VoIP providers unconcerned about WhatsApp calling in South Africa

[Jan]

WhatsApp calling not a problem for VoIP in South Africa

Three major voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) providers in South Africa are not worried that data-based calling like that offered through WhatsApp will threaten their offerings.

A conventional cellular call converts your voice into radio waves transmitted through the air between mobile towers and backhaul networks, which is converted back into voice at the receiver's end.

 

[zolly]

Of course. Every time I try to make a call through Whatsapp it's laggy AF. Voice is clear but you may as well be using a walkie-talkie. Over.

 

[bwana]

Of course. Every time I try to make a call through Whatsapp it's laggy AF. Voice is clear but you may as well be using a walkie-talkie. Over.

Voip doesn't seem to be much better if those call-centre calls are anything to go by.

 

[Ockie]

For business use, a proper voip solution would be best I suppose. We use 3CX at work and all of us have the app on our phones. I however prefer calling customers via my Vodacom sim though as I get work minutes on my work phone anyway and I find the quality is better with Vodacom Volte, specially if it is cellphone to cellphone and the person I am calling also has Volte (I can see this when Phone by Google displays "HD" on the call screen)

For my personal calls to family and friends I use either Google Meet (previously Duo) or Telegram, depending on which platform they are. Iphone friends tend to be only on Telegram. Quality on both platforms is great. Crystal clear and no lag, most of the time.

 

[damian24]

and if you live in a first world country WhatsApp calls are crystal clear, why would you bother though when every package, costing more than a couple of £, includes unlimited national (including mobile) minutes - people use mobile and don't bother with VoIP.

I use WhatsApp to call back to South Africa though, if they dropped international costs for calls to South Africa I'd phone instead but South African operators are ripping off the international community for transit.

my rates are 1p (20c) a minute to EU, USA, Aus, NZ and 15p (R3) to South Africa landlines.

D