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Verizon Preparing to Launch Voice Over LTE Network in September

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Verizon today announced that it is preparing to launch its voice over LTE (VoLTE) service sometime in September, reports CNET. The new service will be available nationwide on supported phones that are connected to the carrier's LTE network.

VoLTE will provide high-definition quality voice and video calls that will significantly improve the overall calling experience. Not only will customers notice an enhancement in voice call quality, they also will be able to initiate a FaceTime-like video call right from the dialer app.
Once you experience the HD quality voice, you don't want to go back," Greg Dial, executive director of mobile services for Verizon, said in a pre-briefing and demonstration of the new service with reporters. "The tight integration of the video calling feature is also significant. You can launch it right from the dialer. There's no opening a separate app."
Click to expand...
These new HD VoLTE calls will be considered voice calls and will count against a customer's available minutes. Video calls will be counted as data and will subtract from the customer's data allotment. There will be no extra charges for using this service, and it will be optional for customers.

vzw-volte.jpeg

Verizon has not specified which phones will be updated to support its new calling service, but the iPhone may be included on this list. The current generation iPhone chipset supports this feature, and it can be enabled with a software update. Rumors have suggested that Apple has plans to support VoLTE with the launch of iOS 8 and the iPhone 6. Along with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have announced plans to add VoLTE to their networks in the near future.

iOS 8 will also bring a WiFi calling feature, allowing customers to place higher-quality voice calls over WiFi instead of using a cellular network. T-Mobile is the first carrier to confirm that it will support Apple's WiFi calling feature when it launches this fall along with iOS 8.

Article Link: Verizon Preparing to Launch Voice Over LTE Network in September
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/26/verizon-volte/
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Jack Delgado

Jack Delgado

macrumors regular
May 11, 2012
138
347
If you've ever experienced a voice call over wifi, either through facetime audio or skype, you'll know how jarring it is at first being able to hear someone so clearly.

It's amazing how much we've become used to low-fidelity calls.
 
E

ElZeus

macrumors regular
May 26, 2008
239
128
Their LTE video calls will require DATA + Minutes. BAWHWHAWHWHAWHAHAHAHA

We will stick with Facetime video/audio calls thank you very much. :apple:
 
markyr17

markyr17

macrumors 65816
Apr 8, 2010
1,186
92
Jack Delgado said:
If you've ever experienced a voice call over wifi, either through facetime audio or skype, you'll know how jarring it is at first being able to hear someone so clearly.

It's amazing how much we've become used to low-fidelity calls.
Click to expand...

Agreed... It is better, and yes, I welcome it, but for me, at least, data and voice at the same time is what excites me.
 
Col4bin

Col4bin

macrumors 68000
Oct 2, 2011
1,890
1,579
El Segundo
Get with it Verizon. 2007 called, they want they're on-screen design back.

That's some gross-looking GUI. Please tell me that's not from present day? (Must be Android) ;)
 
Y

yeah

macrumors 6502a
Jul 12, 2011
978
291
:eek: T-Mobile already has VoLTE across most of their LTE network.

Thankfully Verizon will charge on minutes, not data.
 
S

Shirke

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2013
124
10
How would VOLTE work when you are on Wifi? Will it still use LTE for VOLTE if you are in a LTE area on Wifi?
 
L

LostMyiPhone

macrumors 6502
Dec 19, 2012
423
1
I'm not sure if I am excited about this or indifferent. My first reaction was: "They're fixing a problem that does not exist" but I can't say that without experiencing it.

I'm a Verizon customer so anything they do to improve their network or the user experience, I'm all for it. I just hope they don't use it as an excuse to jack up my bill that much more...

If it does bring Voice + Data to the iPhone (simultaneously, of course) then that'll be the best part in my opinion!
 
D

danielsutton

macrumors 6502
Jun 13, 2011
388
161
Shirke said:
How would VOLTE work when you are on Wifi? Will it still use LTE for VOLTE if you are in a LTE area on Wifi?
Click to expand...

No, when connected to Wi-Fi, you will be able to make calls over the Wi-Fi network for free, your phone will not be connected to LTE. This will really affect services like Skype, ooVoo, and other VoIP apps, since phones will be able to make video and audio calls out of the box.
 
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LostMyiPhone

macrumors 6502
Dec 19, 2012
423
1
theheadguy said:
Facetime video/audio over LTE also requires DATA. SMH...
Click to expand...

I think what they mean is that if you use Verizon's feature, you are getting dinged for data AND minutes at the same time. If you use Facetime video, you don't get charged separately for audio -- it's just data.

I'm not sure how this was all concluded though...
 
S

sziehr

macrumors 6502a
Jun 11, 2009
744
857
This will finally allow Verizon to close the feature gap they have with ATT and T-Mobile. I wonder how long Verizon will wait to shutter there 2g network and migrate that spectrum over to A-LTE. I will have to see if the new phone and or software will support VOLTE as i was prepared to switch to ATT from VZW for talk and surf. The CDMA network just needs to be shuttered as soon as possible it is a drain on there spectrum resources.
 
McTaste

McTaste

macrumors 6502
Jan 21, 2014
346
602
Plenty of bandwidth available for pushing voice over data, but customers with unlimited contracts are ruining things for everyone?
 
Elbon

Elbon

macrumors 6502a
Jan 9, 2008
574
367
Boston, MA
What's the point of this app? We already have FaceTime - why do we need a second-rate, Verizon-specific knockoff of it?
 
I

i5pro

macrumors regular
Jun 17, 2010
165
234
NNJ
Finally...Now lets hope the 6 implements VoLTE, and not have to wait for the 6s or 7.
 
E

edge3281

macrumors newbie
Dec 6, 2010
12
0
ElZeus said:
Their LTE video calls will require DATA + Minutes. BAWHWHAWHWHAWHAHAHAHA

We will stick with Facetime video/audio calls thank you very much. :apple:
Click to expand...

It clearly states that it will count as a voice call and will count against minutes. You are not going to get dinged twice because of it.
 
AngerDanger

AngerDanger

Graphics
Staff member
Dec 9, 2008
5,452
29,002
I feel like the makers of this screenshot missed an opportunity to show the human nuances that can be conveyed via video chat… such as eye contact:

7ubrjCZ.gif
 
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