Mobile Calling (Overview)

When it comes to making a call through the mobile app, sometimes it can get a little confusing knowing exactly how it’s being made: if you’re not on WiFi, are you using data or cell minutes? What’s the difference between WiFi calling and data? Which settings are best for the office, at home, or your favorite coffee shop?

WiFi

When you Enable HD Calling (and connect to a stable WiFi network), you’re using the Internet to place and receive your Dialpad calls. Your mobile carrier isn’t involved at all - meaning you’re not using data or cell minutes for your calls.

How do I know I’m using WiFi?

As long as you’re connected to a stable WiFi network (like at the office), and you’ve enabled HD calling inbound and outbound, you’re using WiFi.

Some areas, however, aren’t set up to handle HD Calling. So while you’re favorite coffee spot may brew up a great latte, it probably isn’t going to serve up the call quality you need. In those cases, your mobile app may default to using cellular data to place your call.

If you want to avoid this, we’d suggest either Disabling HD Calling or Choose Before Each Call when you leave the office.

Cellular Data

With cellular data, your phone transmits signals - places/receive calls - with the help of cell towers. When you’re using cellular data, you have the same accessibility that you had with WiFi. The only difference is that with WiFi, you don’t have to worry about running over your allotted data for the month.

If you’ve enabled HD Calling, you’ll know you’re placing/receiving calls with cellular data because you’ll see 4G/LTE or 3G up at the top of your device’s screen. In the case where you have both WiFi and LTE, we’ll try placing/receiving the call with WiFi first. 

The HD Calling functionality in our mobile apps uses adaptive technology, which means the data usage will vary depending on the speed of your network. In general, 1 hour of VoIP calling should average between 14 MB and 28 MB of data usage but can be more or less depending on your environment.

Cellular Minutes

You’ll use cellular minutes when placing/receiving calls with the app if you’ve disabled HD Calling. You’ll want to check with your cell provider, but most plans include unlimited minutes.

There are some drawbacks/limitations to using cellular minutes with the mobile app:

• May experience limited access to Dialpad call controls (for carriers that don't allow simultaneous voice and data)
• Uses carrier minutes (if your plan isn't unlimited)
• Higher rates for international calls
• If you only have regular cell reception, but no cell data (i.e. no 4G/LTE or 3G) or WiFi, you won’t be able to send/receive SMS through the app.

If you’ve disabled HD calling, you’ll know you’re placing/receiving calls with cell minutes because you’ll see reception bars up at the top of your device’s screen.

Plus, outbound calls will be placed with your native dialer using a relay number while inbound calls will ring through your native dialer (as opposed to your HD Calling screen).  

Enabling HD Calling: Defined

Enabling HD Calling on your mobile means that Dialpad will place/receive calls over the Internet when you have a stable WiFi connection. If you’re not on WiFi, we’ll use your cellular data to force HD Calling.

Disabling HD Calling: Defined

Disabling HD Calling on your mobile means that Dialpad will place/receive calls through your carrier network. This means that we’ll use cellular data to place/receive calls.

Outbound calls will use a relay number through your native dialer, and inbound calls will be forwarded to your native device number.