WiFi Calling: The lowdown
WiFi Calling lets you make and receive calls, texts and MMS anywhere in the world with a suitable WiFi connection, even without mobile coverage.
It can be used any time that your phone has a WiFi signal - so WiFi calling is a great option if mobile reception is a bit sketchy, or you're overseas.
No app or passwords are needed - just follow the below steps to get WiFi Calling set up on your Kiwi Mobile device.
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How do you get WiFi Calling?
You'll need to have a phone that is compatible with WiFi Calling. Make sure your phone's software is up to date so that you're able to use this feature.
With some new phones, WiFi Calling is good to go straight out of the box - but others might need a software update to get it enabled. You'll have to accept this update to install the software.
Once your device's software is updated, you can switch on WiFi Calling from the settings menu. There's no need to sign up or download an app.
When WiFi Calling is turned on, you can make calls over any WiFi network, even if there’s no mobile signal. Your phone will automatically switch to WiFi Calling when it detects a suitable WiFi network.
Activating WiFi calling
As long as your device supports it, switching on WiFi Calling should be a piece of cake.
- Enable WiFi Calling in device settings:
Go to your phone Settings where you’ll be able to toggle WiFi Calling on. On some devices you'll need to go to the Connections or mobile network tab in your Phone Settings. - Connect to WiFi and start chatting up a storm.
If you can't connect, try restarting your phone and if for any reason WiFi Calling isn’t doing what you expect, you can go back to your phone settings and turn it off.
What are the charges for using WiFi Calling?
This depends on whether it's in New Zealand or overseas. If you're overseas, the charges for calls depend on whether you're calling back home or dialing another international number.
WiFi Calling in New Zealand
When you’re in NZ and use WiFi Calling, calls and texts are included in your Kiwi Mobile Choice Plan as usual – no extra mobile charges, just extra coverage. Bear in mind that WiFi Calling will use internet data and may be subject to data charges depending on how you’re connecting to WiFi.
WiFi Calling when overseas
When you travel or roam overseas, WiFi Calling is a great way to save money. When your phone connects to our network using WiFi Calling, calls or texts to New Zealand or Australian numbers are treated as if you're in New Zealand*.
If you call or text a country other than New Zealand or Aussie when overaseas, roaming rates may apply. This includes calls or texts sent within the overseas destination you’re in.
To be sure that when you’re overseas you only use WiFi Calling (and don’t connect to local mobile networks at all), you can put your phone into flight mode, then activate WiFi and WiFi Calling only. This should stop you receiving any additional roaming charges.
Don't forget:
When you're abroad you need to include the international calling code at the start of the number being dialed (even if it's a number in that same country).
For example if you're trying to ring 026 123456, you need drop the zero at the beginning, and replace it with +64 (NZ's calling code). A full list of every countries internal calling codes can be found at Countrycode.org.
Also note when you're in another country that overseas short-codes, freephone or premium numbers won't work when WiFi Calling is turned on.
*Broadband charges may apply if you’re not using Electric Kiwi broadband. NZ international call rates apply, including to all calls made from overseas to destinations besides NZ and Aussie. This includes calls made within the destination you are visiting. How much data does WiFi calling use, and what would I be charged?
WiFi calling doesn’t use much data at all - only about 1MB of broadband data per minute. Which means 1GB of broadband data will give you around 1,000 minutes of WiFi calls.
WiFi Calling will only use a fraction of your bandwidth, so should run easily on most broadband connections. Even if there are multiple devices streaming videos or downloading big files on that broadband connection, the most you should notice is a slight loss of voice quality of your call.
WiFi calling with Electric Kiwi Broadband
Electric Kiwi broadband plans offer unlimited data - so there would be no extra usage charge for using WiFi calling.
WiFi Calling from another broadband provider
You’ll need to check with the provider whether WiFi calling is free using their broadband connection, or if the plan is unlimited. If neither of these are the case, the standard data usage charges will apply. As mentioned above, WiFi calling doesn’t use a whole lot of data. So this should still work out to be pretty friendly on the wallet.
WiFi Calling: Other stuff you should know
Phone functions that are not supported by WiFi Calling:
- Updating your Call Forwarding or Voicemail settings. Return to the mobile network and these features will work again.
- Emergency calls and Civil Defence notifications (see below for more details)
- Using USSD short-codes. This will work again when you’re back on the mobile network.
- Initially enabling WiFi Calling will cause 3G video calls to not work on WiFi or mobile. To correct this, turn off WiFi Calling and contact us on live chat to be removed from the WiFi Calling list.
Can I make emergency calls or receive emergency alerts using WiFi calling?
Even if WiFi calling is enabled, emergency calls will try to use mobile network coverage first. Within NZ, your phone will use WiFi if there’s no mobile coverage. Unfortunately though overseas and emergency calls won't go through without mobile coverage.
NZ Civil alerts will still come through when you're in NZ as long as you have (2degrees whose infrastucture we leverage) network coverage.
Is WiFi calling secure?
WiFi Calling uses the same SIM-based authentication a call normally would, so is still secure.
Will you track my location when using WiFi Calling?
We'll only track which country you are calling to and from - just to make sure we are billing you correctly.
Does WiFi calling work with any hotspot?
If the connection is good enough for WiFi calling you'll see the WiFi calling icon at the top of your screen. Some hotspots either don't have a connection thats up to par for WiFi calling, or block the service on their connection (normally public or coporate connections). In that case, your phone will continue to use the regular mobile network.
Leaving WiFi coverage while on a call
If you leave WiFi coverage while on a WiFi call, the call will drop out when the signal becomes too weak - even if you have regular cellular network coverage.