Cell C will launch commercial Wi-Fi calling to its entire customer base on 1 October, the mobile operator said on Wednesday.
Users will be able to use any Wi-Fi network anywhere in the world to make calls at the same price they pay for a call over Cell C’s network.
Unlike voice-over-Internet protocol services, customers do not have to download an application. Instead, they simply enable the Wi-Fi calling service via their phone settings on a supported handset.
“Whether you are in a basement or find yourself in an area with no cellular coverage, Wi-Fi access will allow you to still receive a full mobile experience, including voice, USSD self service and SMS,” said Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos.
To use the Wi-Fi calling service, Cell C customers need to ensure that a Wi-Fi calling icon appears on the top of their screen when using it.
The operator will launch the service with the AG Style handset, which will be available from retailers from 1 October. The AG Shine will follow in mid-October, and the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge to follow in the third week of November. The Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and Galaxy Note 5 will follow in mid-December.
“We are in talks with the other handset manufacturers, including BlackBerry, Sony, Microsoft, LG and Apple, about Wi-Fi calling. We hope to provide Wi-Fi calling launch dates on these devices in the coming months,” Dos Santos said.
The company will launch the service with a number of deals, including a R199 Wi-Fi bundle that offers a thousand calls to Cell C’s network and 500 minutes to other networks, along with a thousand SMSes. — © 2015 NewsCentral Media
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