Little known or ignored, the functionality that allows you to make calls in high sound quality is nevertheless more than easy to access. It’s even free. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it.
Chatting on the phone with friends, family or work colleagues is good. Doing it with pleasant sound quality and being exempt from all-too-frequent “eh” or “how” is even better. For this, today there is HD voice, or high definition telephony, with Wi-Fi (called VoWiFi) and 4G (called VoLTE) calls. This is good because these two possibilities are included in your different mobile plans. Let’s take a look at the details and how it works.
VoLTE, what is it and how to use it?
Let’s start with the famous VoLTE, 4G calls. Here, your calls benefit from high definition speed and quality. The call is, thanks to the option, faster; and the most optimal sound. This is the subtlety of 4G, since the 2G and 3G of yesteryear did not allow you to call and surf on your phone at the same time. 4G corrected that, much to the delight of our ears.
If you think that it is essential to subscribe to a paid option to benefit from VoLTE calls, rest assured: customers of SFR, Orange and Bouygues Telecom do not in fact have to do anything. If your smartphone is compatible (this is the case for the majority of cell phones marketed in recent years), you then automatically benefit from it.
For Free Mobile customers, the process was fortunately simplified last December. Virtual operators, such as La Poste Mobile or Auchan Telecom, may ask that you call their customer service.
VoWIFI, what is it and how to use it?
If your mobile network is faulty, wherever you are where your 3G, 4G or 5G does not pass through the walls, yes, it is still possible to make calls in high sound quality. And this is possible thanks to VoWIFI, which allows you to make calls wherever there is Wi-Fi, whether at home, in a hotel, in the gym or in a restaurant. If, for example, you are an Orange subscriber and you do not have a mobile connection, your phone will make your call using Wi-Fi.
As with VoLTE calling, you can make your call and browse the Internet at the same time, and this possibility is offered to you thanks to your mobile plan. For VoWIFI as for VoLTE, you should know that as long as you have a data envelope (in “GB”), the high definition voice call remains free.
How to activate VoWIFI and VoLTE?
- On Android, you will generally have to go through the Mobile Networks menu to activate HD Voice; and by Calls and SMS from the Settings menu then click on the preference of your choice, if you prefer a call via Wi-Fi or via the mobile network.
- On iOS, VoWIFI is activated from the settings and the Phone menu. VoLTE can be configured from the following path: Cellular data > Options > Voice and data.
The 3 things to know that make the difference when you call in “HD audio”
First thing to know about VoLTE and VoWIFI: if you use your 4G, let’s say, know that the call will not drain any of your mobile data envelope. It’s quite practical and good to know.
Second important thing, the call you make in high definition audio will not be interrupted if you switch to the traditional mobile network, to put it simply. Your call will continue, but with lower audio quality. So no stress.
Finally, the last thing to know is that your interlocutor must also benefit from VoWIFI or VoLTE, if you both want to be able to exchange in HD audio. A detail that is important.