PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, along with technology partner Huawei Technologies, say they have enabled Wi-Fi Calling – a.k.a. Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWi-Fi) – on Smart’s network.
Wi-Fi Calling allows customers to place voice and video calls wherever there is a Wi-Fi connection. With Wi-Fi Calling, customers can place calls while connected to Wi-Fi using the native dialer of their handsets without having to install any third-party applications.
That means from the caller’s point of view (as well as the receiver’s), the experience of making or receiving a call via a smartphone is no different whether the call is routed via Wi-Fi or the cellular network.
Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart Senior vice president for network planning and engineering said Smart and Huawei have already placed a VoWi-Fi call on the live network, and will launch Wi-Fi Calling “soon” for Smart customers as well as customers of PLDT Home.
“This is also part of PLDT and Smart’s strategy to use both our fixed and wireless networks to provide more converged products and deliver better service to our customers,” Tamayo said.
As part of its overall network upgrade, Smart is deploying carrier-grade Smart Wi-Fi in high-traffic public places all over the country, such as transportations hubs like MRT-3 and LRT-1 stations, major airports, bus terminals and seaports across the country, as well as in schools, government buildings, hospitals, malls and entertainment centers.
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