Digital Trends
Mobile

Three finally lets you make Wi-Fi calls and texts without a separate app

Lulu Chang
By —

Rebtel Calling
lewistse/123RF
We’ve some long-awaited good news for our friends in the U.K. After literally years of waiting, British mobile service provider Three has enabled native Wi-Fi calling for your iPhone. That means that if you have an Apple mobile device and are using Three as your carrier, you’ll be able to make and receive calls and texts anytime and anywhere you have Wi-Fi. Previously, in order to take advantage of this feature, users would have to use the separate InTouch app, which took up precious real estate on the iPhone’s home screen.

But happily, those times have passed. Now, if you have any iPhone that launched in 2014 or later (which includes the iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, and iPhone 7, and all the associated Plus models), you’ll be able to make Wi-Fi calls natively.

In order to take advantage of this, you’ll need to make sure you’re running the latest software on your iPhone, which means upgrading to iOS 10.2 if you haven’t already. To do so, simply head over to Settings, then General, and click on Software Update. Download and install the most recent software update, then make sure that you also have the latest carrier software package installed on your iPhone. This is done by visiting Settings > General > About, whereupon you ought to see a “Carrier update available” message pop up.

From there, things get much simpler. Go to Settings > Phone, select “Wi-Fi Calling,” and switch the “Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone” option to the on position. Confirm that you do indeed want to be able to make calls when you don’t have service but do have Wi-Fi, and get chatting.

It’s actually not just the iPhone that now has this feature. The LG G5, Samsung S6, and S6 edge also no longer require the separate Wi-Fi calling app, and Three says that more phones will soon be added.

Editors' Recommendations

Don't Miss

Spotify vs. Pandora: Which music streaming service is better for you?
Up Next

New multitools from SOG pack a lot of features into a compact package
mobile trends google assistant ai
Mobile

G’day, Google: U.S. users can now give Assistant a British or Australian accent

U.S. Google Assistant users can give their Assistant a different voice. Google has updated Assistant with the ability for users to give it either a British or Australian accent, which could make it a little more personal for some.
Posted — By Christian de Looper
how to record calls on an iPhone
Mobile

Need to record calls on an iPhone? Check out our handy guide

Are you wondering how to record calls on your iPhone? It isn't as easy as you might think, but we'll walk you through the process of doing so with Google Voice, and identify several other apps and external voice recorders that can help.
Posted — By Simon Hill
windows 10 october update
Computing

Windows Update not working after October 2018 patch? Here’s how to fix it

Windows update not working? It's a more common problem than you might think. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot it and in this guide we'll break them down for you step by step.
Posted — By Mark Coppock
best hp laptops chromebook 13
Computing

Here’s how to install Windows on a Chromebook

If you want to push the functionality of your new Chromebook to another level, and Linux isn't really your deal, you can try installing Windows on a Chromebook. Here's how to do so, just in case you're looking to nab some Windows-only…
Posted — By Tyler Lacoma
lg g7 thinq hands on precarious 2
Mobile

LG G7 owners experiencing dreaded bootloop will have to wait a few days for fix

If you’ve picked up LG’s flagship and it’s not behaving itself, then you might find a solution here. We’ve rounded up the most common LG G7 ThinQ problems and tracked down workarounds and possible fixes.
Posted — By Steven Winkelman, Simon Hill
best internet radio stations two week stream
Music

Tune in to the best internet radio stations for your listening pleasure

Even in the streaming era, radio stations get some of the best exclusives and curate some of the finest handpicked playlists around. Here are the best internet radio stations, for your listening pleasure.
Posted — By Parker Hall
9 things we love and hate about the 2018 ipad pro laptop replacement feat
Mobile

Leave the laptop at home, the iPad Pro is the travel buddy to take on vacay

The iPad Pro is a powerful tablet that's perfect for creatives and professionals. How does it fare when traveling with it as a laptop replacement? We took it on a two week trek in Japan to find out.
Posted — By Julian Chokkattu
Microsoft Andromeda Device
Computing

Microsoft’s latest patent paves the way for Andromeda dual-screen mobile device

The latest patent discovery from Microsoft showcases a new hinge design for quickly opening a dual-screen mobile device with a single hand. Could this be additional proof surrounding the rumors of the company's Project Andromeda device?
Posted — By Michael Archambault
Sennheiser Momentum true wireless earbuds review
Home Theater

Set your ears free with the best completely wireless earbuds

If you can't stand the tangle of cords, or you're just excited about completely wireless earbuds, you're going to need some help separating the wheat from the chaff. Our list serves up the best true wireless earbuds around.
Posted — By Parker Hall, Ryan Waniata
apple file system
Mobile

Apple is spending $1 billion to hire up to 15,000 new employees in Austin

Apple has announced a series of expansions across the U.S. -- including a massive expansion to the company's Austin campus that will see it spending $1 billion to accommodate for up to 15,000 new employees.
Posted — By Christian de Looper
limes app based bike sharing service arrives in the uk lime e
Outdoors

Google Maps makes it easier than ever to find a Lime bike or scooter

Google Maps has added a new feature that helps you find a Lime bike or scooter in just a few taps. The feature currently works in 11 U.S. cities served by Lime, with more coming next year.
Posted — By Trevor Mogg
quirky smartphone accessories moshi
Mobile

Quirky smartphone accessories you never knew you needed

Looking for a few accoutrements to make your smartphone even better? If you, or someone you know, is a sucker for accessories, you'll want to check out our collection of quirky smartphone accessories you never knew you needed.
Posted — By Steven Winkelman
facebook, facebook local news
Mobile

Ditch your smartphone for a year and win $100k from Vitaminwater

Vitaminwater is willing to part with $100,000 if you're willing to part with your smartphone partner for a year. Could you last for a year armed with only a 1996-era phone? Here's your chance to find out.
Posted — By Mark Jansen
spotify vs. pandora
Music

Here's our head-to-head comparison of Pandora and Spotify

Which music streaming platform is best for you? We pit Spotify versus Pandora, two mighty streaming services with on-demand music and massive catalogs, comparing every facet of the two services to help you decide which is best.
Posted — By Parker Hall