Resolved No 3G for calls on Verizon?

[iamMacPerson]

As long as Verizon continues to have good call quality.

It's amazing call quality. Same reliable coverage, just with better clarity (if you have ever used FaceTime Audio, it literally sounds the same, like they next to you). VoLTE of course only works in LTE areas, but on Verizon wherever you get LTE you get VoLTE. AT&T is still testing it in a few cities, but it should be out by the end of the year IIRC. (Someone correct me if I am wrong)

 

[KPOM]

Wow. No wonder people hate on CDMA if that's what you're used to! This thread has been enlightening. All I can say is that VoLTE (with a capable phone) is going to be awesome! As long as Verizon continues to have good call quality. I was on AT&T for a very short time with an Edge phone and dropped calls all the time.

UMTS/HSPA was developed after CDMA and this was one of the main advantages in addition to faster downloads. A revision to CDMA actually did allow simultaneous voice and data (EVDV) but neither Sprint nor Verizon implemented it. On the plus side, the lack of simultaneous voice and data is what promptes Verizon to pour a ton of money rolling out LTE.

 

[geoff5093]

I thought it had to do with the radios they chose to use in these devices. I remember reading that somewhere. Where most verizon Android models are tailor built specifically for Verizon, most iPhone models are not. So I guess this is a matter of perspective. I view this as Apple being less against the notion and more against building tailor made devices for every carrier that wants their phone.

Anyway, the question was about an iPhone, so I figured it was a fair response. I know some Android phones had simultaenous voice and data on Verizon even before LTE launched. The first was a MOTO something... don't recall what it was exactly.

It does, Android phone have just had two radios.

 

[chrfr]

Wow. No wonder people hate on CDMA if that's what you're used to! This thread has been enlightening. All I can say is that VoLTE (with a capable phone) is going to be awesome! As long as Verizon continues to have good call quality. I was on AT&T for a very short time with an Edge phone and dropped calls all the time.

I was with Verizon and its predecessors from 1997 until the iPhone 3G shipped, then moved to AT&T. I went back to Verizon from 2012 until about 2 months ago because AT&Ts call reliability was poor in my area. I've now gone back to AT&T and found that in my area, and the places I go on a regular basis, AT&T has faster, more reliable data and voice reliability is as good as Verizon was.
It's unfair to judge any carrier today on its network from 2007.

 

[aristobrat]

Same reliable coverage, just with better clarity.

Not where I live.

Verizon's voice/3G coverage here is legendary, but their LTE coverage isn't nearly as good.

It's not unusual to be in a location here where you only get 1 bar of LTE signal, but (if you turn off LTE on your phone) you get 5 bars of voice/3G signal.

I've had friends/family complain about VoLTE call quality in these locations. For them, it was often choppy and not as reliable (random disconnects) as a normal voice call.

This situation is in no way unique to Verizon. I'm sure this is an issue all carriers will face. But it's worth remembering that it can possibly make VoLTE an inferior experience to regular calls.

 

[iamMacPerson]

Not where I live.

Verizon's voice/3G coverage here is legendary, but their LTE coverage isn't nearly as good.

It's not unusual to be in a location here where you only get 1 bar of LTE signal, but (if you turn off LTE on your phone) you get 5 bars of voice/3G signal.

I've had friends/family complain about VoLTE call quality in these locations. For them, it was often choppy and not as reliable (random disconnects) as a normal voice call.

This situation is in no way unique to Verizon. I'm sure this is an issue all carriers will face. But it's worth remembering that it can possibly make VoLTE an inferior experience to regular calls.

Well I constantly get 1-2 bars on LTE as well at my house, however its a strong 1-2 bars. On 3G with 1xRTT calling, I get about 3 bars. This is interesting since my VoLTE calls rarely have problems. I may have a dropped call here and there but its the about the same as it was on the 1xRTT network.

I'm expecting VoLTE to get better as time progresses on all carriers. Its only been out for about 6 months on Verizon now right? I personally leave it turned on so I can get simultaneous voice and data finally. I can't wait until this becomes the mainstream technology and all the systems intertwine so I can call someone on AT&T VoLTE from my phone and get the same clarity. I hope thats not far away from now!

PS: In areas where you have problems with VoLTE calls, you can check your real signal strength by dialing *3001#12345#* on your iPhone. This will bring you into field test mode and give you your signal strength in numbers (which is usually a lot more accurate). It will be a negative number usually between -85 (best) and -120/-140 (worst). Just press the home button to exit the Field Test app.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

That's because you were on an EDGE phone, which AT&T is in the processing of retiring (and is off completely in some areas). A phone that could do HSPA+ at minimum would be a better device to judge AT&T on.

