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Sprint Intros Free Wi-Fi Calling for Some Smartphones

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Will this work internationally?

rafster

Feb 21, 2014, 11:24 AM
Will this work like TMobile's Wifi calling? If I travel to another country and connect to wifi, will I be charged for international roaming for calls and texts?
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 11:27 AM
It will work similar to Tmo's WiFi calling in the USA. It will not work outside of the USA.
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rafster

Feb 21, 2014, 11:28 AM
That's kinda stupid.... Why did they make it not work outside of the US. It doesn't cost them more...
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ralph.el41

Feb 21, 2014, 12:12 PM
Your right, it doesnt cost them more but this way they'll be able to charge you International roaming, if used of course. Remember its a Buisness, one way or another, they'll get your money.
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rafster

Feb 21, 2014, 12:14 PM
And that's probably why they will go to 4th place and tmobile will wipe the floor with them.
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 1:47 PM
Tmobile isn't wiping the floor with anyone. They are a company that is not concerned with their future as they have made it very clear they want to sell their assets to another company. It's a classic case of look good short term and sell high. They are in for a rude awakening as soon as their customers start defaulting on their payments with their no credit check installment options.
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brad162

Feb 21, 2014, 2:50 PM
What? you still have to do a credit check to get EIP, all they did was allow lower credit classes to do 5 lines (C could only do 2 no deposit before)

T-Mobile is not going anywhere especially considering their US branch is the only one making any money.

Sprint on the other hand is still being sprint and will eventually mess themselves up again.
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DarkStar

Feb 22, 2014, 4:21 PM
Yeah like AT&T wireless was still going strong back in the day before Cingular bought them out. lol. What they are doing is not sustainable.
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 1:45 PM
Its so that you can get a better signal for indoor use. Just like Tmobile and the WiFi calling that is built into their phones.
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 1:31 PM
How do you know that it won't work outside the USA?
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brad162

Feb 21, 2014, 2:51 PM
Sprint has already said their WiFi calling will require some sort of GPS fix first, either through Cellular or WiFi. Their app will actually check to ensure you're in the US before it'll allow you to make a call.
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 2:54 PM
I heard that was for 911 purposes, so if you're out of the US, that wouldn't apply anyway.
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brad162

Feb 21, 2014, 4:35 PM
I guarantee Sprint will disable WiFi calling when out of the country just so they can ext or exorbitant roaming fees from their customers still. It's a cash cow for them.
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nicolasl46

Feb 22, 2014, 8:35 AM
T-mobile's WiFi calling does work outside the US. I recently went on vacations to Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, and I was calling my family almost everyday to check on my son, using the resort's WiFi; and no extra charges when I received my bill the following month.
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 11:28 AM
For calls to/from the US, it should be free if you're overseas - once connected to wifi, it would make no difference (from Sprint's perspective) where you are.

That is my guess anyway.
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 1:50 PM
This isn't your traditional VOIP feature like Skype it is a third party app that allows you route your Sprint call to your WiFi network so you can have a better indoor signal in case you don't have one. Just like TMobile. Their WiFi calling with Tmo and Sprint isn't designed to give you FREE calling outside of network use. Outside of the USA you would be using another carriers towers which would require an additional charge as the service you are paying for is for domestic use.

If you travel often and don't want to get additional charges get SKYPE or buy a SIm in that country.
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 1:55 PM
T-Mobile's wifi calling is free outside of the US too. When you're connected to wifi in the UK for example, your T-Mobile phone will behave as if it's connected to wifi in your house. Which means that calls to and from the US are no different when you're in the UK connected to wifi than they are when you're in your home connected to wifi. And if you were to try and call someone in the UK, it would cost exactly the same as it would if you were doing it from your house. So with T-Mobile's new plans, it would be more cost effective to connect to wifi when you want to call home, and disconnect if you need to call someone in the country you're visiting.

I'm assuming Sprint's is going to work the same way.

With T-Mobile, when wifi call...
(continues)
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 4:08 PM
Article on the Sprint website tagged on this post here on phonescoop clearly states it will charge additional fees for Roaming outside the USA. This feature is intended to improve voice calls indoors where it can be degraded due to building materials and other factors. This is not mean to give you free calls in other countries. I am sure the Tmobile feature works the same way. Except with their recent plan change where they offer some included international services but not everywhere.

"
Customer benefits include:

Enhanced coverage
Easy setup: Once activated, everything is seamless and happens in the background
Unlimited voice calling and messaging on Wi-Fi: All domestic calling and messaging is FREE (standard CDMA inte...
(continues)
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 4:12 PM
That last bit simply means that even when you're connected to wifi in the US, calling overseas is going to cost the same as it would if you were not on wifi. That isn't about roaming.
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KOL4420

Feb 21, 2014, 4:26 PM
The feature isn't meant for Roaming outside of the USA is what I am clarifying for you.

Also "international calls" implies both calling form the USA to another country and trying to use the feature while traveling.

So that there is no confusion this features only purpose is to provide enhanced voice and text messaging coverage in areas inside the USA where you would otherwise have degraded service for w.e reason.

If you are Roaming outside the USA or Call another country your call is not free.
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amarryat

Feb 21, 2014, 4:39 PM
If that's the case (and I still haven't seen that clearly stated), then this does not work like T-Mobile's wifi calling. Theirs is definitely free to call here from overseas.
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willbx718

Feb 24, 2014, 2:18 AM
I can't see why folks are making such a big deal about this. just either get a cheap sim from the country you're in. Or get a free Google voice number and use it to make wifi calls. No need to even envolve a carrier into the picture. Or iPhone users could just use facetime audio to make calls. There's lots of free wifi calling options, that I can't even phathom why people are crying over sprint not allowing free international roaming.
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