T-Mobile Says 'HD Voice' is Live Users on Select Phones to Notice Call Quality Improvements Wednesday Jan 16 2013 17:54 EDT As Broadband Reports reader johnnn first scooped back in December, T-Mobile has quietly been deploying their implementation of HD voice without much fanfare. Unlike upcoming versions of VoLTE, T-Mobile's implementation of HD voice doesn't eat batteries for breakfast, and it's also operating at a significantly lower bit rate (12.65kbps). As a result, calling it "HD" is probably a bit too generous, but it will mean call quality improvements for T-Mobile 4G users. "T-Mobile has announced that HD Voice is now available on its network nationwide, dramatically improving in-call voice quality for customers with capable smartphones," said the company at CES last week. "Customers will hear a more true-to-life voice quality that’s fuller and more natural-sounding with significantly reduced background noise from street traffic, wind and crowd noise." To notice the improved quality, both callers must be using a 4G-enabled phone. It's less of a battery drag because it uses the current circuit-switched UMTS radio interface for the call instead of IP-based transport. Meanwhile, T-Mobile is rumored to be just days away from an LTE launch in Las Vegas, with a follow up deployment in Kansas City. VoLTE, which should offer significantly better quality that T-Mobile's HD Voice offering, has seen delays for most carriers until at least 2014. |
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Not with Asterisk PBX, right?Even if I let Asterisk do transcoding for phones that do not support AMR-WB? | |
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4GI noticed everywhere I go in Tampa it says 4G now. I have not seen it state 3G yet in my area. Good job T-Mobile just install new Towers. | |
| BlueC join:2009-11-26 Minneapolis, MN |
BlueC
Member
2013-Jan-16 5:11 pm
Nice improvementI've noticed it when calling other T-mobile subscribers (who also have a 4G phone). It's a very noticeable improvement. Similar to the difference between standard and HD on Polycom IP phones. | |
| | fuziwuziNot born yesterday Premium Member join:2005-07-01 Palm Springs, CA Hitron EN2251 Nest H2D
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fuziwuzi
Premium Member
2013-Jan-17 12:32 am
Re: Nice improvementAccording to the press release from T-Mobile, in order to experience HD Voice, both parties must be using HD Voice capable phones on the T-Mobile network. Here is from the press release: "To experience HD Voice, both parties on the call must use capable T-Mobile 4G smartphones such as the HTC One S, Nokia Astound and Samsung Galaxy S® III." | |
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en103
Member
2013-Jan-16 6:02 pm
HD Voice, or just AMR-Full rate ?This reminds me of AMR-Full rate, or Enhanced Full Rate. Older Motorola gear (RAZR and V-series) as well as Nokia phones were able to have 'AMR-Half Rate disabled. This gave GREAT call quality (landline at least). | |
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iansltx
Member
2013-Jan-16 11:30 pm
Re: HD Voice, or just AMR-Full rate ?This is AMR-WB. T-Mobile has only ever used AMR-FR anyway...in stark contrast to AMR-HR-toting AT&T. | |
| | | morboComplete Your Transaction join:2002-01-22 00000 |
morbo
Member
2013-Jan-17 9:04 am
Re: HD Voice, or just AMR-Full rate ?Is that why I can barely understand AT&T cell phone customers? | |
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Terabit
Member
2013-Jan-17 12:31 pm
Re: HD Voice, or just AMR-Full rate ?Yes, as they use half rate 5kbps in most areas. | |
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34764170 (banned) join:2007-09-06 Etobicoke, ON |
34764170 (banned)
Member
2013-Jan-17 4:54 am
LTEWhether using voice or not via VoLTE is a moot point IMO. LTE devices even using data are eating your batteries for breakfast anyway. Newer generations of LTE chipsets will be much more efficient for battery life and be within the phones carriers ultimately roll out VoLTE with. | |
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Terabit
Member
2013-Jan-17 12:31 pm
Re: LTEMy LTE ipad seems to last a while. | |
| | | 34764170 (banned) join:2007-09-06 Etobicoke, ON |
34764170 (banned)
Member
2013-Jan-17 7:49 pm
Re: LTEsaid by Terabit:My LTE ipad seems to last a while. Current generations of tablets do not last long enough. Still quite a ways to go. | |
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