Paul Roberts7

Q: Making calls when iPhone is not nearby from old iPhone

Well, this is frustrating.  I was happy to hear Apple added the ability to make calls from other devices signed into iCloud using the device with a carrier account even when the iPhone is not nearby.  A step-up from when they were on the same network. 

 

What I can't find is any way to make this happen or any useful information about how it should work.

 

On my iPhone 6 I have 'Allow Calls on Other Devices' enabled.  I also have my old iPhone 5 selected as one of the 'Allow Calls On' which leads me to believe that iOS thinks this should work.

 

I've tried numerous ways to make a phone call from the iPhone 5 but it seems like it recognizes that it is a phone and so it won't connect to the iPhone 6 and make a call from the device with an actual carrier account.  The call just immediately fails.  I tried through FaceTime but it actually won't call my landline and instead redirects to my iPhone... I'm thinking you'd have to use this feature through FaceTime though since the iPad isn't going to have a keypad to dial from...

 

What is the trick to make a call?  I just tried through FaceTime but it does the same thing for a landline number.  Just Call Failed.  There's so little in options or troubleshooting or directions for this feature.  Ugh.

Posted on Dec 16, 2015 4:15 PM

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Q: Making calls when iPhone is not nearby from old iPhone

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  • by Paul Roberts7,

    Paul Roberts7 Paul Roberts7 Dec 17, 2015 1:15 PM in response to razmee209
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Apple Watch
    Dec 17, 2015 1:15 PM in response to razmee209

    Ugh.  Thanks for the link.  So it sounds like Apple was pretty short-sighted on this.  That's disappointing.  All the links don't mention that you can use another, or an older, iPhone.  Just iPads and IPod touch.  That's such a waste for those of us that use our old iPhones as iPods.  :-(

     

    It seems like this would be an easy fix in the iOS software to allow the old iPhone to be considered as a device that won't make cellular connections.  Like a slider to turn off phone functionality so you can then... use it as a phone, as you would the iPad or iPod with your other existing device that supports remote carrier phone services through the iPhone.  I was able to use my iPad remotely through my iPhone but it doesn't appear I can fool the iPhone5 into using the newer iPhone for calls.  It still seems to want to make any calls through its own non-existent cellular service.

     

    This is the summary of what I found in the links.  No mention of using retired iPhones with WiFi calling.

    "If you're in the United States and use AT&T, you can place a Wi-Fi call from your iPad or iPod touch with iOS 9.2."