Virgin Media UK Make SmartCall WiFi Service Available After 1 Years Wait

Cable operator Virgin Media has announced that its SmartCall service, which allows Smartphone (Android and iPhone) users with a Virgin Phone Line to use the unlimited calls from their talk plan on their mobile (so long as you have a wifi internet connection), is now finally available to use after first launching one year ago.

The service was originally supposed to go live during “early 2013” (here) but instead it remained in limbo as an extended period of closed beta testing dragged on. At the time a spokesperson for the operator told ISPreview.co.uk that they “simply had other priorities” (e.g. the Liberty Global merger).

But that’s all in the past now as the “no strings-attached” free WiFi calling service has finally been made available, which is especially good news for those who like to travel but would rather use their existing calling plan than Skype, Viber or another VoIP style alternative.

Alex Perrin, VM’s Director of Home Phone, said:

“SmartCall is the smart way for our home phone customers to save money on their mobile bill. SmartCall will deliver what our customers have told us they want – an easy to use app with no surprise bills and genuinely free calls. With more people adding Virgin Media home phones to their bundles, we want to help customers save money and set their landline minutes free.”

However it should be noted that SmartCall won’t work over a 3G or 4G (Mobile Broadband) link, which is apparently intentional “so there are no surprise bills“. By comparison BT’s similar SmartTalk (BTSmartTalk) service (here) does allow calls over mobile links.