Is simultaneous Voice and Data important?

ChuckFarley · Jan 19, 2011

This is one of AT&T's famous selling points, but I'm curious to know how useful or important it is to a customer.

I could see it potentially being useful, to say, talk to your friend on the phone and simultaneously google map something (without wifi, of course) for direction, phone number, etc... But, in all of my cell phone life, I've never been on the phone and wished I could do it right then and there. If I want to share information like that I'll send it in a text. Seems a lot easier and more useful than rattling off an address over the phone.

Now, I have found the need when working on the go and using my phone as a hotspot. When answering calls on the Inc while using the hotspot, the wifi signal is lost. It's never caused a major problem (so far) but I can definitely see the need for voice&data in that case.

The rumormill suggests LTE will allow Voice&Data. Is this enough for anyone to become an early adopter? I mean, aside from the increased speed and new phone.

FlyingTurd · Jan 19, 2011

VZW's network blows AT&T's away. They need more selling points than just this.

txrxio · Jan 19, 2011

I've never had the need so far. I've looked at my calendar while on the phone, but nothing more than that. I expect that if you were using Google Maps to navigate while someone calls you it might be an issue.

dragonsamus · Jan 19, 2011

It will be nice to have.

Coming from t-mobile I didn't know sending a text message would cut off my 3g connection. :-/

ChuckFarley · Jan 19, 2011

txrxio said:
I expect that if you were using Google Maps to navigate while someone calls you it might be an issue.

I believe this has been resolved since the latest Maps update. With Maps now caching vectors, if you lose your 3g signal for an interim period, Nav should continue to function properly running off of the cached info.

Could still be a problem on long phone calls.

ChuckFarley · Jan 19, 2011

dragonsamus said:
It will be nice to have.

Coming from t-mobile I didn't know sending a text message would cut off my 3g connection. :-/

I've been able to send and receive messages while using mobile hotspot without the comp telling me it's lost signal. If sending a text does drop the 3g connection, it must be short enough that the laptop doesn't recognize it as a "lost" signal.

jayjay1122 · Jan 19, 2011

First of all, it seems completely impracticable to surf while actually talking on the phone without a headset.

Second of all, do to the fact that Bluetooth is still not perfect on any phone, I will only use a headset while driving and I certainly will not surf AND talk AND drive all at the same time, soooooo....

Simultaneous voice and data??? You can keep it!!

uceagle21 · Jan 19, 2011

i have had a couple instances where it would have been nice to have but certainly not necessary. I have been on the phone before and had the person on the other end ask me to find directions for them. that has been the only time that it would have been beneficial. it was easy enough to just hang up, get the directions real fast and call them back within about 3 minutes.

not necessary, but i can see where it can be useful at times, i will still stick with verizon. this has no influence on me

Smartphone · Jan 19, 2011

I might use it to talk on the phone while tether to my Android tablet. It would be nice to have now but I suspect I will want it more once I get my Xoom.

ChuckFarley · Jan 19, 2011

I'd have to agree with most of the comments here, I just don't see a huge need for it. It'd be nice to have in those rare occasions, but for the most part it's not too much to ask to stop using the web and speak to another human being on the other end of the line.

I'm sure when it becomes the standard for Verizon, and I have enough time to get used to it, I won't be able to live without it. As of right now, though, I can't imagine paying more for that service.

I'll be patient for LTE to roll out and wait for the next super phone to pull me away from my Incredible.

NAYo2002 · Jan 19, 2011

It'd be really nice to have it. I have on multiple occasion used wifi at home while I'm on the phone to look up stuff. I hate to have to hang up with a buddy just to look up movie times while I'm still on the phone.

tmarr · Jan 19, 2011

I honestly text on my phone more than I ever talk so it'd be completely useless. And if im using GPS then im driving in which I very rarely talk/text (dont worry, redlights only for a quick text but still rarely).

pool_shark · Jan 19, 2011

I think it would be very nice to have but not a necessity. I never talk on my phone without my headset, I have no desire to hold this big, hot phone up to my face.
Not to mention I can still edit my word docs and play with the terminal emulator while on the phone.

I have been on the phone and needed to log into my work email, I have been on the phone and needed to see my bank statement and my Verizon bill. It would definitely come in handy but I wouldn't need it everyday.

I think it's easy to say what you wouldn't use when you don't have it. I knew 1st gen iphone users who swore they wouldn't use mms, cut/paste, or video. As soon as they got it they talked about how nice it was to have.

mikedt · Jan 19, 2011

Does this inability to make and receive phone calls while tethering only happen with Verizon(USA), or is it a shortcoming of all CDMA/EV-DO networks? e.g. China Telecom.

I've had situations where it's been essential that I can data tether and still receive important phone calls at the same time. To not have this ability would be completely unacceptable for me.

Rob.G · Jan 19, 2011

I would love to get this feature. I came from AT&T so I was use to having this and there was an adjustment period (still not over it though). I have been on the road with my phone docked and using Google Maps. A call comes in (either speakerphone or bluetooth) and cuts it off. I know the new version of GM has attempted to fix this, but for a long call on a long trip going somewhere you've never been, it just doesn't work.

