AT&T this week announced that they're finally launching higher-audio quality voice over LTE (VoLTE) service, even if the launch is in a handful of markets on only one device. Not to be outdone on the PR front, T-Mobile today announced they too will be launching VoLTE in their own, limited way. According to the announcement, T-Mobile is offering VoLTE via the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Light for users in the Seattle market.

As with other carrier VoLTE implementations, T-Mobile's deployment promises not only improved audio quality during the call, but faster overall setup and connection times for all calls. T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray offers a deeper explanation of how the technology works:

quote:

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VoLTE calls will be carried over IP on our LTE network instead of a circuit-switched path on our 4G HSPA+ network. This is advantageous because your phone stays on our wicked fast LTE network to make a call. The tricky bit in all this is the smooth mobility between our various radio layers. Enhanced Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (eSRVCC) is a new LTE Advanced function and we’re excited to be the first to deploy it in the U.S. All of this basically helps ensure that your capable phone won’t drop a call if you leave an LTE area and it switches to 4G HSPA+ or 2G coverage.

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T-Mobile states additional VoLTE markets will be launched through the rest of the year. We'd be interested in hearing from any AT&T or T-Mobile user able to give this week's VoLTE launches a quick look (we'll pay for a good write up).