Is it possible to use wifi calling using an iPhone as the "Other Device"? The support page does not list iPhones as supported devices; however, my iPhone allows me to set a deactivated iPhone as an allowed device under wifi calling. But it doesn't seem to work! It just says that that number is not available for FaceTime.
Help? It would be really frustrating if I couldn't use my old iPhone as a "home phone" for the kids.
iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.3
Wifi calling is a cellular service provider feature. It is not something provided by Apple nor is it something integral to the iphone. Without active service with a cellular service provider, who also provides wifi calling service, there is no wifi calling on any device. The feature has to be associated with an active line of service, i.e. a valid and active cellular service telephone number.
As mentioned, you need a supported device associated with a supported carrier - Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support
The only thing you could do with a de-activated iphone is set up some VOIP app and service on it.
As this article states under "Make and receive Wi-Fi calls from another device", iPhone is not supported as "another device" for Wi-Fi calling.
Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support
The Terms of Use of these communities forbid us from speculating why Apple does or does not do certain actions or behaviors. But I can tell you that if Apple were my company and I were the Czar of Apple with unlimited authority, I would also exclude iPhones from "Other Devices." iPhones are telephones.
UPDATE - I apologize for duplicating much of what Michael Black already said. We overlapped in time - I did not see his responses before posting mine.
Continuity only works if the active iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network, and is not related to Wi-Fi calling. The feature you mention works fine without Wi-Fi calling active. Are you saying I can send SMS messages via Wi-Fi calling when the active phone is off or out of the area?
Right. I have Sprint, which supports wifi calling. It is active on my phone. I have also enabled my Mac, an iPad, and a deactivated iPhone as "other devices." It works fine on the Mac and iPad. Why isn't it working on the iPhone?
Wi-Fi calling is associated with your cellular carrier. If you do not have a cellular carrier associated with the iPhone, it cannot have Wi-Fi calling.
Right. So there's no hardware reason that it can't work on a deactivated iPhone as well. Indeed, it is in fact active as an "other device." So why isn't it working?
Well, that's frustrating and ridiculous. Why does it let me activate it as an "other device" then?
But it works on iPads and iPod Touches, which also do not have cellular carriers associated with them…
Yes, you are correct.
Those devices (iPads, etc.) are supplemental devices to your iPhone, and depend on that iPhone for your cellular carrier's connectivity.
As mentioned in the link I posted, that is not supported on iPhones. Other devices, without a cellular telephone radio or hardware are supported as "other devices". iPhones are not.
You can still share messaging and such with the other devices, including sending and receiving SMS texts via the continuity connection with the other iPhone with service.
Is this what you're saying? Because that would be very useful. Can you tell me how to set this up?
Wifi calling on deactivated iPhone
