Communication has moved way beyond landlines and cellular networks in today's digital era. With the advancement in VoIP and Wi-Fi calling, users now have more flexibility and economically viable options to place their calls. While both technologies are related to the way a user makes a call using the Internet, these technologies differ in functionality, usage, and technical requirements. VoIP and Wi-Fi calling are differentiated in the way each works in the application and their pros and cons in this blog. Let’s look at what is the difference between VoIP and Wifi calling. 

Understanding VoIP-Voice over Internet Protocol

VoIP is voice communication technology over an IP or the internet, not over traditional phone lines. It does not make use of circuit-switched networks such as the PSTN but converts your voice into digital signals that are transmitted in packets of data over the internet. What gives VoIP the edge over other telephony services is that it makes use of the already operational internet connections to make calls, thereby cutting down drastically on the high costs of conventional telephony services.

VoIP has become very popular for personal use and business. The services that connect calls using VoIP include Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Voice. Companies, in particular, employ VoIP systems because these systems allow the integration of voice, video, and messaging on one platform for ease and efficiency.

How VoIP Works And What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling

VoIP works by breaking down your voice into digital packets and transmitting these packets over the Internet to the device of a receiving party. After being received, they are reassembled and converted back into sound. VoIP can work on a wide range of devices from:

• IP Phones: Special phones designed specifically for VoIP communication.
• Softphones: Software-based phones running on computers, tablets, or smartphones.
• Traditional Phones: These phones can also be utilised for VoIP through an adapter, commonly referred to as ATA, or Analog Telephone Adapter.

As VoIP calls leverage the usage of the internet, they may more often than not be relatively cheaper compared to traditional phone systems and definitely cheaper when it involves international calls.

Advantages of VoIP

• Less Expensive: Speaking generally, VoIP calls are considered way cheaper, particularly when it comes to international calls.
• Flexibility: VoIP allows making calls from any device that can access the internet.
• Feature-rich: Most of the VoIP services come loaded with a host of other features, such as voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, video calls, and many more. 
• Scalability: The VoIP systems can easily scale for more users in a business without necessarily overhauling the infrastructure. 

Disadvantages of VoIP

• VoIP requires a proper connection to the internet for its operation. Poor quality of the internet results in dropping calls or poor voice quality.
• Emergency Calls: VoIP does not have any reliable option for access to emergency services, such as 911, due to specific service providers.
• Power Outages: VoIP usually demands a source of power for its operation. It will be out during power outages until and unless one has backup power for the router and modem.

Now, let’s study what Wifi calling is, to know What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling.

What is Wi-Fi calling And What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling

Wi-Fi calling is an option that is provided through most mobile carriers. Using it, one can make phone calls on a Wi-Fi network with the use of other cellular networks exclusively. Wi-Fi calling works by leveraging the internet connection provided by your Wi-Fi network to route calls to where they need to go, especially in areas where good cellular coverage might be weak or absent. In effect, it enables your smartphone to make calls and send text messages over an internet connection.

But the good thing is that most modern smartphones already have Wi-Fi calling built into their system, and it doesn't need any third-party application to function. Provided the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, it automatically switches over to Wi-Fi calling whenever the cellular service is unavailable or weak.

How Wi-Fi Calling Works

Wi-Fi calling would work similar to VoIP in that it routes the calls through the Internet. However, there is a great difference. While Wi-Fi calling still routes the call through the mobile carrier's network, it utilises the Wi-Fi network to deliver the voice data rather than use the cellular infrastructure. When the Wi-Fi signal is weak or unavailable, the phone will automatically switch back to cellular calling.

That would be a seamless experience for the user. For instance, when you are at home and connected to Wi-Fi, your phone may use Wi-Fi calling so that your call quality remains good, even if the cellular signal is weak.

