Although around 3 million people subscribe to EE's 4G network for data services, they currently have to drop to 3G or 2G when they make phone calls.
Enabling 4G calling will not make a huge difference to consumers, as high-definition voice is already available over 3G, but it will allow operators like EE to offer additional services in the future.
EE will begin testing 4G calling later in 2014, using the 800MHz spectrum acquired in last year’s auction. The trial will expand data and voice coverage, bringing service to a previously unconnected part of rural Oxfordshire.
800MHz spectrum has better reach than 1800MHz spectrum, so can be used by EE to significantly increase the geographical coverage of its data and voice network, the company said.
Update: Three has announced that it is also launching an app, calledThree inTouch, which will allow customers to talk and text using a Wi-Fi connection. The app will be available to all customers from early August and will be offered free to all of Three's contract, SIM and Pay As You Go customers.
Source (telegraph.co)
Articles Pocket: EE to offer phone calls and texts over WiFi
