One of the cool things about Google and the Android Open Source Project is what they code they generally release to the public in a timely fashion for review and modification. Such is the case with their WiFi calling code coming with Android 5.1.1.

The code was released to AOSP, which means if you’re a fan of AOSP/AOKP/AOSPA/AOwhatever based ROMs your favorite ROM developer can now cut that code and bake it into their ROM.

Google’s WiFi calling is carrier specific according to an article on XDA pointing out that it will probably only work on carriers that currently advertise they have the feature. Unfortunately we’re not at the fun stage of making inbound and outbound WiFi calls with your carrier’s number unless there’s some form of carrier integration going on.

What’s a pretty cool thought for the unrooted crowd is that the potential is there to have a non-root application running that would enable WiFi calling both ways using your carrier number on unsupported devices, which is something that I used to do using GrooveIP and some flibbity flobbity.

What probably will end up being the case is the kernel will have to support some choice element of the code in order for WiFi calling to function properly and the joys of unsupported WiFi calling will remain in the root world. But one could hope.

In case you’re unclear on the concept of carrier-based WiFi calling. It’s generally used when you have a crappy signal and any phone calls you make or receive are routed through WiFi. If someone calls you the call gets routed from their phone over the the net out a router and to you.

While there are plenty of WiFi calling programs available out there, unless your carrier supports it when you enable those, people will have to dial a different number to reach you.

[xda-developers]

Google releases code for WiFi calling by Paul E King first appeared on Pocketables.