What about when I am trying to text with people on facebook or twitter while using my bluetooth for a call? Some people talk and don't say anything (you know who you are

), so yes you could do other things while they are blabbing on and on.

Now this has happened many times, suppose I was sending an email while tethered to my phone, a call comes in just as I hit 'send'. After the call (and then remembering that I was in the middle of something), sometimes the mail goes through, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it gets sent twice (still haven't figured that one out).

Also, when on the road and using Wireless Tether on my laptop and a call comes in, it disconnects the internet. Yes, you could stop and give the other person your full attention, but it's called multi-tasking and the world is revolving more and more around it.

Or what about someone calls and says "hey check out this site, or I just sent you this form so can we go over it"? I have to say I'll call you back. How dumb does that sound?

OMG, Sorry for ranting... :eek:

Stuntman · Jan 19, 2011

I have looked up movie schedules on my phone while talking with someone. I cannot remember if I did it while on WiFi or not. It's not something you would do all the time, but it is handy for those rare occasions when you need it.

Member138406 · Jan 19, 2011

Only time I would use it really, is being on hold with a business. Would be nice to do things online while waiting. Otherwise, it would be nice to have, but it is not a feature I care too much about.

ChuckFarley · Jan 20, 2011

You've raised some good points and you've come from a provider who already has this, so I thought I'd reply to a few.

Rob.G said:
I have been on the road with my phone docked and using Google Maps...I know the new version of GM has attempted to fix this...

I could see this being an issue for the business man on the road or the occasional long road trip. I'm not a big yapper on the phone, so most of my phone calls only last a few succinct minutes. I'm not sure how much time you have now before you run out of cached data. Any takers out there want to answer this one for me?

Rob.G said:
What about when I am trying to text with people on facebook or twitter while using my bluetooth for a call? Some people talk and don't say anything (you know who you are), so yes you could do other things while they are blabbing on and on.

I could see this being useful during pointless meetings, but if you're on a personal call it's time to hang the phone up.

Rob.G said:
Also, when on the road and using Wireless Tether on my laptop and a call comes in, it disconnects the internet. Yes, you could stop and give the other person your full attention, but it's called multi-tasking and the world is revolving more and more around it.

This is my gripe, but for business purposes only. Not being able to access servers via the hotspot while speaking on the same phone can be a real deal breaker. WiFi being what it is these days, I'm usually within earshot, but I do like the idea of being self sufficient. For my personal use, I don't feel too put out when the connection is lost.

mikedt · Jan 20, 2011

Rob.G said:
Also, when on the road and using Wireless Tether on my laptop and a call comes in, it disconnects the internet. Yes, you could stop and give the other person your full attention, but it's called multi-tasking and the world is revolving more and more around it.

Or what about someone calls and says "hey check out this site, or I just sent you this form so can we go over it"? I have to say I'll call you back. How dumb does that sound?

OMG, Sorry for ranting...

Yes that is a real bummer, especially if one is using Google Docs. It just does not sound professional at all. "Hang on let me check that report for you...."...OOPS!

Hrethgir · Jan 20, 2011

I don't care. I had it on my iPhone when I was on AT&T, and I only used the two simultaneously once, and that was just to see if it actually worked. But I talk on the phone so little, it's a moot point to me.

NYCHitman1 · Jan 20, 2011

Hrethgir said:
I don't care. I had it on my iPhone when I was on AT&T, and I only used the two simultaneously once, and that was just to see if it actually worked. But I talk on the phone so little, it's a moot point to me.

+1! I very rarely talk on my phone so that feature is practically useless to me.

Vihzel · Jan 20, 2011

I've never had the need to do it and I don't know when I will NEED to do it while talking on the phone.

Anyone ever hear of "I'll call you right back." or "I'll text you."?

pool_shark · Jan 20, 2011

Vihzel said:
I've never had the need to do it and I don't know when I will NEED to do it while talking on the phone.

Anyone ever hear of "I'll call you right back." or "I'll text you."?

Why bother if you can do both at the same time?
It's a nice feature, just like email on your phone. It isn't a necessity, you can wait 'til you get to your PC, but you don't.

vice86 · Jan 20, 2011

Owning my iPhone since Oct. '09...i've used voice/data I think only twice...one time my dad called asking if I knew the number to something...put him on speaker and jumped on the web on my phone and found it. Kinda cool that you can do that but could live without it.

TheBrit · Jan 20, 2011

ChuckFarley said:
Now, I have found the need when working on the go and using my phone as a hotspot. When answering calls on the Inc while using the hotspot, the wifi signal is lost. It's never caused a major problem (so far) but I can definitely see the need for voice&data in that case.

I've had this situation a couple of times and I needed to look something up while talking. It was a real pain.

Is simultaneous Voice and Data important?

What do you think?

I need voice and data!

I guess it'd be nice to have.

Who cares? I'll probably never end up using it.

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