Wi-Fi calling is a handy feature that allows users to send text messages and make calls in areas where there is no signal when connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
Major carriers offer such a feature to their subscribers, and AT&T is no exception. Through Wi-Fi calling, subscribers can use their smartphone's text messaging and phone calling feature entirely through a Wi-Fi network without the need to install any additional apps.
Previously, AT&T only allowed the feature to be accessed by its subscribers who use iPhones. Until now, no Android smartphone under the AT&T network was able to use the Wi-Fi calling feature.
AT&T has opened access to Wi-Fi calling to Android devices, beginning with the LG G4, before expanding to other smartphones running on Google's mobile operating system. The LG G4 is LG's flagship smartphone from 2015 and is currently overshadowed by the more recent LG G5.
There is no indication of which Android smartphones will soon be receiving the feature and by when. However, the news should be welcomed by AT&T users with Android devices, as Wi-Fi calling is a great function to have.
With the addition of the LG G4 to the smartphones for which AT&T supports Wi-Fi calling, there are now a total of six devices that carry the feature. Specifically, the other devices supporting Wi-Fi calling are the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and the iPhone SE.
For AT&T subscribers to access Wi-Fi calling, there is a requirement of a postpaid account within the United States, Puerto Rico and certain international areas.
The feature gained an additional perk earlier in the year, when AT&T announced that it would allow subscribers to use Wi-Fi calling while traveling abroad. This would prevent users from acquiring additional charges when using their smartphones in other countries. For international locations, the feature will automatically activate when users connect to a Wi-Fi network, though the carrier noted that, in some countries, the feature could experience certain restrictions.
Verizon beat AT&T to the punch in rolling out Wi-Fi calling to customers with Android devices by half a year, with the carrier expanding the feature to Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge smartphones in December 2015.
AT&T partnered with Samsung exclusively for the distribution of the Galaxy S7 Active, which is the rugged and more durable version of Samsung's current flagship Galaxy S7 line. The smartphone has a shatter-resistant body, a 5.1-inch quad-HD display, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM.
