The Wi-Fi calling icon on your phone: what it means and when to use it

A headset icon with Wi-Fi waves can appear in the top bar of some smartphones. According to Antyweb, it means the phone is using Wi-Fi Calling. It is not a virus or a paid option.

How Wi-Fi Calling works

A phone normally connects to the nearest operator mast. When thick walls or tall buildings stand between the phone and the mast, the signal can drop almost to zero, and calls may not go through. With the feature switched on, the phone treats your home router much like a mobile mast. Calls and texts then travel over the internet to the operator's infrastructure. Making a call looks the same as usual: you choose a contact and dial. No app needs to be installed.

When it is worth switching it on

The article's author advises against switching the feature off manually, as you never know when it will be useful. It highlights places with no mobile signal, such as a basement or garage, and weak-signal situations where saving battery matters.

It is usually switched on in the phone's settings, in the calls or phone section. On Android, look for an option called "Wi-Fi calling", and on an iPhone, look for the same name in the Phone section. Exact menu names vary by model and software version.

What this means for people living in the UK

A British consumer guide on mobile connectivity says that an increasing number of operators offer voice calls and texts over Wi-Fi. Using it requires a compatible device and the feature being enabled. The main mobile network operators in the UK are EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. It is worth checking with your own operator whether the service is available for your phone and whether it carries any extra charges.