As Apple’s SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller introduced WiFi Calling support coming with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and other iPhones with iOS 8 on supported networks earlier this week, it was noted that only T-Mobile and EE will provide support for the new feature at launch. WiFi Calling will allow users to take advantage of home or office WiFi connections, for instance, to improve call quality in otherwise potentially low network zones. Telecommunications site LightReading reports, however, that AT&T plans to add WiFi Calling support for its subscribers beginning next year.
“We’re very focused on making sure it’s a great experience for customers, but we see it as a complement, not a replacement,” he said. “We feel good about a great nationwide network with unlimited talk and text.”
An AT&T spokesperson shared today, though, that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus demand has exceeded that of the demand from either the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s launches from previous year as pre-orders kicked off today.
This gives the carrier yet another reason to implement support for a feature announced alongside the new iPhone 6 models and the roll out of iOS 8 next week.
The report and statement notes that the ability to move from WiFi to cellular during a call without interruptions seems to be the reason for AT&T’s slower rollout compared to its competitor T-Mobile.
T-Mobile, earlier this week at its Uncarrier 7.0 event, detailed how WiFi Calling will function on its network.
