Use Cell Phone to Make Calls Over the Internet

There are several VoIP services that allow you to make calls on your mobile phone over the Internet using a Wi-FI connection (and even 3G with some VoIP and cell providers).

An acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP is the technology for transmitting voice communications over your Internet connection. It requires a broadband Internet connection (DSL, cable, or 4G wireless) and can be accessed using your computer, on some cell phones (depending on compatibility), and even via some landline-style cordless phones that can connect via both VoIP and your standard telephone jack.

Using a VoIP service on your mobile phone over Wi-Fi can help you save on using your cellular plan's minutes. It's also a good way to make calls from your mobile phone when your cell signal is weak.

Additionally, if you are calling a contact who is using the same VoIP service application, the call is typically free (calling to an actual phone number may incur charges from that service).

The Skype service is available for the iPhone (as well as the iPod touch and iPad) and many smartphones on the Verizon Wireless network (including BlackBerry and Android OS models). A call made from the Skype app on your mobile phone to someone else using Skype software (either on another mobile phone or on a computer) is free. Skype also offers low-cost calling to mobile phone and landline numbers (including international numbers), which requires pre-paying for minutes using Skype Credit or purchasing a monthly Skype calling plan.

The free Google Voice service is available as a standalone app on Android OS. Additionally, a Web-based version can be accessed on other smartphones with a Web browser, including the iPhone, Palm Pre and Pixi, Nokia S60 models, Windows Mobile phones, and more. You can make free phone calls to domestic mobile phones and landlines over the Internet, as well as low-cost international calls using pre-paid calling credit. The service also provides you a phone number that can be connected to other numbers--mobile or landline--so that you never miss a call.

What is a Direct-Wire Antenna?

Similar to a cell repeater, a direct-wire antenna method of boosting cellular signal includes an antenna that mounts on the outside of your building, or even your car. But where a cell repeater's amplifier provides a stronger signal for all phones in its range, the direct-wire antenna attaches directly to just a single mobile phone.

If you're interested in boosting the signal for a single cell phone, a direct-wire antenna could be the option for you. The direct-wire antenna method of boosting cellular signal includes an antenna that mounts on the outside of your building, or even your car.

Video: How to use direct wire antennas to improve your cell phone's signal.

What is a Cell Repeater?

If your home or office is in a cellular dead zone or you make most of your calls from inside a building where cellular reception is low, a cell repeater can help you boost reception.

A cellular repeater, cell phone repeater, or wireless cellular signal booster, a type of bi-directional amplifier (BDA) as commonly named in the wireless telecommunications industry, is a device used for boosting the cell phone reception to the local area by the usage of a reception antenna, a signal amplifier and an internal rebroadcast antenna.

Made up of a few more parts than a femtocell, a cell repeater includes an antenna, an amplifier, and a coaxial cable that connects them. The antenna is placed either outside your building or on a window (via suction cups), and then you can string the coaxial cable to the most convenient spot to place the amplifier. Some cell repeaters include an additional indoor antenna, but many of them integrate that into the amplifier.

The antenna grabs a range of supported frequencies and then retransmits them with a stronger signal from the amplifier. When you make a call or use data when within the cell repeater's range, the indoor antenna picks up the signal from your mobile phone and transmits it through the outdoor antenna.

One advantage of cellular repeaters is an increase in the cell phone's battery life due to the lower power required to broadcast the signal to the local bi-directional amplifier, due to its proximity to the phone.

Kind of Internet connection is required..!

A femtocell doesn't just improve your phone's voice signal--it also boosts data connectivity. Thus, you can browse the Web, play online games, stream video, and more using a femtocell's connection to your cell provider.

Whether you're interested in online gaming, sharing files, printing wirelessly, or streaming music and video, we'll show you the essential components you'll need to make it happen.

A femtocell needs a broadband connection (such as DSL, cable, or 4G wireless) with a router connected to the broadband modem. The femtocell will plug into your router via an Ethernet cable.

