Verizon customers will finally be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi calling, just like T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T subscribers do. The carrier received their FCC waiver allowing them to support the feature, which means it'll be coming soon.
Verizon gets Wi-Fi calling waiver from FCC
Carriers are supposed to file for an FCC waiver allowing Wi-Fi calling because the feature doesn't reliably support TTY systems for hearing impaired calls. T-Mobile and Sprint have offered Wi-Fi calling support for months because they never filed for the waiver, while AT&T only recently got on board after going through the FCC's process. Now that Verizon has its waiver in place, it can flip the switch and start offering Wi-Fi calling, too.
Wi-Fi calling uses broadband Internet connections through your wireless networks instead of cell towers when signals are weak. Using Internet and Wi-Fi makes for more reliable calls, but it isn't available until carriers enable the feature.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint offer a setting you can enable on your iPhone, although they don't all support the same devices. T-Mobile and Sprint support the iPhone 5s and newer, for example, while AT&T requires an iPhone 6 or newer.
It seems reasonable that Verizon will offer a similar toggle in Settings > Phone, although Tech Times says differently. They're reporting that Verizon will support Wi-Fi calling only through its Message+ app, which would make the feature clunky at best. It also would drop calls when you move out of Wi-Fi range instead of handing them off to your cellular connection. Verizon hasn't responded yet to our request for clarification.
Considering how quickly AT&T enabled Wi-Fi calling once its waiver was in place, it's a safe bet Verizon will follow suit. That means Verizon customers could finally get Wi-Fi calling some time this week.