Make and receive phone calls

  • Article

First and foremost, your Windows Embedded 8 Handheld is a phone. Use it to make and receive phone calls to stay in touch with people. Can't talk when someone calls? Let them know you saw they called by replying with a text message.

To make your life easier, and potentially safer, you can use your phone hands-free by using the speaker or a Bluetooth headset.

To make a phone call

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PhoneHandheld8 start icon phone.

  2. In History, tap KeypadHandheld8 basic icon dialpad keypad, enter a phone number, and then tap Call.

  3. Tap End call to hang up.

Tip

  • When you're talking on the phone, you might want to do something else at the same time, like search online or get directions. Tap SpeakerHandheld8 phone icon speaker off when you're on the phone, and then press the StartPhone hardware start button or SearchHandheld8 hardware search icon button button to get started. One important thing to know—you won't be able to do things that use cellular data if your phone has a slower cellular data connection at the time.

  • If you want to hang up and you don't see the keypad, tap the notification at the top of the screen, and then tap End call.

  • Want to see if your phone is roaming? Or check out your cellular signal strength or connection type? Just tap the top of the screen to show the status bar, which has icons that tell you these things and more. View icons that show cellular signal strength, letters to indicate your cellular data connection type, and icons that show you whether Airplane mode Handheld8 system icon airplane mode is turned on, whether call forwarding Handheld8 system icon call forward is turned on, if you're roaming Handheld8 system icon roaming, if you're connected to a Bluetooth device Handheld8 system icon bluetooth, and the current ringer setting.

  • You can also make a call using Speech. Press and hold the StartPhone hardware start button button, and then say "Call" and the name of the person you want to call. To learn more, see Use Speech on my handheld device. Speech may not be available in your country or region.

Note

  • To make and receive phone calls, you need an account with a mobile phone operator and a working cellular signal in your current location.

  • You can't make a call if Airplane mode is turned on. To find the Airplane mode setting on your phone, in the App list, tap Settings > Airplane mode

To call a contact

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PeopleHandheld8 people tile icon.

  2. Tap the name of the person you want to call, and then tap the number to call.

  3. Tap End call to hang up.

To make a phone call from your call history

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PhoneHandheld8 start icon phone.

  2. In History, you can:

    • Tap CallHandheld8 basic icon call to call the person back at the current number.

    • Tap the person's name, and then tap the number to call.

    • Tap PeopleHandheld8 phone icon phonebook, tap the name of the person you want to call, and then tap the number to call.

    • Tap SearchHandheld8 hardware search icon button. In the Search box, start typing the name of someone you've called. When their name appears, tap CallHandheld8 basic icon call to call the person back at the current number, or tap their name, and then tap another number.

  3. Tap End call to hang up

To answer a call

  • When you get an incoming call:

    • If your phone is locked, slide up, and then tap Answer.

    • If your phone is unlocked, tap Answer.

    • If you can't talk when you get a call and you want to text a reply instead, tap Text reply, and then tap the message you want to send. This option appears when a contact calls you from their mobile phone.

    Tip

    • To send an incoming call directly to voicemail, tap Ignore.

    • Want to change the text replies you can choose to send when you get a call but can't talk? On Start, tap Phone > MoreHandheld8 more ellipses > Settings > Edit replies under Text reply. In the Reply boxes, type your replies, and then tap DoneHandheld8 done icon.

    • To text a reply to an incoming call, your phone must be running the latest version of the Windows Embedded 8 Handheld software. See How do I update my handheld device software? for more information about how to update your phone.

To silence the ringer on your phone

  • When someone calls, do one of the following:

    • To silence the ringer, press the Volume button.

    • To silence the ringer and turn off the screen, press the Power button.

Note

For more info about how to change the volume on your phone, see Ringtones, sounds, and volume.

To use in-call options

  1. During a call, do one or more of the following:

    To

    Do this

    Show the keypad during a call.

    Tap KeypadHandheld8 basic icon dialpad keypad

    Use the speaker during a call.

    Tap SpeakerHandheld8 phone icon speaker off

    Mute a call, so people can't hear you or background noise from your phone.

    Tap MuteHandheld8 phone icon mute off

    Put a call on hold.

    Tap HoldHandheld phone icon hold

    Add a call.

    Tap Add callHandheld8 phone icon add call

  2. To turn off an in-call option that's turned on, tap the button for the option. For example, if you're using the speaker during a call and want to turn it off, tap SpeakerHandheld8 phone icon speaker off.

  3. Tap End call to hang up.

Note

Your in-call options will vary by mobile operator.

To make an emergency phone call

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PhoneHandheld8 start icon phone.

  2. Tap KeypadHandheld8 basic icon dialpad keypad, enter the local emergency phone number, and then tap Call.

  3. Tap End call to hang up.

Note

If your phone has a password, you or someone else can still make an emergency phone call without entering the password by tapping Emergency call on the lock screen, and then dialing the local emergency number.

To make an international call

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PhoneHandheld8 start icon phone > KeypadHandheld8 basic icon dialpad keypad.

  2. Tap and hold 0 on the keypad until the + sign appears.

    The plus sign (+) shows that you're making an international call (instead of entering the country exit code for the country you're in).

  3. Enter the following on the keypad:

    • Country or region code

    • Area code (without the 0 at the beginning)

    • Phone number

  4. Tap Call.

Note

  • When you make international calls, you may be charged more depending on your phone plan.

  • In Phone settings, the International assist setting is turned on by default and can help correct common mistakes you might make when you dial an international number. If a country has more than one exit code, though, you'll need to correctly enter a country exit code to make the international call.

To forward calls to another phone number

  1. On StartPhone hardware start button, tap PhoneHandheld8 start icon phone > MoreHandheld8 more ellipses > Settings.

  2. Turn on Call forwardingHandheld8 toggle on icon, and then tap the box below it.

  3. In the Forward calls to box, enter the phone number to forward calls to, and then tap Save.

Note

Call forwarding varies by mobile operator. To use this service, it must be available with your current phone plan. Your mobile operator might charge you extra for forwarding calls.

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