In Brief (TL;DR)
A complete guide with tips, tricks, and solutions to best manage every aspect of your calls and messages.
We will deepen the best strategies to configure voicemail, block unwanted calls, and make the best use of the most popular messaging apps.
Discover tricks and advanced features to customize and make your calling and messaging experience more efficient.
The devil is in the details. 👇 Keep reading to discover the critical steps and practical tips to avoid mistakes.
In the digital age, effective management of calls and messages has become a fundamental skill in everyday life. From personal to work communications, smartphones are the hub of our interactions. This article explores the Italian and European landscape, analyzing how tradition and innovation blend in the way we communicate. We will examine the tools at our disposal, from classic telephone functions to the most advanced messaging apps, offering a complete guide to optimizing our connected life, with a special focus on the Mediterranean culture that privileges direct human contact.
The growing complexity of communications requires greater awareness. Knowing how to manage notifications, protect oneself from spam, and use emerging technologies is not just a matter of efficiency, but also of digital well-being. In a context where mobile data traffic is constantly increasing, as confirmed by AGCOM data highlighting a 16.5% growth in daily data traffic in June 2024 compared to the previous year, it becomes crucial to master the tools we use daily. This guide aims to be a compass for navigating the world of mobile communication with confidence and competence.
Tradition Renewed: Managing Classic Calls
Even today, traditional telephone functions represent the basis of our voice communication. Services like voicemail, call waiting, and call forwarding are often pre-activated on SIM cards, but not everyone knows how they work or how to manage them. Voicemail, for example, can be useful for not missing important messages, but it is good to know that listening to messages has a cost that depends on your rate plan. Many operators, such as TIM and Vodafone, offer specific numeric strings to activate, deactivate, or verify the status of these services, allowing for complete customization.
An aspect often overlooked is the management of these services when abroad. Listening to a voicemail message outside Italy, for example, has a cost equivalent to an international call to our country. Therefore, before a trip, it is advisable to check your operator’s settings. Furthermore, it is useful to know the missed call alert services (often called “Chiamami” or “Ti ho cercato”), which send a free SMS to notify of calls received when the phone was off, unreachable, or busy, representing a practical alternative to voicemail. For optimal management, it is possible to deactivate voicemail if you prefer to avoid additional costs.
The Dominance of Instant Messaging
The messaging landscape in Italy is dominated by WhatsApp, used in 2024 by 90.3% of Italians between 16 and 64 years old. This makes it the preferred communication platform, far surpassing alternatives like Telegram, which still stands at a solid 47.7% in the same age group. The preference for WhatsApp is so deep-rooted that 41% of Italian users indicate it as their favorite social platform. This centrality reflects a European trend, where messaging apps are a daily tool for 71.8% of the population. Communication has shifted towards richer and multimedia formats, with intensive use of voice messages, images, and videos, making interactions more direct and personal, in line with the Mediterranean communicative culture.
Although WhatsApp reigns supreme due to its vast user base, Telegram carves out an important niche thanks to advanced features like channels with an unlimited number of subscribers and superior customization options. This duality offers users a choice based on their needs: the ubiquity of WhatsApp for mass communications and the flexibility of Telegram for communities and more specific interactions. Both platforms continue to evolve, introducing features to improve privacy and user experience, such as self-destructing messages and chat protection with passwords or fingerprints. For those who wish to explore the full potential of their device, there are numerous tricks for Android that can also improve the use of messaging apps.
The Fight Against Phone Spam: The Public Opposition Registry
Aggressive telemarketing is a problem perceived by many citizens. To counter this phenomenon, the Public Opposition Registry (RPO) is active in Italy, a free service that allows users to oppose the use of their telephone number for commercial purposes. Following an important regulatory update (D.P.R. n. 26/2022), registration has been extended to all national numbers, including mobile phones not present in public directories, and introduced a fundamental novelty: registration revokes all consents to telemarketing previously provided.
To register, citizens can use various methods: a toll-free number, the official website, or an email. Once registered, telemarketing companies are obliged to consult the registry monthly and remove registered numbers from their contact lists. Although registration is a fundamental step, it does not always guarantee the complete cessation of unwanted calls, especially those coming from call centers that do not respect the regulations. In these cases, it is possible to make reports directly to the Data Protection Authority. For concrete help, it is useful to consult a guide on how to block spam calls.
Innovation in Communication: VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and RCS
Next Generation Calls with VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling
The quality of voice calls has taken a leap forward thanks to technologies like VoLTE (Voice over LTE). This technology allows calls to be made using the 4G network, with high-definition audio, sharper sound, and better background noise suppression. A significant advantage of VoLTE is the ability to continue surfing the internet at maximum speed even during a phone call, overcoming the limits of old 2G/3G networks. The service is generally free and included in operator offers, but requires a compatible smartphone and activation in the device settings.
Complementing VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling (or VoWiFi) represents an innovative solution to ensure continuity of communications even in the absence of a mobile signal. This technology, introduced in Italy at the end of 2022, allows making and receiving calls via any Wi-Fi network to which you are connected. It proves particularly useful in places with poor coverage, such as buildings with thick walls, basements, or rural areas. Also in this case, the service has no additional costs and uses the rate of your mobile plan, provided you have a smartphone certified by the operator. To learn more about these technologies, a guide on VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling is available.
