Making free calls via WhatsApp sounds great. If you are abroad, costs may still apply!

the essentials in brief

  • You can also make free calls with WhatsApp.
  • In this case, free only means that WhatsApp doesn't charge anything for it.
  • However, with such phone calls you are putting a strain on your mobile data volume, which can be expensive, especially abroad!

As our cooperation partner checked4you reports, you can not only write and send files with WhatApp, but also make phone calls.

The best thing about it: the conversations don’t cost any money! At least not directly. And that's precisely why you should know a few things before making a call via WhatsApp (which, by the way, also applies to other services such as Skype, Google Hangouts or Apple Facetime).
  • The phone calls are made over the Internet. The technology is called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This means: All conversations take place via servers, which in the case of WhatsApp are located in the USA. On April 5, 2016, WhatsApp began end-to-end encryption , which is intended to make conversations tap-proof. But only the content is encrypted. It is still possible to trace when you spoke to whom on the phone and for how long.

[mk_ad]

  • Because telephone calls are made over the Internet, you use up data volume with every call - regardless of whether you are calling someone or are being called. So if you're not on WiFi somewhere, you can use your mobile high-speed volume. So that you have a rough idea: A VoIP phone call with clear sound uses around 100 kilobits per second, which is around 0.7 megabytes per minute.
  • Be careful, of course, on vacation: Mobile data use abroad is extremely expensive if you use a German SIM card! Unless you are in an EU country. Since mid-2017, you have been able to use your smartphone tariff just as you would at home. more about EU roaming here . And if you are in another country, it is often worth purchasing a prepaid card from a provider in the relevant country.

WiFi call price trap

Some smartphones and even cell phones offer the option of making calls via WiFi - not with an app, but with the device's normal telephone function. But this doesn't work with every network provider.

And it can get unintentionally expensive! To be on the safe side, before you go on vacation, ask your cell phone provider whether they offer WiFi calls and how much they cost. The technology can also be called WiFi Call or VoWiFi.

Sign up for the Mimikama newsletter

Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )