These offer 1,000 Cell C on-network minutes, 1,000 SMS messages, and 500 all-network minutes for R199 per month.<\/p>\n
To get an idea of what subscribers can expect from Cell C Wi-Fi calling, we put the service to the test using a ZTE Blade V6 which is set to become available on Cell C from 15 October.<\/p>\n
Disconnection from the Cell C mobile network<\/h3>\n![\"Cell](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Cell-C-Wi-Fi-calling-connection-icon-and-settings.jpg\")
<\/a>Cell C Wi-Fi calling connection icon and settings<\/p><\/div>\n
Two things immediately stood out while testing Cell C\u2019s Wi-Fi calling service on our Android device.<\/p>\n
Firstly, there was an additional icon in the notification tray which appeared when connected to a Wi-Fi network – it\u00a0showed whether Wi-Fi calling was available or not.<\/p>\n
Secondly, when Wi-Fi calling was available, the phone would disconnect from Cell C\u2019s mobile network.<\/p>\n
This could be a smart long-term move from the operator, as it may free up capacity on its towers for those without Wi-Fi calling or who are not on Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n
We tested Wi-Fi calling on a number of different Wi-Fi networks which were connected to the Internet through various carriers and service providers.<\/p>\n
On DSL accounts from Vox and Webafrica, we were unable to connect to the Cell C Wi-Fi calling service – receiving messages such as \u201cError5:DNS Error\u201d.<\/p>\n
On Telkom LTE-A and a Centurion-based wireless ISP (Level-7), we were able to access Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\n
Cell C is aware of the DNS error experienced on some DSL networks.<\/p>\n
![\"Cell](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Cell-C-Wi-Fi-connection-errors.jpg\")
<\/a>Cell C Wi-Fi connection errors<\/p><\/div>\n
Making and receiving calls<\/h3>\n
We also tested whether you could make and receive calls to or from Cell C, MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom, while on Cell C Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\n
All calls made from our Cell C number routed correctly.<\/p>\n
Calls made from other mobile operators came through to our device on Wi-Fi calling, with the exception of those placed from a Telkom number that had been ported from Vodacom.<\/p>\n
Calls from this Telkom number did not come through whether we were on Wi-Fi calling or Cell C\u2019s mobile network.<\/p>\n
We were able to call this ported Telkom number from our Cell C test SIM. Calls from an unported Telkom number connected successfully.<\/p>\n
Cell C is aware of this routing issue between a number ported to Telkom and one of its SIMs.<\/p>\n
While testing call routing, two things stood out:<\/p>\n
\n- The icon on the green call button in the dialler changed to show that a Wi-Fi call was being made.<\/li>\n
- When hanging up from the device on Cell C Wi-Fi calling, it took\u00a0a few seconds for the network to register that the call had been disconnected. If the other phone was ringing, it continued to ring for a few seconds while the call disconnected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Cell](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Cell-C-Wi-Fi-calling-dialler-popup-and-hanging-up-hang.jpg\")
<\/a>Cell C Wi-Fi calling dialler, popup, and hanging up “hang”<\/p><\/div>\n
Call quality<\/h3>\n
Call quality was tested with a Telkom mobile subscriber, while the ZTE Blade V6 was connected to a hotspot backed by a Telkom LTE-A wireless broadband connection.<\/p>\n
Both participants could hear one another clearly, and there was no discernible latency between speaking and getting a reply.<\/p>\n
Update:<\/strong>\u00a0Cell C said it has isolated the DNS problems we reported to likely be due to a query standard not supported by our\u00a0DSL router. It has addressed the issue by building a fallback to a supported DNS query\u00a0into\u00a0devices that support Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\nDisclaimer:<\/strong> Cell C provided a ZTE Blade V6 and a SIM with R100 airtime with which to test its Wi-Fi calling service.<\/em><\/p>\nMore on Wi-Fi calling<\/h3>\n
Cell C Wi-Fi calling deals<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>Cell C Wi-Fi calling connection icon and settings<\/p><\/div>\n
Two things immediately stood out while testing Cell C\u2019s Wi-Fi calling service on our Android device.<\/p>\n
Firstly, there was an additional icon in the notification tray which appeared when connected to a Wi-Fi network – it\u00a0showed whether Wi-Fi calling was available or not.<\/p>\n
Secondly, when Wi-Fi calling was available, the phone would disconnect from Cell C\u2019s mobile network.<\/p>\n
This could be a smart long-term move from the operator, as it may free up capacity on its towers for those without Wi-Fi calling or who are not on Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n
We tested Wi-Fi calling on a number of different Wi-Fi networks which were connected to the Internet through various carriers and service providers.<\/p>\n
On DSL accounts from Vox and Webafrica, we were unable to connect to the Cell C Wi-Fi calling service – receiving messages such as \u201cError5:DNS Error\u201d.<\/p>\n
On Telkom LTE-A and a Centurion-based wireless ISP (Level-7), we were able to access Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\n
Cell C is aware of the DNS error experienced on some DSL networks.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Cell C Wi-Fi connection errors<\/p><\/div>\n
Making and receiving calls<\/h3>\n
We also tested whether you could make and receive calls to or from Cell C, MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom, while on Cell C Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\n
All calls made from our Cell C number routed correctly.<\/p>\n
Calls made from other mobile operators came through to our device on Wi-Fi calling, with the exception of those placed from a Telkom number that had been ported from Vodacom.<\/p>\n
Calls from this Telkom number did not come through whether we were on Wi-Fi calling or Cell C\u2019s mobile network.<\/p>\n
We were able to call this ported Telkom number from our Cell C test SIM. Calls from an unported Telkom number connected successfully.<\/p>\n
Cell C is aware of this routing issue between a number ported to Telkom and one of its SIMs.<\/p>\n
While testing call routing, two things stood out:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The icon on the green call button in the dialler changed to show that a Wi-Fi call was being made.<\/li>\n
- When hanging up from the device on Cell C Wi-Fi calling, it took\u00a0a few seconds for the network to register that the call had been disconnected. If the other phone was ringing, it continued to ring for a few seconds while the call disconnected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Cell C Wi-Fi calling dialler, popup, and hanging up “hang”<\/p><\/div>\n
Call quality<\/h3>\n
Call quality was tested with a Telkom mobile subscriber, while the ZTE Blade V6 was connected to a hotspot backed by a Telkom LTE-A wireless broadband connection.<\/p>\n
Both participants could hear one another clearly, and there was no discernible latency between speaking and getting a reply.<\/p>\n
Update:<\/strong>\u00a0Cell C said it has isolated the DNS problems we reported to likely be due to a query standard not supported by our\u00a0DSL router. It has addressed the issue by building a fallback to a supported DNS query\u00a0into\u00a0devices that support Wi-Fi calling.<\/p>\n
Disclaimer:<\/strong> Cell C provided a ZTE Blade V6 and a SIM with R100 airtime with which to test its Wi-Fi calling service.<\/em><\/p>\n
More on Wi-Fi calling<\/h3>\n
Cell C Wi-Fi calling deals<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n