Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Can LTE do Voice & Data simultaneously?

I

inspirations365

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 28, 2008
195
0
Hello all,

With the new iPhone coming up, I'm considering switching carriers from AT&T to Verizon. There are a few pros and cons to both:

Pro AT&T:
-Never had any issues with coverage
-Normally strong signal unless I'm at work (see below)
-Simultaneous voice & data (yes, I actually use this)
-No problems customer service wise or anything like that

Con AT&T:
-No LTE where I live (around Philly), said to be coming soon.
-Not eligible for an upgrade, would have to buy new phone unlocked
-Very poor signal at my desk

Pro Verizon:
-LTE coverage in my area AND my job (desk is next to a signal amplifier, so)
-Good reputation with family/friends

Con Verizon:
-SHARED DATA PLANS. F this.
-Maybe no simultaneous voice/data?

So I can make some compromises here and there as long as my general experience is positive. I.E. I can deal with AT&T not having LTE yet and having weak signal at my desk if it means I can retain pretty much what I have going now. However, I'd be up for switching if it means I can data/voice my phone and I'd just live with the new BS data plan mess.

Thoughts?
 
inspirations365 said:
Hello all,

With the new iPhone coming up, I'm considering switching carriers from AT&T to Verizon. There are a few pros and cons to both:

Pro AT&T:
-Never had any issues with coverage
-Normally strong signal unless I'm at work (see below)
-Simultaneous voice & data (yes, I actually use this)
-No problems customer service wise or anything like that

Con AT&T:
-No LTE where I live (around Philly), said to be coming soon.
-Not eligible for an upgrade, would have to buy new phone unlocked
-Very poor signal at my desk

Pro Verizon:
-LTE coverage in my area AND my job (desk is next to a signal amplifier, so)
-Good reputation with family/friends

Con Verizon:
-SHARED DATA PLANS. F this.
-Maybe no simultaneous voice/data?

So I can make some compromises here and there as long as my general experience is positive. I.E. I can deal with AT&T not having LTE yet and having weak signal at my desk if it means I can retain pretty much what I have going now. However, I'd be up for switching if it means I can data/voice my phone and I'd just live with the new BS data plan mess.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

From what I understand, the newer Verizon LTE phone support voice/data. The initial older chipsets in Verizon LTE phones actually didn't support simultaneous services. I would highly expect the new iPhone to support both services.
 
I don't know if any company currently used simultaneous voice/data on LTE yet, but I believe that companies currently use LTE for data, and 3G for voice, and these can be simultaneously.
 
From what I understand, when you have LTE connectivity on Verizon or any other carrier with LTE, you should have simultaneous voice and data.

However on Verizon, if you are in an area without LTE then you'll be using its 3G CDMA network which cannot do simultaneous voice and data.

This is my understanding, but have not tested in real-life usage.
 
Above is correct. Verizon uses LTE for data and 3G for voice (if used simultaneously). I think this hasn't changed yet (if so, someone please correct me!) Sprint's LTE using LTE for both voice and data though. AT&T has never had this issue, so it's not applicable.
 
inspirations365 said:
Hello all,

With the new iPhone coming up, I'm considering switching carriers from AT&T to Verizon. There are a few pros and cons to both:

Pro AT&T:
-Never had any issues with coverage
-Normally strong signal unless I'm at work (see below)
-Simultaneous voice & data (yes, I actually use this)
-No problems customer service wise or anything like that

Con AT&T:
-No LTE where I live (around Philly), said to be coming soon.
-Not eligible for an upgrade, would have to buy new phone unlocked
-Very poor signal at my desk

Pro Verizon:
-LTE coverage in my area AND my job (desk is next to a signal amplifier, so)
-Good reputation with family/friends

Con Verizon:
-SHARED DATA PLANS. F this.
-Maybe no simultaneous voice/data?

So I can make some compromises here and there as long as my general experience is positive. I.E. I can deal with AT&T not having LTE yet and having weak signal at my desk if it means I can retain pretty much what I have going now. However, I'd be up for switching if it means I can data/voice my phone and I'd just live with the new BS data plan mess.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I'm in Philly and I'm very happy with the iPhone 4S on AT&T network. So LTE or no LTE doesn't matter to me.
 
Dwalls90 said:
Above is correct. Verizon uses LTE for data and 3G for voice (if used simultaneously). I think this hasn't changed yet (if so, someone please correct me!) Sprint's LTE using LTE for both voice and data though. AT&T has never had this issue, so it's not applicable.
Click to expand...