It's unfair to judge any carrier today on its network from 2007.

I'm sure it's better nowadays. That was back in 2010 when I was borrowing my boyfriend's old BB Curve that he grandfathered in without a data plan. My parents had blocked texting on my Verizon dumb phone.

Even though I don't pay for my Verizon plan (it's my dad's, and he travel's a lot for business), I really do appreciate the call quality and coverage in most areas I go. My boyfriend switched to T-Mobile for the price and unlimited data, but when we're taken road trips I get far superior coverage in the rural Midwest. It was more comparable when he had AT&T. Unfortunately he paid his ETF with them and hasn't looked back. If I ever spin off my Verizon plan from my parents he'll probably jump on with me.

 

[XTheLancerX]

Well I constantly get 1-2 bars on LTE as well at my house, however its a strong 1-2 bars. On 3G with 1xRTT calling, I get about 3 bars. This is interesting since my VoLTE calls rarely have problems. I may have a dropped call here and there but its the about the same as it was on the 1xRTT network.

I'm expecting VoLTE to get better as time progresses on all carriers. Its only been out for about 6 months on Verizon now right? I personally leave it turned on so I can get simultaneous voice and data finally. I can't wait until this becomes the mainstream technology and all the systems intertwine so I can call someone on AT&T VoLTE from my phone and get the same clarity. I hope thats not far away from now!

PS: In areas where you have problems with VoLTE calls, you can check your real signal strength by dialing *3001#12345#* on your iPhone. This will bring you into field test mode and give you your signal strength in numbers (which is usually a lot more accurate). It will be a negative number usually between -85 (best) and -120/-140 (worst). Just press the home button to exit the Field Test app.

I think if you go into field test and close the app with just the home button, the cell signal indicator will return back to dots. If you go into field test, press and hold the power button to bring up the "Slide to Power Off" screen and you hold the home button, it force-closes field test, but you still have numbers. You can tap on the numbers to switch to dots and back whenever you like.

Anyway, I am on Verizon with an iPhone 6, and need some clarification with VoLTE. Is VoLTE going to work as long as you are connected to LTE, or do they need to extend the VoLTE service into new locations still, even if those locations already have LTE? What phones support it, could I find a list of phones that have this capability? This thread has sparked a lot of interest in this topic for me haha. I don't think I've ever experienced VoLTE since the main people I talk to on the phone have an iPhone 5, HTC One, and GS4.

Oh and I just want to add, my cell signal around my area is pretty much exactly the same as you described. I get poor LTE readings of around 1-2 bars but still manage to get 20 Mbps down. 3G is around 3 bars and manages only 2.5 Mbps down. Full 3G is extremely rare for me to see. By the time 3G hits upper 3 bar range, it almost always has switched to LTE.

 

[iamMacPerson]

Anyway, I am on Verizon with an iPhone 6, and need some clarification with VoLTE. Is VoLTE going to work as long as you are connected to LTE, or do they need to extend the VoLTE service into new locations still, even if those locations already have LTE? What phones support it, could I find a list of phones that have this capability? This thread has sparked a lot of interest in this topic for me haha. I don't think I've ever experienced VoLTE since the main people I talk to on the phone have an iPhone 5, HTC One, and GS4.

IIRC, its the GS5, the 6 and 6 Plus, and the LG G2 were the first devices to support it. I don't know if anymore have been added though. As long as you have LTE, VoLTE will work. Verizon was really good about that. Whereas with AT&T they are only in a few cities, LTE on Verizon is already voice and data.

Oh and I just want to add, my cell signal around my area is pretty much exactly the same as you described. I get poor LTE readings of around 1-2 bars but still manage to get 20 Mbps down. 3G is around 3 bars and manages only 2.5 Mbps down. Full 3G is extremely rare for me to see. By the time 3G hits upper 3 bar range, it almost always has switched to LTE.

Pretty much the same speed wise (when I hit 4 bars I have gotten up to 70Mbps down!!) and I'm perfectly happy with my service with Verizon. There have been a few road bumps, but nothing serious.

 

[Apple Trees]

Just get an iPhone 6/6+ and you can use VoLTE. Verizon's LTE network puts the other 3 carriers to shame. I'm using LTE data during calls in some areas where the other carriers only offer "EDGE" or "1x".