Learn what components you need for a basic home network and explore the connected home.

Step: 1

You will first need to make you have a high-speed Internet connection in your house. Many cable and DSL providers offer a modem with broadband service, however you can also purchase from Amazon.com.

›Shop all modems

Step: 2

Next you need a router, which is truly the heart of your network, in order to connect your devices. You have the option of a wired or wireless router. Many customers opt for a wireless router to avoid all of the wires required to connect devices via Ethernet cables, which can be a challenge if you have devices in different rooms. Powerline networking kits are also a viable option for customers who already own a wired router.

›Shop all routers

Step: 3

Now it's time to connect your devices to your network. Your wireless router's setup software will help you get your primary computer wirelessly connected. After that, you will be able to add your wireless printers, gaming consoles, Internet-Ready TVs and devices, and more. Explore the connected living room and connected office.

How to Improve Cell Phone Coverage in My Home?

In this blog we'll show you how easy it is to get more bars of cell phone reception in your home. We explore three primary ways to get more bars: femtocells, cell phone repeaters, and direct-wire antennas.

Learn more about each of options below to enjoy better cell phone reception throughout your home.

Direct-Wire Antennas

If you're interested in boosting the signal for a single cell phone, a direct-wire antenna could be the option for you. The direct-wire antenna method of boosting cellular signal includes an antenna that mounts on the outside of your building, or even your car.

Cell Phone Repeaters

If your home or office is in a cellular dead zone or you make most of your calls from inside a building where cellular reception is low, a cell repeater can help you boost reception. A cellular repeater includes an antenna, an amplifier, and a coaxial cable that connects them. The antenna is placed either outside your building or on a window (via suction cups), and then you can string the coaxial cable to the most convenient spot to place the amplifier.

Femtocells

A femtocell acts like a miniaturized cell tower in your home, creating an access point for both voice and data that provides better reception than what you might be getting from the nearby cell tower. In addition to the femtocell device (available from cell providers--check their website for more information), you need an Internet connection and a home LAN (wired or wireless network).

We'll be adding to and updating this list as new information comes available so check back in every once in awhile to see what's new.

The Benefits of Femtocells

I want to tell you why you might end up accepting the additional wireless charges in exchange for better cellular service at home. Due to the substantial benefits, femtocell technology is causing quite a “buzz” in the industry.

Here are the benefits of femtocell technology:

Femtocell Benefits to End Users

• Reduced "in home" call charges
• Improved indoor coverage
• Continued use of current handset
• Reduced battery drain
• One consolidated bill
• Multiple users/lines
• Landline support

Femtocell Benefits to Mobile Operators

• Improves coverage
• Reduces backhaul traffic
• Provides capacity enhancements
• Reduces churn
• Enables triple play
• Addresses the VoIP threat
• Stimulates 3G usage
• Captures termination fees
• Allows for multiple users/lines
• Addresses the fixed mobile convergence market with a highly attractive and efficient solution

What is a Femtocell?

A femtocell is a small cellular base station designed for use in residential or small business environments. It connects to the service provider’s network via broadband (such as DSL or cable) and typically supports 2 to 5 mobile phones in a residential setting. A femtocell allows service providers to extend service coverage inside of your home - especially where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable - without the need for expensive cellular towers. It also decreases backhaul costs since it routes your mobile phone traffic through the IP network.

A femtocell is sometimes referred to as "access point base station", "3G access point", "small cellular base station" and “personal 2G-3G base station".

A femtocell acts like a miniaturized cell tower in your home, creating an access point for both voice and data that provides better reception than what you might be getting from the nearby cell tower. In addition to the femtocell device (available from cell providers), you need an Internet connection and a home LAN (wired or wireless network).

After plugging the device into your network, your cell phone uses the femtocell's radio frequency to connect to your cellular network. When you leave the house, your phone will automatically switch over to communicating over the normal cell towers.

View this short video to quickly get up to speed on this exciting new technology.