Verizon uses both lte and 3g for data, voice uses 1xrtt, eventually it will be Voice over LTE (VOLTE).
 
Also, four Verizon phones (HTC Thunderbolt, Rezound, Incredible 4G, and Samsung Galaxy S3) support SVDO and can, as a result, do voice and data (over EV/DO, aka 3G) simultaneously.

CDMA can now do voice and data (3G) at the same time, if the manufacturer chooses to implement SVDO, which is phone-side, not network-side.
 
willmtaylor said:
Do a google search for VoLTE.
Click to expand...

If you're going to be an ass, don't do it in my topic please, thanks.

I did do a search before I asked here, and the answers I got were not what I was looking for. I don't think I should be crucified for utilizing one of the best resources available for an answer: the community.

If you think my question was a waste of a topic, don't read it and go to the next one.
 
inspirations365 said:
If you're going to be an ass, don't do it in my topic please, thanks.

I did do a search before I asked here, and the answers I got were not what I was looking for. I don't think I should be crucified for utilizing one of the best resources available for an answer: the community.

If you think my question was a waste of a topic, don't read it and go to the next one.
Click to expand...

I wasn't being an ass; I was pointing you in a direction with the thought that you hadnt heard of that tech before. Would you prefer that I do all of the research for you next time and gift wrap it with a pretty bow on top?

If you're so prone to getting your panties in a twist over nothing (and it truly was nothing BTW b/c I was genuinely trying to help), perhaps you should seek advice elsewhere, or take a Pamprin.
 
willmtaylor said:
I wasn't being an ass; I was pointing you in a direction with the thought that you hadnt heard of that tech before. Would you prefer that I do all of the research for you next time and gift wrap it with a pretty bow on top?
If you're so prone to getting your panties in a twist over nothing (and it truly was nothing BTW b/c I was genuinely trying to help), perhaps you should seek advice elsewhere, or take a Pamprin.
Click to expand...

Next time don't make assumptions.

And it was one question. If it really requires "all of the research", then I think that makes an even better case for asking here and getting the short and sweet answer.
 
inspirations365 said:
Next time don't make assumptions.

And it was one question. If it really requires "all of the research", then I think that makes an even better case for asking here and getting the short and sweet answer.
Click to expand...


Ok, ok. I think I understand now:
So you're one of those people that are too lazy to do their own work, but when people misunderstand you because you don't explain things clearly, it's other people's fault for making faulty assumptions? And as icing on the cake, you then make assumptions based on their help and jump down their throats?

See, if only you had explained that clearly to begin with, I wouldn't have wasted my time on you and your thread. Rest assured, I won't make that mistake again.

Peace-out.
 
Reaper0bot0 said:
Also, four Verizon phones (HTC Thunderbolt, Rezound, Incredible 4G, and Samsung Galaxy S3) support SVDO and can, as a result, do voice and data (over EV/DO, aka 3G) simultaneously.

CDMA can now do voice and data (3G) at the same time, if the manufacturer chooses to implement SVDO, which is phone-side, not network-side.
Click to expand...

I have the Rezound and have done voice and data at the same time, didn't know the GS3 could do that too. Thanks for sharing.
 
It's cool. This is perhaps the fifth time I've made mention of SVDO here at MacRumors. Even now, over 90% of members seem oblivious to it, since they've never owned a phone that can use it.

The "CDMA Can't Do Voice and Data Simultaneously" meme will NOT die, no matter how untrue it is.
 
Reaper0bot0 said:
It's cool. This is perhaps the fifth time I've made mention of SVDO here at MacRumors. Even now, over 90% of members seem oblivious to it, since they've never owned a phone that can use it.

The "CDMA Can't Do Voice and Data Simultaneously" meme will NOT die, no matter how untrue it is.
Click to expand...

I didn't even realize this until doing some research.

Really makes you wonder why more smartphone manufacturers (especially Apple) didn't look into SVDO functionality when it started coming out in 2010.
 
Dwalls90 said:
I didn't even realize this until doing some research.

Really makes you wonder why more smartphone manufacturers (especially Apple) didn't look into SVDO functionality when it started coming out in 2010.
Click to expand...

I can't speak for the GS3, but I have the Rezound and battery life is pretty bad. I suspect it is due to voice/data at the same time, but I'm not 100% sure. That might be why SVDO hasn't been more popular with other android manufacturers on Verizon.
 
Does AT&T throttle the LTE when you are on a call? I know they did this for 3G, and now simultaneous data on a call is almost unusable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back