OREANDA-NEWS. Deutsche Telekom is making its network even better with WLAN Call: as of now, Deutsche Telekom's mobile customers can make calls on their smartphones via any WiFi network.

Jun 23, 2016

  • Mobile calls to places with insufficient network coverage
  • WLAN Call launches with Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge
  • No additional app required – now the call button can do more
  • Costs same as a call from Germany

Deutsche Telekom is making its network even better with WLAN Call: as of now, Deutsche Telekom's mobile customers can make calls on their smartphones via any WiFi (WLAN) network in Germany or abroad, and can also receive calls on the go via WiFi. Calls and text messages worldwide cost customers the same as calls and texts from Germany.

WLAN Call is an add-on with no monthly charge. Customers simply need a WLAN Call-enabled smartphone and a VoLTE-enabled mobile contract (Voice over LTE). Calls made via WiFi are subject to the same the terms and conditions as calls within Germany under the customer's mobile calling plan. In the first step, users of the Samsung GalaxyS6 and GalaxyS6 edge will benefit from the advantages of WLAN Call. More smartphones will follow over the next few months.

WLAN Call is of particular benefit in places that for construction reasons don't have sufficient mobile reception, but do have WiFi. Typical such places are underground garages or basements. In principle, all public and private WiFi networks can be used for WLAN Call. It requires a bandwidth of at least 100KB. Calls in Germany will be transferred to the LTE network without interruption when there is sufficient signal strength.

WLAN Call can also be used outside of Germany. Calls are charged at the same rate as calls made from Germany. This means that if the customer has an Allnet Flat rate in all networks, then calls to Germany via WLAN Call are covered. Calls to other countries are billed as if the call was being made from Germany to the other country.

WLAN Call is implemented in the smartphone's software. The advantage for customers is that there is no need to install an additional app, because the function is integrated in the smartphone's telephone button. So customers use their mobile number as usual. Depending on the model, all users have to do is update their smartphone software.