After the most recent update of my Galaxy S8, I received this notification. My husband received it as well. He had some questions about what it was and how it worked. Since I was already explaining it to him, I thought I might as well share with you.
WiFi calling allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi connection when no cell network is available. For those of you who live in an urban area with easy cell access, this may not seem like much of a problem. But there are mountainous and wooded areas where 3G and 4G are hard to come by. Or some of us work in concrete basements that diminish signals. Here’s how to turn it on. I have a Galaxy S8 and I’ll show you how to do it with that model. All Android phones are a bit different, so I can’t guarantee that you’ll have that option or that the steps will be exactly the same on yours.
First, open Settings on your device and choose Connections.
Choose Advanced Calling.
You’ll need to give permission for Advanced Calling to make changes to your phone.
Tap on Activate Wi-Fi Calling.
You’ll need to enter an emergency address so that first responders will have an idea of where to find you if you need to call 9-1-1. If you’re away from home, you should update that address.
You can also set your phone to switch to a Wi-Fi connection when you’re outside of your phone provider’s network. This can help you avoid roaming charges. This won’t guarantee you can switch to Wi-Fi. A network needs to be available.
You’ll be reminded to always give your current location to 9-1-1 if possible in the event of an emergency.