RCS: The Future of SMS?
The evolution of traditional messaging passes through the RCS (Rich Communication Services) standard, promoted by Google as the successor to SMS. This technology aims to integrate the features typical of instant messaging apps directly into the default Messages app of Android smartphones. With RCS, it is possible to send high-quality images and videos, create advanced group chats, see read receipts and typing indicators, all using data connection or Wi-Fi. One of the strengths is improved security compared to SMS, thanks to sender verification, which reduces the risks of phishing and spam.
Despite the numerous advantages, the adoption of RCS in Italy is proceeding slowly, mainly because not all telephone operators have yet guaranteed full support for this standard. Globally, the situation is evolving, especially after Apple’s 2024 announcement to support RCS starting from iOS 18, a step that could accelerate its diffusion. Although RCS is unlikely to replace consolidated apps like WhatsApp in the short term, it represents a powerful and integrated alternative that could revolutionize corporate communication and service notifications.
Conclusions
Managing personal and professional communications is a dynamic balance between established tools and technological innovations. In Italy, and more broadly in the Mediterranean context, there is a strong attachment to direct and immediate modes of interaction, which find their maximum expression in the overwhelming popularity of WhatsApp. At the same time, there is a growing awareness towards protecting one’s privacy, as demonstrated by the evolution of the Public Opposition Registry to combat spam. Emerging technologies like VoLTE, Wi-Fi Calling, and RCS are redefining quality and functionality standards, promising an increasingly integrated and fluid experience. Mastering this complex ecosystem, choosing the tools best suited to one’s needs, and protecting one’s digital space is the key to communicating effectively and serenely in 2025 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Public Opposition Registry and how does it work?
The Public Opposition Registry (RPO) is a public and free service established in Italy to allow citizens to protect their privacy by opposing unwanted telemarketing calls. With the new regulations in force, it is possible to register any telephone number, both landline and mobile, even if not present in public directories. Registration has the important effect of revoking all consents to telephone marketing previously provided. Companies that conduct telemarketing are legally obliged to consult the registry and not contact registered numbers. Registration can be done via the official website, via email, or by calling a dedicated number.
What is the main difference between VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling?
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) are two technologies that improve call quality and continuity, but operate in different contexts. VoLTE uses the 4G network to carry calls, offering high-definition audio and allowing you to surf the internet simultaneously without interruptions. Wi-Fi Calling, on the other hand, allows you to make and receive voice calls through a Wi-Fi network when the mobile network signal is weak or absent, such as in buildings with thick walls or in isolated areas. In summary, VoLTE improves quality on the mobile network, while Wi-Fi Calling acts as an extension of mobile coverage via Wi-Fi.
What are the most used messaging apps in Italy?
In Italy, the instant messaging landscape is clearly dominated by WhatsApp. According to 2024 data, it is used by 90.3% of the online population between 16 and 64 years old, confirming itself as the preferred communication tool for most Italians. In second place is Telegram, with a usage share of 47.7% in the same demographic, appreciated for its advanced features such as channels and greater flexibility. Other platforms like Facebook Messenger follow at a distance, while apps like Signal or others stand at lower usage percentages, targeting more specific user niches.
What are RCS messages and why are they considered the evolution of SMS?
RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages represent a new communication standard that aims to replace traditional SMS. Unlike SMS, which is limited to text, RCS offers an experience similar to that of chat apps like WhatsApp, directly from the phone’s default messaging application. Features include sending high-quality photos and videos, creating group chats, read receipts, and typing indicators. They are considered more secure than SMS thanks to the ability to verify the sender’s identity, a useful feature for countering scams and spam. The adoption of this standard by Google and, more recently, by Apple, is accelerating its potential global spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
To block spam calls, you can use several strategies. Most modern smartphones, both Android and iOS, integrate native functions to identify and block suspicious numbers. You can also register for free in the Public Opposition Registry to revoke consent for telemarketing calls. Finally, there are very effective third-party apps that automatically filter unwanted calls based on constantly updated spam number databases.
Traditional voicemail requires calling a specific number to listen to messages in chronological order. Visual voicemail, on the other hand, represents an evolution: it shows received messages as a list directly on the phone screen, often with a text transcription. This allows you to choose which message to listen to first, read its content, and manage it more quickly, combining tradition and innovation.
In the European context, where data protection (GDPR) is very important, the most secure apps are those that use end-to-end encryption by default. Signal is often cited by experts as the most secure, as it is not tied to large tech giants and collects a minimal amount of user data. WhatsApp also offers end-to-end encryption but belongs to Meta (Facebook), a factor to consider for privacy. Threema is another excellent paid alternative that guarantees high anonymity.
Yes, it is absolutely possible. The WhatsApp app itself has introduced a feature to add a second account, provided you have a second active SIM or eSIM. Alternatively, many Android smartphones (such as Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.) offer a function called «Dual App» or «Clone App» that creates a second independent copy of WhatsApp. Another practical solution is to install the WhatsApp Business app and use it for the second number.
RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages are the evolution of SMS, supported by Google and soon also by Apple. Unlike SMS, they work via data connection or Wi-Fi and transform the default messaging app into an advanced chat, similar to WhatsApp. They offer features like read receipts, typing indicators, sharing of high-quality photos and videos, and group chats, without the need to install an external app.
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