ahostmadsen

Q: WiFi calling not working on iMac

WiFi calling works on my rMB and iPad. But on my iMac (mid 2011) FaceTime does not even have the option to turn on WiFi calling. I cannot believe there would be any hardware restrictions that prevents WiFi calling working on an older iMac? So, why isn't it available?

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 9:14 AM

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Q: WiFi calling not working on iMac

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  • by ssls6,

    ssls6 ssls6 Oct 7, 2015 4:08 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,874 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 4:08 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    I have the same problem on a Mac Pro 5,1.....my iPad Air and MacBook Pro both work.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Oct 7, 2015 4:13 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 7 (34,138 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 4:13 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    FaceTime on Mac only uses Wi-Fi so what option are you expecting?

    FWIW, FaceTime is working on my 2009 iMac with El Capitan.

  • by ahostmadsen,

    ahostmadsen ahostmadsen Oct 7, 2015 4:46 PM in response to ckuan
    Level 2 (282 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 4:46 PM in response to ckuan

    ckuan wrote:

     

    FaceTime on Mac only uses Wi-Fi so what option are you expecting?

    FWIW, FaceTime is working on my 2009 iMac with El Capitan.

    Yes, let me be precise. What I meant is the ability for cellular calls to be routed over WiFi, here: Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support. This only works with T-mobile and El Capitain. But for me it only works on one of my El Capitain computers, a retina MacBook, but not on my iMac.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Oct 7, 2015 4:57 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 7 (34,138 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 4:57 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    I can use FaceTime Audio calling with my 2009 iMac with El Capitan.

    Have you check FaceTime Settings >

         You can be reached for FaceTime at: Is you iPhone number listed

         Calls from iPhone (checked) ?

  • by ssls6,

    ssls6 ssls6 Oct 7, 2015 4:59 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,874 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 4:59 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    Wifi calling if enabled by your carrier allows you to place calls even with your phone turned off.  It is different from continuity which also uses wifi but only to relay to your phones cellular radio.  Wifi calling is more like Skype but automatically....it's really cool.

     

    SInce only my Mac Pro is affected, I'm beginning to believe that Bluetooth is used to validate credentials for the initial setup.  My MacPro doesn't support Bluetooth continuity although it did do wifi cellular relay and currently still does.  I'm just guessing on this.

     

    So, for me...

     

    mid 2014 MacBook Pro, wifi calling works great....phone can be off

    ipad air, wifi calling works great, phone can be off

    mid 2012 MacPro, wifi calling works like it did prior to el cap, phone must be on and on the same local network.

  • by ahostmadsen,

    ahostmadsen ahostmadsen Oct 7, 2015 5:11 PM in response to ssls6
    Level 2 (282 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 5:11 PM in response to ssls6

     

     

    SInce only my Mac Pro is affected, I'm beginning to believe that Bluetooth is used to validate credentials for the initial setup.  My MacPro doesn't support Bluetooth continuity although it did do wifi cellular relay and currently still does.  I'm just guessing on this.

     

    Could be possible. My iMac does not have up-to-date Bluetooth; for example handoff doesn't work.

  • by ssls6,

    ssls6 ssls6 Oct 7, 2015 5:39 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,874 points)
    Oct 7, 2015 5:39 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    I hope that's not the case.  I've sent a report to apple in hopes the problem isn't hardware related.  I really enjoy using my Mac's as speaker phones and wifi calling is really a neat feature (must faster connections than the old continuity method with less continued ringing after answering).

  • by ahostmadsen,

    ahostmadsen ahostmadsen Oct 8, 2015 11:19 AM in response to ssls6
    Level 2 (282 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 11:19 AM in response to ssls6

    It turns out WiFi calling does not in fact work on my MacBook either. Only on my iPad:

     

    1) On my MacBook, there is an option to enable WiFi calling. But going through the motions, entering the code and so on, does not enable WiFi calling.

    2) On my iMac the option to enable WiFi calling in not even there.

  • by ssls6,

    ssls6 ssls6 Oct 15, 2015 7:50 PM in response to ahostmadsen
    Level 4 (2,874 points)
    Oct 15, 2015 7:50 PM in response to ahostmadsen

    As it turns out, bluetooth LE appears to be required for the authentication of FaceTime and wifi calling....maybe in the future this will change.  I can continue to use my MP with FaceTime audio calling as long as my phone is "on" and "on the same local network".  I just can't use my MacPro for calls with the phone turned off like I can on my MBP, my iPad Air, & my Apple Watch (which I've tested and it works).