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ProfKPB

Q: Concerns about 911 (and equivalent) with WiFi Calling

I'm going to take my iPhone to the UK for a few months, and then Israel.  Roaming "works" but the charges are insane, so I'm leaning towards disabling roaming and using the Wifi calling feature, because I'll have Wifi most of the time most days.

 

My worry, and I wonder if others share it: if a person has a heart attack on the sidewalk next to me, I'll need to go to options, re-enable roaming (three or four clicks...), wait for it to connect, and then try to remember the UK or Israel versions of 911 (for anyone who is curious, the UK uses 999 for ambulances, but 112 for fires and other emergencies; Israel uses 100/101/102 (police/ambulance/fire), but in theory they also allow 112 or even 911, like we do in the US).

 

Why doesn't Apple just automate all of this?

 

Right now their Wifi calling feature already wants me to keep my location updated.  Instead, they could have an option "use Wifi except for emergencies, roam for emergencies only".  Then, if I am in the UK and dial 911, they could have a version of roaming that ONLY uses the roaming network for local 911 calls, and automatically uses the proper local number too.  So I would be using Wifi roaming, excerpt that emergency calls would in fact work without messing with the options tabs and waiting to rebind to a local Telco supplier.  The phone would actually put itself in roaming mode, but wouldn't accept incoming calls or send outgoing calls on the roaming provider -- it would use Wifi calling for that, and for texting, and only would use the roaming carrier for 911).

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Aug 3, 2016 12:22 PM

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Q: Concerns about 911 (and equivalent) with WiFi Calling

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  • by Jonathan UK,Helpful

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 3, 2016 4:42 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 7 (33,611 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 3, 2016 4:42 PM in response to ProfKPB

    ProfKPB wrote:

     

    for anyone who is curious, the UK uses 999 for ambulances, but 112 for fires and other emergencies

     

    To clarify:

     

    The UK's national emergency services number is 999 - including for calling the police, fire and ambulance service.

     

    If preferred, 112 can be dialled instead in the UK for the same purpose (112 can be used across the EU).

     

    https://www.gov.uk/call-charges

    https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/112-united-kingdom

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 3, 2016 3:30 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 7 (24,450 points)
    Aug 3, 2016 3:30 PM in response to ProfKPB

    Wifi calling is a carrier feature, not a feature nor service from Apple. The only calling service Apple offers or controls is FaceTime, which requires a wifi or cellular internet data connection.

     

    If you are roaming on a foreign carriers network, you may, or may not have wifi calling available.

  • by ProfKPB,

    ProfKPB ProfKPB Aug 3, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 4:42 PM in response to Michael Black

    I don't think you really read my question.  I know how Wifi calling works.  But one thing I also know is that Apple created this feature, and Apple thus decided how it would work.  Apple, not the carrier, would need to add the option I proposed.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 3, 2016 5:14 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 7 (24,450 points)
    Aug 3, 2016 5:14 PM in response to ProfKPB

    ProfKPB wrote:

     

    I don't think you really read my question.  I know how Wifi calling works.  But one thing I also know is that Apple created this feature, and Apple thus decided how it would work.  Apple, not the carrier, would need to add the option I proposed.

    Apple did not invent wifi calling - a consortium of carriers and networks invented the GAN protocol that allows wifi calling to work. It was available on other manufactuers devices before it ever migrated to iPhones. All Apple did was update iOS and newer iPhine hardware to be able to utilize a carrier feature it previously had not supported. Just as Google updated Andrioid to support it and Windows updated their mobile phone OS to support it.

     

    Some countries, Denmark being one, have offered various modes of wifi calling since 2006, a full year prior to the release of the very first iPhone.

     

    Apple did not create it and does not control wifi calling.  All Apple does, and can do, is support the feature on their devices for use with carriers that enable the service. When you change networks it would be up to that carrier to support the feature with your service on their network and Apple has no control over that at all.

     

    if a network operator decides to not support wifi calling and handoffs to roamers on their network, there is nothing Apple or any iPhone setting can do about that.

  • by ProfKPB,

    ProfKPB ProfKPB Aug 3, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:17 PM in response to Michael Black

    CClearly you are intent on being correct about a point irrelevant to my question.  Yes, there is a standard.  No, you are quite wrong, Apple implemented the iPhone version of the support for this feature.

     

    ... and you know what?  None of that has the slightest connection to my question.  You are clearly an amazing high-points iPhone chat-room guy.  But that was not my question. 

