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8x8 Support

Data and Network Overview for 8x8 Work for Mobile

Overview

Work for Mobile provides ways for users to select the network that should be used for voice calls, through Settings > Data and Network Options (for more details on turning cellular data on and off, click here).

By default, Wi-Fi and Cellular Data both are allowed for voice calls. If Wi-Fi is available and usable, the application always prefers it over Cellular Data for voice calls. As of now, there is no setting to disable the usage of Wi-Fi for the calls.

Applies To

  • Work for Mobile
  • Cellular Data
  • WiFi

Effects of Cellular Data-Enabled/Disabled

If voice calls are allowed on Cellular Data and the user makes a call when connected to Wi-Fi and then moves out of the Wi-Fi coverage area, the call is automatically handout to the Cellular Data network without any user intervention. Or if the user is not connected to a Wi-Fi network, the call is placed on the Cellular Data network.

If the user prefers not to use Cellular Data because of the cost involved or any other reason, they can choose to disable it through the settings. If the user decided to not allow Cellular Data for calls, then their ongoing calls over Wi-Fi would drop as soon as the user goes out of the Wi-Fi coverage area as there would not be any way for Work for Mobile to continue with the call. Though in such cases, the application does provide the feedback that Cellular Data is disabled for calls and the user should enable Cellular Data.

Data and Network Options settings only affect the network selection for voice calls. Other services like Chat messages/ Meetings/Notifications always use available network Wi-Fi or Cellular Data and are not controlled by Data and Network Options settings.

Cellular Assist

There are cases, where it is not desirable for a user to make voice calls over Cellular Data, for example:

  1. Cellular Data is expensive.
  2. Cellular Data coverage near the user’s area is flaky and weak.

In these cases, users may choose to enable the Cellular Assist feature which lets users make calls using Cellular Minutes (similar to normal voice calls through native dialer) for their outbound/inbound call using Work for Mobile. When the cellular assist feature is in effect, the iOS or Android native dialer is used to make/receive calls and hence all mid-call features are limited to native dialer mid-call features. If the user wants to use rich mid-call features provided within Work for Mobile, the user should allow calls using Cellular Data instead. Cellular Assist settings should be used only in the above-mentioned situations where the use of Cellular Data is not desirable.    

Note-Icon.png Note: Though calls are made using native dialer, 8x8 ensures that to the other party of the call, the user's work number is presented and never reveals their personal number.

The table below summarizes the relationship between the network selected for the call and user experience with respect to UI, call quality, and chance of call drop.

Network used for Call

Call UI

Call Quality

Call Drop

WiFi

In App

High (Wideband Codec)

If the user allowed Cellular Data for calls and the user moves out of WiFi coverage area, the call is automatically handed over to Cellular Data without the user taking any action. 

If the user has not allowed Cellular Data for the calls and the user moves out of the Wi-Fi coverage area, call drops as there is no interface to hand out the call to.

Cellular Data

In App

High (Wideband Codec)

Depends on Cellular Data coverage

Cellular Minutes

Native Dialer

Low (Same as your personal calls using native dialer)

Same as with your personal calls using your native dialer

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