When iOS 8 launches this fall, it'll include a great feature that wasn't mentioned in Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference keynote event on Monday: Wi-Fi calling support. The feature lets Wi-Fi networks handle voice calls -- saving user's talk minutes -- and T-Mobile has already committed to let its iPhone customers join in.
Apple's Craig Federighi shows off iOS 8 features at WWDC
"With the news coming out of Apple's keynote today that Wi-Fi Calling will be enabled with iOS 8 – I'm excited to welcome our iPhone customers to the convenience and ease of T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling as well," said T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert. "When that happens, over 90 percent of all T-Mobile smartphones will feature Wi-Fi Calling."
Along with saving talk minutes, Wi-Fi calling also cuts out the frustration from spotty cell signals, and avoids surprise roaming fees, too.
Apple showed off features like improved Notifications, HealthKit, Family Sharing, third-party software keyboard support, app extensibility and more during the WWDC keynote, and said the major operating system update will be available as a free upgrade this fall.
T-Mobile has been offering Wi-Fi calling on smartphones that support the feature. Mr. Sievert said, "Already, there are 17 million Wi-Fi Calling-enabled customer devices on our network. Already, nearly 5 million customers use Wi-Fi Calling during any given month."
While T-Mobile is embracing Wi-Fi calling, Verizon and AT&T haven't climbed on board yet. Maybe this is yet another feature where the two big players have to follow T-Mobile's lead.