Mobile hotspot provider Ruckus Wireless is using its WiFi expertise to improve the quality of WiFi calling, or voice-over WiFi (VoWiFi), with new technologies it has reportedly tested with both Sprint and T-Mobile.

The company announced a slew of new Smart WiFi software updates on Monday that it says have been successfully tested with two of the biggest mobile network operators in the US. Ruckus Wireless Inc. Vice President of Corporate Marketing David Callisch wouldn't comment on who the operators are, but sources close to the company say they are Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile US Inc. , which seems reasonable given they are the only two big operators that have deployed VoWiFi in the US to date. (See T-Mobile Turns Up VoLTE-to-WiFi Handoff and Taqua Lets Mobile Users Talk Over WiFi.)

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) has said it will start supporting the capability in 2015, and Verizon Wireless has yet to outline its plans. (See AT&T to Launch WiFi Calling in 2015.)

Specifically, Ruckus's new VoWiFi tools, which will be integrated into its products and used in conjunction with its BeamFlex adaptive antenna technology, include capacity-based client access control, WiFi multimedia admission controls, directed roaming and automatic packet flow heuristics. (See Ruckus Virtualizes WLAN Management, Ruckus Takes On HP With Cloud WiFi Services and Who Cares About Wi-Fi Quality?)

Read more about WiFi strategies on the dedicated carrier WiFi channel on Light Reading.

As an equipment provider, Ruckus can't control the WiFi experience in the mobile core, but Callisch says it's doing what it can to improve in the space it does own: unlicensed spectrum. He says voice is harder to deliver over WiFi because the voice package is super small and erratic. But by managing congestion and prioritizing WiFi calls with its new tools, the Ruckus man says operators can achieve a carrier-class calling experience, which necessitates seamless handoff and a high-quality connection.

"We're good at creating the pristine connection between the always-moving client to the WiFi network because of our ability to handle signaling and quality," Callisch says. "The service providers look to us to solve these problems."

There have been a number of vendors looking to help operators introduce WiFi calling to their customers, a service many are coming to expect as WiFi becomes more prevalent and high quality. Nokia Networks , for example, has teamed up with both Radisys Corp. (Nasdaq: RSYS) and Genband Inc. to build out its VoWiFi and voice-over LTE (VoLTE) offerings. Expect more action around the technology at Mobile World Congress where Ruckus will be showing off its new technology. (See Republic Welcomes More WiFi-First Action, Radisys Helps Nokia Enable VoLTE and Genband, Nokia Team Up on VoWiFi.)

— Sarah Thomas, , Editorial Operations Director, Light Reading