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AT&T Will Roll Out 'HD Voice' Support Later This Year
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I can't say I've had issues with AT&T in the past 2 years or so... I had two opportunities to begin switching to other carriers, and I decided I really didn't have an issue with AT&T.
While I totally agree with your last point, GSM is not a non-variable bitrate technology, not in any way, shape or form.
Years and years ago, GSM built right into the standard higher quality voice options.
However, with those higher quality voice options comes a corresponding reduction in capacity, so very few operators have a) turned it on b) bought handsets that supported it c) left it on once turned on.
IIRC (and I may not) the original iPhone used this higher quality voice option.
It's not a bad thing, and I'm sure I'll like it, but I don't see why people care that much. (If they even do outside of carrier marketing!)
It's a phone call. A disembodied voice you hear mixed with the sounds around you. It's never going to be like meeting in person, it's not a Beethoven concert, and it's not a keepsake recording to treasure forever. So I don't care about "richer, fuller" sound, as long as the voice is clear and not broken up. It already is, so I haven't wished for more.
When I dump AT&T (likely for T-Mobile) it won't be for HD voice!
It's a phone call. A disembodied voice you hear mixed with the sounds around you. It's never going to be like meeting in person, it's not a Beethoven concert, and it's not a keepsake recording to treasure forever. So I don't care about "richer, fuller" sound, as long as the voice is clear and not broken up. It already is, so I haven't wished for more.
When I dump AT&T (likely for T-Mobile) it won't be for HD voice!
Ah, but actually T-mobiles phone only has a change which enables AWS support. Carriers have had the option of supporting HD Voice since they started carrying the iPhone (looking past network exceptions, that is).
i can't speak to the specifics if GSM technology has changed and whether the carriers have adopted it yet, but the the reason why GSM carriers inherently drop more calls is b/c as the signal strength decreases it maintains the same bitrate for the voice call. thus, the call is more likely to drop as it tries to push that same bitrate across a smaller bandwidth (eventually becomes impossible so thus the call drops)
CDMA on the other hand, is variable. as the signal strength decreases and available bandwidth of the connection decreases, it decreases the bitrate in order to maintain the call
this is why you can have a perfectly good phone conversation on 1 bar with CDMA, but 1 bar on GSM is nearly impossible as it breaks in and out as it struggles to push the same bitrate across a lower bandwidth connection.
think of it like Netflix. Netflix will adjust the quality of the video when it detects a lower bandwidth connection. that is what CDMA does. GSM would still continue to push out the same video quality and it would constantly be buffering. with a voice call though, there is no buffering - it just drops the call
whether or not GSM has the capability to offer variable lower bitrate voice calls is a moot point really if the carriers have failed to implement it. this deficiency with GSM carriers, combined with the fact that GSM signal strength inside buildings is very bad, is why i would never EVER even remotely consider a GSM carrier. why pay for cell service based on an inferior technology. the talk+surf argument is non existent now that Verizon has implemented LTE and will have blanketed their entire network with it by 2015 - of course while AT&T at that point would still be rolling out its LTE network to 2nd and 3rd tier cities.
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If this is the same as Voice Over LTE then I'm pretty excited about the news. I tether+call a lot and it's a pain when i'm limited to "4G" speeds.
As far as GSM dropping calls, I dropped a LOT with my 3G, the first year I had my 4 it was also higher than I'd have liked. The last year I had my 4 I didn't drop many at all. I'm on a 5 now and I don't even remember having a dropped call, if I have, they can easily be counted on one had. I'd say GSM is well matured at this stage and is just fine for voice calls.
As far as GSM dropping calls, I dropped a LOT with my 3G, the first year I had my 4 it was also higher than I'd have liked. The last year I had my 4 I didn't drop many at all. I'm on a 5 now and I don't even remember having a dropped call, if I have, they can easily be counted on one had. I'd say GSM is well matured at this stage and is just fine for voice calls.
Don't do it bro! The chick on the other line may sound hot, but actually she's 350 Lbs and has four kids. You think she loves you but its all a lie. A GDamned LIE!!!!Damn you 3.99 a minute!!!!(sobbing)
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There are big reasons to care:
1. It sounds so much better. When you're talking to someone you care about, it makes a huge difference and you feel closer.
2. It is a huge improvement in noise canceling.
3. It can help protect your hearing (dispersing a sound over more frequencies rather than pumping up limited frequencies for volume) and reduce ear fatigue on long calls.
Once you experience it, you will care.
iPhone has a feature that the carriers don't even support?
And people complain about innovation
Several European carriers have supported wideband audio (HD Voice) for quite some time.
iPhone has a feature that the carriers don't even support?
And people complain about innovation
meh
Apple has had Thunderbolt ports on their laptops for what...almost 2 years now right? where are all of the Thunderbolt peripherals? last time i checked, as soon as USB came out literally within months there were thousands and thousands of affordable and useful peripherals.
having to pay $399 for a Thunderbolt hub or $1,099 for a drive bay just goes to show you...
just bc they scored by removing the floppy drive with a CD drive, then scored again by removing the CD drive all together, doesn't mean they are guaranteed to score with each supposed innovation.
i'm in my late 20's and it's even catching on with my generation - none of my friends do voice calls anymore. always texting
Just because they announced it today doesn't mean they haven't been working on it for the past several months. Who cares. The fact that it's coming at all is great.
It sounds like they are doing voice over LTE which is different than what T-Mobile is doing as you won't require an LTE connection to benefit from HD voice.
They can have my grandfathered unlimited when they take it from my cold dead hands. They take it, I'll jump to T-Mobile, and by the time that happens, there won't be a difference. So they best leave me the hell alone.
Don't spread FUD... I got a thunderbolt drive with a $99 adapter and a $100 mSATA drive. I'm hoping MR does an article on it someday... It's quite a neat setup that most people don't know about.