Want to enjoy high quality sound during your mobile phone calls? Use VoLTE and VoWiFi, two special modes that operators offer as an option in their packages, which must be activated manually.
Even if phone calls no longer represent the main use of a smartphone, their audio quality remains essential. No one wants to carry on a conversation with a metallic, parasitic, sputtering and sometimes barely audible sound, worthy of the telephone booths of the 80s or the radios of yesteryear. To improve the sound quality of calls, the main telecom operators have been implementing VoLTE and VoWiFi technologies for several years.
The principle of the two technologies is identical: it consists of transmitting telephone calls over the Internet, in the form of IP packets (as for voice over IP, or VoIP, used in fixed telephony). In the case of VoLTE, the audio uses the data mode of the 4G (or 5G) mobile network. For VoWiFi, the sound goes through the Wi-Fi wireless network and then through the Internet.
The main advantage is that the audio quality of calls is out of all proportion to those made via the standard network. The voice is clear with an HD quality (high definition), without parasitic noises, that one uses the loudspeaker of the mobile or a wired or wireless headset. But these two modes also have another significant advantage: they allow you to use the Internet on the mobile without cutting the telephone call. However, to take advantage of it, a few conditions must be met.
VoLTE for Voice over LTE or “voice over LTE network” (where LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, a mobile telecommunications standard) uses the 4G network to function. This is also why we also talk about 4G calls. This therefore implies that the smartphone must use a 4G or 5G plan (with a connection to the mobile Internet therefore) to be able to take advantage of it and that it must obviously be located in a covered area. In addition, your interlocutor does not have to have VoLTE on his mobile to establish the call. However, if he too uses VoLTE, the quality of the call will be even better. This is also the condition sine qua non to enjoy HD audio quality. Otherwise, the sound automatically adjusts to the lowest quality… Finally, if the 4G network fails during a conversation, if you are moving for example and you enter an area not covered by 4G, the call will not be interrupted. The mobile will switch automatically, without interruption, to the 2G or 3G network, returning to normal quality. Note also that thanks to VoLTE, it is possible to use the Internet during a phone call. This is not the case if the call is made with a 2G or 3G network.
VoWiFi applies the same principle as VoLTE except that here, calls do not pass through the 4G mobile network but through the Wi-Fi network to which the mobile is connected, a wireless network connected to the Internet by a router or a box. This can be the home Wi-Fi network but also any other Wi-Fi network (hotel, train station, airport) as long as the device is connected to it with an identifier and a password.
Who can use VoLTE and VoWiFi?
Do you have a mobile plan including data? Logically, you should be able to use VoLTE… provided that you have a compatible smartphone – some models are not – and that the option is activated by your telephone operator. While the four major operators Orange, Bouygues, SFR and Free provide unambiguous service, the situation is different for the MVNOs (Mobil Virtual Network Operator or virtual mobile network operator in French), these “virtual” operators (such as Syma Mobil , Auchan Telecom, Cdiscount Mobile, La Poste, NRJ Mobile, etc.) which operate the networks of the four giants (see our article). Apart from official MVNOs such as Sosh (Orange), RED (SFR) and B&You (Bouygues), the conditions for activating VoLTE can be quite obscure. Check in your account settings and options in your customer area. It may be necessary to activate an option to take advantage of it, by calling the relevant customer service – and sometimes insisting… Note that generally, VoLTE is available for unblocked 4G packages. Prepaid cards are not taken into account. At Free, only 5G packages allow the use of VoLTE (see our article).
If available, then VoLTE is enabled by default. You can tell if, during a call, the LTE logo is indicated at the top of the screen, near the icon in the form of a telephone handset materializing a call in progress. It can also be replaced by the mention HD or even 4G (to mobilize in alappels 4G).
Check if your smartphone is compatible by visiting the dedicated web pages ofOrangeof SFRof Bouygues and of Free. As for VoWiFi, if your mobile is VoLTE compatible, it is also VoWiFi compatible.
How much does VoLTE and VoWiFi cost?
There is no additional cost for using VoLTE with your mobile. Everything is included in the package. In addition, making or receiving VoLTE calls does not affect the data package you have with your mobile even if this function goes through the 4G network. You will therefore not see your data envelope melt over the course of your calls. Be careful though: if your package offers limited calls (for example 2 hours of calls per month) the use of VoLTE will not add you time. Your VoLTE calls will be deducted from your plan. The same goes for VoWiFi calls, which use the fixed Internet, without going through your operator’s mobile network.
If your smartphone is compatible with VoLTE and if your plan allows you to use this function, the device is normally activated by default. However, it may sometimes be necessary to make an adjustment.
On Android
► Go to Android settings then choose Login Where Internet. In the menu Networks mobilespossibly a cursor Enable LTE. Some smartphone models allow the status of the LTE function to be displayed in the status bar at the top of the screen (here on an Oppo Find X5 Pro).
► To activate the VoWiFi function, which is not activated by default, go back to your mobile’s Internet settings then access the settings linked to your operator. Find a menu calls and activate the function Wi-Fi calls.
On iPhone
► Open iPhone settings and choose Cellular data. Press on Options then Voice and data. Finally activate the switch VoLTE.
► To use the VoWiFi function, stay in the iPhone settings and choose Telephone. In the menu Wi-Fi callingactivate the switch.
