Lack of WiFi calling feedback

joschiedog

The lack of Wifi calling is debilitating. So many people (helpfully) offer advise that in the meantime whilst giffgaff think about Wifi calling, you can use a third party App. However, for someone like me who has no mobile signal at home (rural area) it severely limits connectivity to the world. Banks and services such as gas, electrictiy, water companies do not use third party apps when calling you. Tradespeople only ever call your mobile, even though you insist that your normal phone is the primary means. We have third party apps to call friends and family, but it gets very expensive having to utilise the normal house phone as well when I see month after month I am wasting my minutes with my giffgaff plan.
For anyone like me who really needs Wifi calling as an essential means of communication, then look at ID Mobile. They do monthly SIM only plans and offer Wifi calling with a bonus of having data rollover as well. So sorry giffgaff, I've been with you for a number of years, but it's time to move on.
https://www.idmobile.co.uk/

endorphin

joschiedog Steve McDonald, giffgaff's CTO, hinted in Nov 2019 that VoWiFi and VoLTE might be available later this year. See the transcript here https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33032329-catch-up-with-nov-12th-s-q-a-with-the-cto/

isabel1066

joschiedog sorry to see you go

mcilwraith

joschiedog these things are sent to try us
.the best of luck with whichever network you choose

richybhoy36

joschiedog Hi you can use Whatsapp, Viber or facebook messenger forn wifi calling !
For it to work the recipient needs to have the app installed as well!
This means you don’t need a signal just WIFI

davidvarley

joschiedog
I no it’s not WiFi calling but these are supposed to have better reception in more rural areas they are basic though calls and texts only.
These use mobile sim card on 2g networks so Vodafone. 02. EE. And mobile virtual operaters like giffgaff as they have 2g signal. ID. Three and smarty. Superdrug will not work on these though as they don’t have 2g signal. You can buy these phones on Amazon.

athol49

joschiedog Like you, I live in a remote area, ( in Shetland) and found mobile reception was patchy. 3 worked reasonably well during the day but died at night ; EE just didn’t work (although using same mast as 3) ; Vodafone was OK for voice, but useless for data. I discovered that O2 have a mast that is ½ mile from house and also visible from house. Using 1 sim for phone and another (£20 for 80GB) for Mifi router.
Have cancelled landline as rarely used for voice calls and broadband was only 1 to ½ Mb/s (useless) and they wanted to increase line rental and broadband charges!

muddycalhoun

joschiedog seems like a very long time coming, especially when giffgaff is pronounced as a tech savvy users choice of network. Hmmm our WiFi calling or absence thereof makes a mockery of that.
We will have to wait and see if the rumours of WiFi calling later this year (which doesn’t leave very many weeks) is true.

z201205

endorphin as ever, giffgaff is late to the party.

inspiron42

One problem not mentioned is the inability to receive security texts from banks and credit card companies whenever you purchase anything. These organisations are under the delusion that there is universal mobile access in this country, and proceed to use the two factor authentication method that is least likely to work in every location.

jfc1951

inspiron42 One problem not mentioned is the inability to receive security texts from banks

I have my landline and mobile numbers registered with my bank and when a second factor of authentication is required I get asked which number the bank is to use. Selecting the landline results in an automated call.

So, at least some organisations recognise that not everyone may have a mobile and, if one has a mobile, it may not be convenient/possible for it to be used in certain circumstances.

inspiron42

@jfc1951 a landline is not much use if you are not home.

jfc1951

inspiron42 @jfc1951 a landline is not much use if you are not home.

Indeed not, but it covers the circumstance of "home" being in an area of poor mobile reception.

And one is not restricted to registering one's home landline number, it could, for example, be an office one (but with direct dial-through any switchboard).

kerryburnetty

Argh - same issue here. Rural area, absolutely no mobile signal and can't access banking, credit card, mortgage, savings and anything else that requires One Time Code to be sent to mobile. Please giffgaff, sort this out ASAP!

tradertall

Yes it's a shame really

j51h

Sky Mobile is also excellent with the wifi calling, also with data rollover, tho admittedly you have to sign up for 12 months. At the £6 level that's not a huge issue though.

brancs

Sure is a reason to leave giffgaff!!

cestephanou

I really wish we had this

z201205

richybhoy36 not the same as WiFi calling as organisations don’t use those apps. Eg doctors and hospitals.

richybhoy36

z201205 no problem ! Just thought it could have been a solution to your problem !

jesi23

z201205 not the same as WiFi calling as organisations don’t use those apps. Eg doctors and hospitals.

Our GP surgery now uses ZOOM video calling, since Lockdown began, and video can be WiFi. As they are restricting face-to-face this will be more likely rather than less. _{_🤡}