Will the Thunderbolt support voice over LTE when Verizon launches it?

[dguy]

The Thunderbolt currently makes voice calls over CDMA 1X. It uses 3G and LTE for data only. I am curious about if the Thunderbolt will be able to make voice calls over LTE when Verizon flips the switch in a year or so for the network to be able to do LTE calls. Has anyone heard Verizon or HTC say anything about it?

 

[log1c]

according to this article to engadet, yes

HTC ThunderBolt will support simultaneous voice and data in LTE areas -- Engadget

 

[gvillager]

according to this article to engadet, yes

HTC ThunderBolt will support simultaneous voice and data in LTE areas -- Engadget

Simultaneous voice and data is supported. The OP is asking about voice over LTE.

 

[jcnyc]

I had no idea Verizon did this. Does this have an adverse effect on battery life?

 

[log1c]

Simultaneous voice and data is supported. The OP is asking about voice over LTE.

ohh, whoops

than no, the thunderbolt wll not support voice over LTE...but the LG Revolution will

"Verizon mentioned during their initial 4G LTE announcement that the plan was to eventually move over to voice-over-data for calls placed on their network. While 4G phones like the soon to be released HTC Thunderbolt won’t feature the functionality, it appears the LG Revolution will be the first in Verizon’s lineup to feature what they are calling VoLTE (Voice over LTE). This will open up their network for simultaneous voice and data usage, a thorn in Verizon’s side for sometime, but one that is being addressed with VZW’s 4G lineup."

 

[msphone]

You can already make voice and video calls over Verizon's 4G LTE network using Skype on the TB. So how is VoLTE different other than you pay Verizon for this service, rather than Microsoft?

 

[gvillager]

You can already make voice and video calls over Verizon's 4G LTE network using Skype on the TB. So how is VoLTE different other than you pay Verizon for this service, rather than Microsoft?

#1 You would not need a Skype app to make calls.

#2 Why would anyone pay extra for Skype when they get the same services from VZW included in their plan?

#3 Skype is a PITA for the average consumer to setup.

 

[82nd Airborne]

You can already make voice and video calls over Verizon's 4G LTE network using Skype on the TB. So how is VoLTE different other than you pay Verizon for this service, rather than Microsoft?

Skype = Voice and Video (both compressed so voice will not be as good as regular cell service)

VoLTE = Voice and Data (web access, emails, etc.) all on LTE radio

SVLTE = Voice from 1X radio, Data from LTE (4G) radio

SVDO = Voice from 1X radio, Data from EVDO (3G)radio

Skype would be using only the Data path portion of VoLTE (which is interleaved with regular cell service voice) to do its job of receiving and transmitting the compressed voice and video data. But as previously said, the Thunderbolt does not have VoLTE, but does have SVLTE and SVDO.

 

[The_Superhoo]

Why would you need voice and data both on LTE? You can do 3G/4G while talking on the phone now.

Whats the advantage to 4G voice?

 

[msphone]

Why would you need voice and data both on LTE? You can do 3G/4G while talking on the phone now.

Whats the advantage to 4G voice?

It is an advantage to Verizon because if they can get everyone onto the new LTE network they would not have to support the old 3G network, just like they no longer support the old analog cell network and the phone manufacturers would not have build dual mode phones to support both 3G and 4G.

 

[robrecht]

Why would you need voice and data both on LTE? You can do 3G/4G while talking on the phone now.

Whats the advantage to 4G voice?

Extremely high quality audio.

 

[82nd Airborne]

Why would you need voice and data both on LTE? You can do 3G/4G while talking on the phone now.

Whats the advantage to 4G voice?

an interesting read....

Unified Communications Strategies Blog Why VoLTE Matters to UC

 

[Dex]

an interesting read....

Unified Communications Strategies Blog Why VoLTE Matters to UC

+1

Thanks for that!

 

[The_Superhoo]

Extremely high quality audio.

I guess, but do I need higher quality call audio? Itd be nice i reckon, but dont know that i could tell the difference. As it is, i can understand and recognize the voices i'm talking to now.

 

[dguy]

It would be nice if a software update allowed the Thunderbolt to do voice over LTE. It has a fully functional LTE chip inside so it should be possible in theory. Anyone with more technical knowledge on the MDM9600 chip able to shed some light on if VoLTE is possible with it?

 

[dangerous]

Why would you need voice and data both on LTE? You can do 3G/4G while talking on the phone now.

Whats the advantage to 4G voice?

How about International use?

 

[The_Superhoo]

How about International use?

See theres a good answer! Hadnt thought of that

 

[robrecht]

See theres a good answer! Hadnt thought of that

Not really, it just sort of begs the question, why would anyone need VOLTE in Europe or USA or whereever? Personally, I think the improvement in audio performance will be worthwhile. Is it needed? Of course not, neither is HDTV or qHD or Bluetooth, etc, but technology keeps on improving regardless. Part of the human spirit to improve our situation, I guess.

 

[82nd Airborne]

It would be nice if a software update allowed the Thunderbolt to do voice over LTE. It has a fully functional LTE chip inside so it should be possible in theory. Anyone with more technical knowledge on the MDM9600 chip able to shed some light on if VoLTE is possible with it?

Unfortunately the answer is no. I posted some info about this in another thread that has some links that I highly recommend reading....

http://androidforums.com/htc-thunderbolt/341925-does-charge-incredible-2-support-simultaneous-voice-data-3g.html

 

[gwkhouston]

Quote from Cnet:
Next year Verizon plans to migrate its voice customers away from the 3G voice network, and it will put those voice calls over its 4G LTE network, using what's called Voice over LTE, or VoLTE. This will offer lots of benefits, including better-quality voice calls. Also, voice and data services will be able to run simultaneously on that network.
One of the services that this will allow is video chatting over the cellular 4G LTE network. Verizon has demonstrated this technology at several trade shows this spring. And it is pretty cool.
The only catch is that most of the current-generation LTE devices on the market will not support the Voice over LTE functionality. For example, the HTC Thunderbolt will not support VoLTE, but the LG Revolution will. This is the device that Verizon has used to demonstrate the technology, and so it's expected to be able to handle the VoLTE technology.


Read more: Ask Maggie: What you should know about ditching the iPhone for Android | Signal Strength - CNET News

 

[bcltoys]

This will just add up faster to the caps. This will force everybody to at least 5gig more money for Verizon.

 

[82nd Airborne]

Quote from Cnet:
Next year Verizon plans to migrate its voice customers away from the 3G voice network, and it will put those voice calls over its 4G LTE network

Verizon does not use a 3G voice network, it uses 1X. The 3G service on Verizon is for data only. That article is also wrong in this statement, "What this means is that Verizon 3G subscribers cannot talk on their smartphone while using an Internet application such as Google Maps". This was true, but changed when the Thunderbolt was released which uses SVDO. I recommend reading back up this thread where I post some info on this.

 

[pat3332]

I really don't understand all of this yet and this probably doesn't have anything to do with the current conversation. If so, I apologize in advance. I saw this video yesterday from the opening of Verizon's new Inovation Center and this is a video of a new interface they're working on and showing a mobile video chat between two TBolts on LTE.

‪Verizon Video Chat at Verizon Innovation Center‬‏ - YouTube

 

[gvillager]

This will just add up faster to the caps. This will force everybody to at least 5gig more money for Verizon.

Voice usage on LTE won't count as data.