Re: [EXTERNAL] Cell Phone Minutes - Free Wifi calls

I am not an expert on cell phones, but I think most phones use minutes and cell towers for normal calls and only route calls through wifi if you're using an app that sends the call through the internet.

So, if you're using the normal call function on your phone, it goes through minutes, but if you're using an app like WhatsApp or Signal to make the call it could go through wifi, data, or whatever system you're using to make an internet call.

Anyone know the definite answer on this?

Nora

Nora Weston
Scholarly Communications Librarian (Contractor)
NIEHS Library
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health
Rall Building/A0-14A
984-287-3603
eleanor.weston_at_nih.gov



-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries <CODE4LIB_at_LISTS.CLIR.ORG> On Behalf Of charles meyer
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 4:27 PM
To: CODE4LIB_at_LISTS.CLIR.ORG
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [CODE4LIB] Cell Phone Minutes - Free Wifi calls

My esteemed listmates....

It was my understanding that if I connected to free public wifi and then made a phone call that call would use no cell minutes on my cell phone?

I just checked my balance and my minutes balance have dropped precipitously.

I ALWAYS 1st check that I'm connected to public free wifi and then dial the phone number.

Is that not how free wifi phone calling works?

If not, how doe sone make free phone calls if free Public WIFI calling is not the method?

Thank you,

Charles.

Charlotte County Public Library
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