     

    So, what was my question?  I asked why Apple doesmy support an additional roaming feature that would use roaming for emergency calls, but use Wifi calling for texting and voice calls.  Stop.  Read question.  Pause to think.  Then answer.  I'm interested a helpful answer, but spouting random tangential stuff is not helpful, plus you confuse standards with implementation (a common mistake,but a mistake just the same)

  • by ProfKPB,

    ProfKPB ProfKPB Aug 3, 2016 5:19 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:19 PM in response to ProfKPB

    PS: Sorry for the typos.  iPad often helpfully adds them.  Was on a keyboard previously.

  • by Malignance,Solvedanswer

    Malignance Malignance Aug 3, 2016 5:41 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 5 (4,470 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:41 PM in response to ProfKPB

    Hello ProfKPB,

     

    Nobody here works for Apple, we are all volunteers, using your time to help other users, like yourself, in this user to user form. I have read your question and I do not have an answer, perhaps you should direct your question at the people that may be able to help you.

     

    Apple > http://www.apple.com/feedback/

     

    Best regards,

     

    Mal

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 3, 2016 5:35 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 9 (57,848 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:35 PM in response to ProfKPB

    Quite an interesting attitude for someone that came to a user to user support forum looking for assistance.

     

    If you wish to use roaming for emergency calls, you need to turn roaming on, however most carriers do not charge for emergency services call. That ability is up to the carrier you are using. I know in the US, even if you do not have service on your device, you can call the emergency services number without charge. This can even be done on a locked iPhone. It is unknown how this is handled in Europe.

     

    As far as Wi-Fi calling is concerned, it is up to the carrier you are using when you try to make a call as Michael stated. The calling is not controlled by Apple, it is merely supported by Apple, based on the desires of the carriers that support wi-fi calling.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Aug 3, 2016 5:40 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 7 (24,450 points)
    Aug 3, 2016 5:40 PM in response to ProfKPB

    And you stubbornly insist that Apple can even do this when they cannot. Apple doesn't get to set roaming features at all. Carriers determining roaming features in their roaming agreements with other carriers. And each carrier gets to decide and implement whichever calling features they support, to which clients and partners and under what type of connections.

     

    All Apple did in iOS was add code to say "support wifi calling if the carrier enables it on their network -> ON/OFF".  They have no say in, nor any ability, to affect how wifi calling works if enabled on any particular carriers network.  The ability to make or receive calls, any calls, emergency or otherwise, with wifi calling is up to the network owners. The network's own call switching and handoff hardware and software determine when or if a call uses wifi calling, or not. The handset does not have any way to control that.

  • by ProfKPB,

    ProfKPB ProfKPB Aug 3, 2016 5:43 PM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:43 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Another snarky response that ignores the original question.  What is with you people?

     

    Your suggestion leaves a guy with a heart attack on the sidewalk for an extra minute while I argue with the iPhone options to enable roaming.  Why is this a good thing?

  • by ProfKPB,

    ProfKPB ProfKPB Aug 3, 2016 5:44 PM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:44 PM in response to Michael Black

    Stop.  Think.

     

    All core iPhone software was written by Apple.

     

    so what you typed is utter nonsense.

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 Aug 3, 2016 5:48 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 9 (57,848 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:48 PM in response to ProfKPB

    Stop, think, I told you that you can call emergency services no matter what. How much of that did you have trouble understanding, with your snarky responses. I never told you to do anything with options. If you wish to turn roaming on you can, if not, then don't and call emergency services. How you determine to set up your phone is your business.

  • by Malignance,

    Malignance Malignance Aug 3, 2016 5:52 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 5 (4,470 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 3, 2016 5:52 PM in response to ProfKPB

    What am I?! chopped liver? You're talking to the wrong people here. We can't help you change iOS software. I think everyone needs to take a beat and the OP needs to contact the people that can help.

  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Aug 3, 2016 5:58 PM in response to ProfKPB
    Level 7 (33,642 points)
    Aug 3, 2016 5:58 PM in response to ProfKPB

    ProfKPB wrote:

     

    Stop.  Think.

     

    All core iPhone software was written by Apple.

     

    so what you typed is utter nonsense.

    You have a misconception on what software can do.

    Example:

    Software is only to enable a certain feature.

    If the feature involved a 3rd party in the case of Wi-Fi calling, it's up to them to allow or disallow.

    No Apple or software magic can change that.

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