Wi-Fi Calling.

So with WhatsApp and Skype impacting revenues what do mobile operators have up their sleeves? Well, here comes Wi-Fi calling, which enables mobile phone users to make regular calls and text using the native phone dialer and text application and does not require a separate application additionally, the mobile phone is reachable via the normal phone number.

One issue that has come up is the absence of TTY (Text Telephone) support which lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type messages back and forth to one another instead of talking and listening. Instead, some companies like AT&T are pursuing an alternative protocol called real-time text (RTT), which is compatible with IP networking.

A concern by most users is what happens when I am out of Wi-Fi range. If your carrier provides VoLTE (See previous post) then your mobile device will seamlessly connect to the VoLTE network and call continues. In a recent study done by Ericsson 4 out of 5 Wi-Fi calling users interviewed in the US are very satisfied with the service. Whilst 53% of users replaced WhatsApp usage with voice calls.

So let’s see who will be first to market in Trinidad and Tobago as it promises increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.