Generic Access Network
Generic Access Network ( GAN ) is a standard for mobile communication that corresponds to the Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) process developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project . UMA or GAN enables GSM , GPRS / EDGE and UMTS / HSDPA services to be implemented via Bluetooth or WLAN services in the license-free ISM frequency band . This technology is offered today under the product name Wi-Fi Calling or VoWiFi .
In this context, unlicensed means that neither mobile phone customers nor network operators have to pay licenses for operation, in contrast to classic mobile communication , where network operators have to have licenses for the GSM or UMTS frequencies. UMA is not a simple VoIP via WLAN or Bluetooth connection (VoWLAN), but the standard also allows handover and roaming , i.e. the acceptance of ongoing calls.
The service is a huge success particularly in the USA , France , Canada and England . An offer from Deutsche Telekom that also combined telephony via WiFi and mobile communications, but did not comply with the UMA standard and did not support features such as handover or EAP-Sim and also only with a single handset , which was produced exclusively for T-Com and was relatively error-prone was to be used, was discontinued shortly after the market launch in 2006. Another big advantage of the UMA standard, however, is the wide support it offers from various device manufacturers, such as B. LG , RIM / Blackberry , Nokia , Samsung , Motorola , HTC or Sony .
The German network operators in Germany have been offering it since 2016, Vodafone under what is now the international name of WiFi Calling , Deutsche Telekom and O 2 as a WiFi Call . However, this only works for the providers with a few devices and selected tariffs. In order for users of newer smartphones to be able to use the function, a presetting is necessary on the device.
Provider in German-speaking countries
All three German mobile network operators are currently using the option of Wi-Fi calling.
Availability of Wi-Fi calling in Germany | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Network operator | Introduced | Term contracts | Prepaid | Foreign brands |
Telefónica | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Telecom | June 2016 | Magenta tariffs only | No | partially |
Vodafone | End of May 2016 | only RED and YOUNG tariffs | No | No |
At Vodafone, Wi-Fi Calling can currently only be used in German WLAN networks. | ||||
As of March 20, 2018 | ||||
Availability of Wi-Fi calling in Switzerland | ||||
Network operator | Introduced | Term contracts | Prepaid | Foreign brands |
Swisscom | 2016 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sunrise | 2017 | Yes | Yes | partially |
Salt | 2016 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As of November 4, 2019 |
Basically, Wi-Fi calling is only possible if you have a compatible device.
Costs and benefits
WLAN Call is useful when you are in a location without a cellular network but have access to a local WLAN network. It is also possible to use it in countries in which the mobile phone provider does not offer roaming or offers expensive roaming (if possible). If calls are made via WLAN, they are billed as if the user were in his provider's home country.
Users of an EEA mobile phone tariff should note that calls from EEA countries other than your own to an EEA country are billed like domestic calls. This also includes corresponding flat rates. A call from your home country (also via WLAN call) to another EEA country is an international call and therefore usually more expensive. WLAN Call should therefore only be used in EEA countries if no cellular network is available or only calls to your home country are intended.
equipment
brand | Surname | annotation |
---|---|---|
Apple | iPhone 5 | |
iPhone 5c | ||
iPhone 5s | ||
iPhone 6 | from iOS 10 | |
iPhone SE (1st generation) | ||
iPhone 7 | ||
iPhone 8 | ||
iPhone X | ||
iPhone Xs | ||
Blackberry | Curve 8320 | |
Nexus 5X | ||
Nexus 6P | ||
pixel | ||
Pixel XL | ||
Pixel 2 | ||
Pixel 2 XL | ||
Pixel 3 | ||
Pixel 3a | ||
Pixel 3 XL | ||
Pixel 4 | ||
HTC | HTC One | |
HUAWEI | Mate10 Pro | |
Mate20 | ||
Mate20 lite | ||
Mate20 Pro | ||
P10 | ||
P10 lite | ||
P10 Plus | ||
P20 | ||
P20 lite | ||
P20 Pro | ||
P Smart | ||
OnePlus | Oneplus 8 / Oneplus 8 Pro | from OxygenOS 10.5.3 / 10.5.5 |
Samsung | Galaxy S5 | |
Galaxy S6 | ||
Galaxy S7 | ||
Galaxy S7 Edge | ||
Galaxy S8 | ||
Galaxy S8 + | ||
Galaxy S9 | ||
Galaxy S9 + | ||
Galaxy Note 8 | ||
Galaxy Note 9 | ||
Galaxy Tab S3 | Only the LTE variant | |
Galaxy A50 | ||
Sony | Xperia X | |
Xperia XA1 | ||
Xperia XA2 | ||
Xperia X Compact | ||
Xperia XZ | ||
Xperia XZ Premium | ||
Xperia XZ1 | ||
Xperia XZ1 Compact | ||
Xperia XZ2 | ||
Xperia XZ2 Compact | ||
Xperia XZ3 | ||
Xperia 1 |
See also
- VoLTE - standard for mobile telephony via LTE.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mark Grayson, Kevin Shatzkamer, Scott Wainner: IP Design for Mobile Networks. Pearson Education, 2009, p. 97 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
- ↑ Unlimited HotSpot Calling . tmobile.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ Unik . orange.fr. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ TALKSPOT . rogers.ca. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ UMA . orange.co.uk. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ Volker Briegleb: Report: Telekom discontinues "landline cell phone" T-One again . heise.de. March 7, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ↑ Activate WLAN Call manually. In: telekom.de. Retrieved January 9, 2018 .
- ↑ Markus Weidner: Telekom network: Another discounter with VoLTE and WLAN Call. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
- ↑ a b vodafone.de
- ↑ Attention: There is a cost trap with WiFi calling in roaming. In: Teltarif. Retrieved November 9, 2019 .
- ↑ WLAN call-enabled smartphones | Telekom help. Retrieved May 2, 2019 .