Advantages of Wifi Calling

• Advantages of Wi-Fi Calling include improved coverage and seamless transition. This is particularly helpful in regions where cellular coverage may be poor, such as inside buildings where the signal is obstructed by concrete or some other cause, in basements, or in remote locations. 
• Seamlessness: Most devices automatically switch between cellular and Wi-Fi without asking for any inputs by users, thus making it all so easy for users.
• Wi-Fi calling costs nothing extra from your cellular subscription; hence, there are no additional charges when you make a call via Wi-Fi, provided you're near a Wi-Fi network.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Calling

a - Requires Presence of Wi-Fi Network:

In cases where you are out of the range of quality or consistent Wi-Fi service, the quality of your call may suffer.

b - Limited availability:

Wi-Fi calling is supported by most modern smartphones; however, the feature is missing in some of the carriers or devices.

c - Limited features:

Advanced features, such as voicemail-to-email or video calls common in VoIP services, are usually not available with Wi-Fi calling.

VoIP and How It Evolved: What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling

While VoIP was popularised through personal use first with services like Skype and on to apps like WhatsApp and Viber, its benefits really extended far beyond simple personal communication. VoIP has been jumped onto as one of the ultimate tools for effective communication by the business world, especially in the case of remote teams or global enterprises.

You must look into this to find What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling. Actually, VoIP forms a big part of unified communications platforms that tie all voice, video, instant messaging, and file sharing together under a single system.

As a technology, VoIP provides some real benefits for businesses over traditional telephony in the following ways: 

a - Lower operating costs:

Gone are those days when a business had to pay for extra lines for each department or office location. Instead, VoIP enables companies to use one Internet connection to handle both voice and data traffic, thus making it cost-effective on infrastructure.

b - Global Connectivity:

With VoIP, organisations can set up their phones across countries and allow employees to make international calls at the same country's local rates. The good news is that many providers offer special international calling rates or even free calls between VoIP users.

c - Advanced Features:

VoIP can be highly customisable, offering a slew of features such as auto-routing of calls, call recording, and voicemail transcription, which allow businesses to streamline communication.

d - Scalability:

Most of the time, scaling a VoIP system involves nothing more than the addition of more lines or users and does not require major overhauls in hardware. Whether it be expanding into new markets or building up your team, VoIP systems grow fairly easily with your business.

Wi-Fi Calling: Not Just About the Quality of Calls

Although people perceive Wi-Fi calling to be just about bringing in better call quality when the signals are poor, there's much more it can do, especially in profound situations when the call makes all the difference in the mobile experience. Let us now see some of these other advantages:

Wi-Fi Calling for Emergency Situations

One of the strong benefits of Wi-Fi calling is it retains access to emergency services, whereas early VoIP services often couldn't promise the exact same accessibility. Wi-Fi calling routes emergency calls through the cellular network where available, rather than relying on the internet. That's an important consideration for those who might live in areas where cellular coverage is spotty but still want the option to call emergency.

Wi-Fi Calling for Seamless Roaming

Wi-Fi calling comes in handy for frequent travellers, too. Sometimes you are outside of your home country and may want to avoid the usually exorbitant roaming charges associated with using a cellular network overseas; hence, Wi-Fi calling allows you to use local Wi-Fi networks to make and receive calls just like you do back home. Most wireless carriers include Wi-Fi calling in their international plans. It is a service that will save you from some of the unusually high international calling rates, especially if you will be travelling to places where your carrier does not have coverage.

Comparing the Underlying Technologies to Know What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling

Several of the operational differences between VoIP and Wi-Fi calling can be more clearly explained by examining their respective underlying technologies more closely.

VoIP: Internet-Based and Independent

The best part of VoIP is that it works solely on the internet, pretty much bypassing traditional cellular or landline networks. That independence from the traditional networks essentially translates to mean that VoIP services have no dependence on the infrastructure or signal of your mobile carrier. As a matter of fact, VoIP services can be used with just about any kind of device connected to the internet, irrespective of the place or service provider. Perhaps the major technical component of VoIP is the protocol involved in establishing the call.

