Cell C launches Wi-Fi Calling

Cell C will launch Wi-Fi Calling on 1 October 2015.

“With thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots nationally and millions more internationally, this service will provide customers with an affordable mobile service anywhere in the world,” said Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos.

Cell C Wi-Fi Calling essentially turns a Wi-Fi hotspot into a Cell C base station, providing customers with coverage to make calls and send SMS messages over the Wi-Fi network.

Customers do not have to download an application – they enable the service via their phone settings on a supported Wi-Fi-enabled handset.

Both contract and prepaid customers with a Cell C USIM can use the service.

Depending on the codec of the device, Wi-Fi Calling uses around 1.5MB for a 10-minute call, said Cell C – with Cell C tariff plan rates applied to the calls.

“To benefit from Cell C’s Wi-Fi Calling, customers need to ensure that the Wi-Fi Calling icon appears on the top of their phone screen when using the service.”

Cell C will launch Wi-Fi Calling with the AG Style handset, which will be available countrywide from 1 October.

During October, the service will be released on the AG Shine, and ZTE V6 and ZTE V6 Lite handsets. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge will follow in November.

Two additional devices from Samsung will be Wi-Fi Calling capable in 2015, with the Huawei P8 Lite expected to be Wi-Fi functional during the first quarter of 2016.

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