AT&T’s plans to launch Wi-FI calling for the iPhone in iOS 9 have run into some roadblocks, according to a new report from Phone Scoop. Although the feature was expected to be widely available following the launch of iOS 9, it has now been delayed due to pending approval on an FCC requirement to ensure that the new Wi-Fi calling feature can reliably accommodate the hearing impaired.
Traditionally, hearing impaired users have relied on TTY technology, however TTY cannot be used reliably with Wi-Fi calling, and AT&T has proposed to instead implement a new real-time text (RTT) feature as an alternative. Doing so, however, requires AT&T to get a waiver to the FCC’s accessibility rules; the company requested the waiver earlier this year, but it has not yet been granted by the FCC.
Those that were selected to beta test WI-Fi calling on iOS 9 were able to use the feature and will be able to continue to do so, according to AT&T, however no timeline has been provided by the FCC or AT&T as to when Wi-FI calling will be approved for use. [via The Verge]
.
