iD Mobile Becomes First UK MVNO to Launch Wi-Fi Calling

iD Mobile (Dixons Carphone) today claims to have become the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in the United Kingdom to introduce Wi-Fi Calling, which allows customers with no 3G or 4G data connection to make or receive calls (and send texts) via WiFi.

All of the primary mobile operators have been offering Wi-Fi Calling for awhile, which is supported by a growing number of handsets (e.g. the past few generations of iPhone); on some Smartphones you may need to manually enable the feature before it becomes usable. Technically speaking Freedom Pop and BTMobile also have Wi-Fi calling but both are different due to their dependency upon an app.

At launch iD, which makes use of the Three UK network, claims that more than 100,000 of their customers already have compatible devices.

Paul Walsh, Head of Operations at iD Mobile, said:

“We’re continually looking at ways in which we can improve our customers’ experience and Wi-Fi Calling is the latest development. No network has 100% coverage and most of us have experienced a time where we’ve failed to get signal, whether that be a basement coffee shop or a room or two at home – this is where Wi-Fi Calling saves the day.”

Last year also saw the operator introduce 4G calling (VoLTE) and a simplified range of tariffs that gave all of their customers on SIM-only and Handset plans the ability to roll over their unused data, cap their bills and roam in 50 destinations.