Three inTouch- WiFi calling on iPhone and Android devices

High speed data and lots of minutes are great things to have, but a network still needs to get the basics right, like for example actually having enough signal to make and receive phone calls.

For the most part Three should have you covered in that regard, as it has some amount of coverage in most parts of the UK, but no network is perfect and there are always coverage black spots.

That’s where Three inTouch comes in. With the help of this you never need lose signal again. Here’s everything you need to know, along with tables at the bottom to tell you at-a-glance whether your phone is compatible.

What is it?

Three inTouch is Three’s name for Wi-Fi calling, but confusingly there are two different versions of it, as Three offers both an app and for some phones native Wi-Fi Calling.

Three inTouch in both its forms allows you to make and receive calls and texts over Wi-Fi, which could be useful if you’re somewhere with a Wi-Fi connection but no mobile signal.

That might sound like something that’s unlikely to often happen, but mobile signals often struggle to penetrate walls and so they can be weaker inside, which is exactly where you’re likely to find Wi-Fi. 

If you have weak signal at home or work then Three inTouch could solve the problem and even if you don’t it’s worth having, in case you ever find yourself somewhere with Wi-Fi but little to no mobile reception. Three inTouch can also help if Three's network is ever having issues.

Then of course there’s the London Underground. Three has given its customers access to Wi-Fi while at stations and on platforms. You’re not going to get any mobile signal down there, but with inTouch you’ll still be able to keep in contact with the outside world and use your phone as normal.

It’s simple to use as well, with calls and texts coming out of your existing monthly price plan or pay as you go credit and using your normal Three number, so you don’t pay anything extra and you don’t need a separate login or password.

The app is what most users will need to get, so we’ll cover that first, but you’ll find information on embedded Wi-Fi calling further down in this article.

How do I get the Three inTouch app?

You can download the free app from Google Play or the Apple App Store, then connect to Three’s 3G or 4G network to activate it and pick which Wi-Fi network you want to use to call and text over. Then you’re good to go.

Of course you need to be a Three customer to actually use it and you have to use the inTouch app to send and receive texts when using the service. So although it uses your mobile number you can't use your standard SMS app. For more details on getting started, check out the video below.

inTouch is available now for Android and iOS.

Things to bear in mind

Although only Three customers can use inTouch, it can be used to call or text people on any network. Likewise people on any network can call or text you and it will come through on Three inTouch if you’re connected to it.

Three inTouch is available for Android 4.0 devices and above and iOS 6 devices and above, however it doesn’t work with the Huawei P2 or iPhone 3GS.

As the service works over Wi-Fi Three won’t charge you for the data use, but if you have limited data allowances on your home broadband you should be aware that inTouch uses around 0.7 megabytes of data per minute.

Embedded Wi-Fi Calling

Great as Three inTouch is, if you're using a recent handset you might be able to call and text over Wi-Fi automatically, without the Three inTouch app. It's the same idea, but you can use your normal SMS and phone apps, so it's even more seamless.

To get embedded Wi-Fi Calling on Android, you need a Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy A3 2016, Samsung Galaxy A5 2017, Samsung Galaxy J3 2017, LG G5 or LG G6.

If you have one of those, you bought your phone from Three and you're running the latest system software then Wi-Fi Calling will work automatically and your usage will come out of your normal monthly allowance or credit. You'll know it's working if you see the Wi-Fi Calling symbol (above).

On iOS, you'll need iOS 10.3 or later (or 10.2 and above if you update to carrier settings version 27.1 or later). If you have iOS 11.2 or later Wi-Fi Calling will work automatically, for older OS versions head into Settings > Phone (or Data) > Wi-Fi Calling and turn it on. Look out for the words 'Three WiFi Call' in your notifications bar to know it's working.

Note also that Wi-Fi Calling won't work on an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 - but you can still use the Three inTouch app.

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The information contained on this website has been written to assist our readers. We do not represent Three or speak on its behalf and are entirely independent of Three.