 

[KUguardgrl13]

IIRC, its the GS5, the 6 and 6 Plus, and the LG G2 were the first devices to support it. I don't know if anymore have been added though. As long as you have LTE, VoLTE will work. Verizon was really good about that. Whereas with AT&T they are only in a few cities, LTE on Verizon is already voice and data.

It's only newer phones on VZW that will get VoLTE. It says on their website that older iPhones specifically will not get the update. So the 5/5s/5c are out.

I become eligible for an upgrade sometime next week, but I'm sure my area (Kansas City) won't be extremely high on the list to get VoLTE. My 5 also still works fine, so my dad probably would want me to wait. He and my brother have 4Ses, and my mom is still on a dumb phone.

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Just get an iPhone 6/6+ and you can use VoLTE. Verizon's LTE network puts the other 3 carriers to shame. I'm using LTE data during calls in some areas where the other carriers only offer "EDGE" or "1x".

I'm still technically in a contract for another week or so. I also have the newest phone model of my family, so my dad would probably want me to wait. My mom still has a dumb phone that's several years old The problem of still being in college.

 

[iamMacPerson]

I become eligible for an upgrade sometime next week, but I'm sure my area (Kansas City) won't be extremely high on the list to get VoLTE.

If you have Verizon LTE on your 5, you will have VoLTE on your 6 or 6 Plus.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

If you have Verizon LTE on your 5, you will have VoLTE on your 6 or 6 Plus.

I know it's not "if" I get VoLTE. It's when it comes to Kansas City. We got LTE sometime in 2011, I think. Not sure since I had a 3G phone at the time. The "if" is if I get an iPhone 6. I get my upgrade sometime this week, but I'd have to have the money and my dad's permission (his plan) to do it. Problem with being a college student...

 

[iamMacPerson]

I am very confused. You say this:

It's when it comes to Kansas City.

Followed by:

The "if" is if I get an iPhone 6.

I'm confused as to which are talking about: when Kansas City gets VoLTE or if/when you get a 6 and you'll get VoLTE.

If you get a 6, you will get VoLTE in any area that currently has LTE data. When/if you get a 6, well that's between you and your dad.

Hope I'm understanding you correctly!

 

[KUguardgrl13]

I am very confused. You say this:



Followed by:



I'm confused as to which are talking about: when Kansas City gets VoLTE or if/when you get a 6 and you'll get VoLTE.

If you get a 6, you will get VoLTE in any area that currently has LTE data. When/if you get a 6, well that's between you and your dad.

Hope I'm understanding you correctly!

I was under the impression that VoLTE is still being rolled out, so it's not available in all markets even for those with eligible phones. That's why I say when.

 

[CEmajr]

I was under the impression that VoLTE is still being rolled out, so it's not available in all markets even for those with eligible phones. That's why I say when.

On Verizon there's no separate rollout. VoLTE is active is active wherever Verizon has LTE.

You might be thinking of AT&T. They're the only ones rolling out VoLTE in a piecemeal market by market fashion.

 

[KUguardgrl13]

On Verizon there's no separate rollout. VoLTE is active is active wherever Verizon has LTE.

You might be thinking of AT&T. They're the only ones rolling out VoLTE in a piecemeal market by market fashion.

Interesting. So the question for me is if I get an iPhone 6. LTE in my area is decent except when I drive through Iowa and other rural areas. Then it drops to 3G or 1X sometimes.

 

[CEmajr]

Interesting. So the question for me is if I get an iPhone 6. LTE in my area is decent except when I drive through Iowa and other rural areas. Then it drops to 3G or 1X sometimes.

Then your call with drop.

 

[KPOM]

Interesting. So the question for me is if I get an iPhone 6. LTE in my area is decent except when I drive through Iowa and other rural areas. Then it drops to 3G or 1X sometimes.

The call will drop since Verizon hasn't installed the network upgrades that would be required to hand off a VoLTE call to 1x, and has no intention to do so. Sprint will. Verizon's intention is to deploy LTE in those areas. They want to be an all-LTE carrier eventually with no 1x fallback.

Right now, VoLTE is off by default on a Verizon account. You need to activate "Advanced Calling 1.0" on MyVerizon (there is no extra charge for it), and make sure that LTE is set for Voice and Data on your phone in order to make VoLTE calls. One advantage of VoLTE is that calls to other Verizon subscribers on VoLTE will use HD Voice and be clearer. That capability will eventually extend to calls with AT&T subscribers.