I heard a while back how Verizon has plans to eventually provide voice service by "VOLTE" (Voice Over LTE) which is similar to Skype and other calling over internet type of services.
I also know that they are continuing to soak up all their data covered area with LTE so it will soon be everywhere. I also know that LTE enabled smartphones on Verizon are the only option, so within a few years, just about everyone on a smart phone will have LTE.
Finally, I know (actually, we pretty much all know The things I'm talking about here) that that will eventually spell the end of a separate voice network. It will be dismantled and replaced to be more efficient, and of course make more money due to the increase of data used by Verizon customers.
SO, here is my question. I currently have a Galaxy S4. With all LTE phones I've had (this is #4), there have been areas, especially in some buildings where I lose LTE and go to 3G, 1X, or even lose all data. Losing voice is rare other than in very rural mountainous areas for the most part. Verizon has always done a good job of providing excellent coverage as much as anyone ever could.
I see a big problem here, and I hope they have figured this out. I don't see how VOLTE is going to be practical, unless those dead spots are taken care of. They need to get their AWS-LTE going soon, so that the speeds are boosted, and they do something about signal strength. I'm happy to be corrected here, but it seems that the frequencies used by the voice networks and 3G seem far stronger for penetrating through walls and into the various areas where LTE is present but not usable.
The reason I left T-Crap almost 5 years ago was for this reason. I had no smartphone, I didn't even text back then much LESS use data. However, their signal strength, network, frequency, or whatever it was refused to penetrate most buildings and anything near the outlying areas. A $30 pair walkie talkies were far more reliable unless I was outside in the open, and in a well populated area.
I am hoping that Verizon won't get this way. They would seriously be in big trouble and lose a good chunk of their customers if VOLTE was activated with anything similar to the network that exists now still in place.
I'm not the most tech-savvy guy around, but I am no idiot. IF anyone can explain this to me and how it would work, even in theory, I'm all ears. I just would never depend on LTE to cover my voice needs even now with a good phone and in a well covered area.
Thoughts?
I also know that they are continuing to soak up all their data covered area with LTE so it will soon be everywhere. I also know that LTE enabled smartphones on Verizon are the only option, so within a few years, just about everyone on a smart phone will have LTE.
Finally, I know (actually, we pretty much all know The things I'm talking about here) that that will eventually spell the end of a separate voice network. It will be dismantled and replaced to be more efficient, and of course make more money due to the increase of data used by Verizon customers.
SO, here is my question. I currently have a Galaxy S4. With all LTE phones I've had (this is #4), there have been areas, especially in some buildings where I lose LTE and go to 3G, 1X, or even lose all data. Losing voice is rare other than in very rural mountainous areas for the most part. Verizon has always done a good job of providing excellent coverage as much as anyone ever could.
I see a big problem here, and I hope they have figured this out. I don't see how VOLTE is going to be practical, unless those dead spots are taken care of. They need to get their AWS-LTE going soon, so that the speeds are boosted, and they do something about signal strength. I'm happy to be corrected here, but it seems that the frequencies used by the voice networks and 3G seem far stronger for penetrating through walls and into the various areas where LTE is present but not usable.
The reason I left T-Crap almost 5 years ago was for this reason. I had no smartphone, I didn't even text back then much LESS use data. However, their signal strength, network, frequency, or whatever it was refused to penetrate most buildings and anything near the outlying areas. A $30 pair walkie talkies were far more reliable unless I was outside in the open, and in a well populated area.
I am hoping that Verizon won't get this way. They would seriously be in big trouble and lose a good chunk of their customers if VOLTE was activated with anything similar to the network that exists now still in place.
I'm not the most tech-savvy guy around, but I am no idiot. IF anyone can explain this to me and how it would work, even in theory, I'm all ears. I just would never depend on LTE to cover my voice needs even now with a good phone and in a well covered area.
Thoughts?