These might be protocols such as SIP or H.323 that help in encoding and decoding the audio signals, packetising voice-over data, and routing via the Internet. In a VoIP call, your voice is transformed into packets of data, which are then transmitted across the Internet to the recipient and reassembled back into sound at the other end. Quite an efficient way of conveying your voice, especially on high-speed Internet links.

Because VoIP is designed to be network-agnostic, you can place calls from your computer or smartphone app, provided you have access to the internet through Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a cellular signal. The majority of VoIP services, including Zoom and Skype, integrate voice, video, and messaging. As such, they provide active users with a unified communication platform.

Wi-Fi Calling: Cellular Dependent with Internet Assistance

On the other hand, Wi-Fi calling is an add-on to existing cellular service. While the actual voice data gets transmitted using Wi-Fi, the call is routed through your carrier's cellular network nonetheless. Wi-Fi calling is essentially designed as a backup when the cellular signal is too weak to try to make a reliable call. Wi-Fi calling works over the IMS, or IP Multimedia Subsystem, technology, which is a framework for the delivery of IP-based services, including voice, text, and video over cellular networks. During a typical Wi-Fi call, your mobile device routes the call by means of using your carrier's IMS infrastructure. If it can't complete it via the cellular network because of bad reception, your device automatically switches to using a Wi-Fi network when routing the call via the internet.

While great for call quality in areas where the reception may be poor, reliance on the carrier's network makes features and functionalities limited in comparison to VoIP systems. For example, WiFi calling might lack advanced VoIP features, such as video conferencing or third-party integrations. Continue reading to know more about What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling. 

Key Considerations to Choose Between VoIP and Wi-Fi Calling: What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling

A few factors when deciding on operating VoIP or Wi-Fi calling could be as follows: 

1 - Coverage Area:

• VoIP: Works anywhere if there is any access to the Internet. Ideal for home offices, business enterprises, or people on the go who require service reliability for phones. 
• Wi-Fi calling: Comes in handy in regions where the cell reception/coverage might not be that great but may have good signals of Wi-Fi, like basements or highly remote areas. 

2 - Device Type:

• VoIP: This can be applied to practically any device connected to the internet, from smartphones down to computers and traditional phones with some adapter. 
• Wi-Fi Calling: This typically requires a recent smartphone to support the feature and a carrier plan on it. Not all phones support Wi-Fi calling. 

3 - Call Quality:

• VoIP: The quality of calls depends totally on the stability and speed of your internet connection. High-speed broadband ensures the best experience.
• Wi-Fi Calling: It depends on the quality of the Wi-Fi. If it is slow or if there is interference, the call quality might suffer.

4 - Cost:

• VoIP: This can greatly reduce your spending, especially for long-distance calls. Most VoIP services are subscription-based. Many provide free services within the same country, such as WhatsApp, Skype, and Google Voice.
  
• Wi-Fi Calling: Part of your basic mobile plan. No additional charges for Wi-Fi-enabled calling, but in some instances, roaming charges may come into effect.

5 - Reliability:

• VoIP: Less reliable compared to other options in case of an internet outage or in locations where internet connections are unstable. Of course, it requires a stable broadband connection.
• Wi-Fi Calling: Relies more on the quality of the Wi-Fi network when the cellular signal is weak but generally more stable. Besides, it keeps emergency services going for most of the time, which most of the VoIP services cannot ensure.

Conclusion

While both VoIP and Wi-Fi calling provide a means to make a call over the internet, they differ in purpose and feature set. VoIP is the larger technology of voicing and videoing over the internet, very suitable for personal or business applications.

One such feature is Wi-Fi calling, which can help users maintain the quality of calls even when cellular systems are not good, while calls are routed through the infrastructure of a mobile carrier via the use of a Wi-Fi network. Knowing the differences between these two technologies will point you in the right direction to make the choice that best fits your needs. Finding an alternative to traditional phone service or staying connected even where the big signal is low. To know more about  What is the Difference Between VoIP and Wifi Calling, contact Tech Bridge Consultancy today!