It appears that the next phase in the mobile communications market is here. AT&T and Verizon (News - Alert) have both announced they are rolling out fully functional VoLTE networks in the very near future, and now T-Mobile is doing the same. T-Mobile’s CTO, Neville Ray (News - Alert), announced in his personal blog that his company has launched its very own VoLTE network in the Seattle, Washington area. In order to use the new network, customers using an LG G Flex, Galaxy Note 3 or Galaxy Light, will simply need to download a software update.
VoLTE allows for mobile operators to use the same network for both voice and data. T-Mobile (News - Alert) will be transporting VoLTE calls using IP on the LTE network, instead of a much more laborious circuit-switched path on its 4G HSPA+ network. During the blog posting, Ray pointed out that one of the biggest benefits for the customers will be faster call setup times.
Users will also be able to enjoy lightning fast LTE (News - Alert) data speeds while they are on a call. As is standard fair when talking about a VoLTE network setup, customers will also be able to get HD Voice. T-Mobile, however, has been offering up HD Voice across the nation since early in 2013.
Ray added in his blog that the Seattle VoLTE launch is T-Mobile’s “first step toward a host of rich communication services and additional innovations around Wi-Fi calling that [T-Mobile is] looking to deliver to our customers over the coming months.”
The announcement that the company has started rolling out its VoLTE network comes less than a month after AT&T did the same. The companies appear to be gung-ho to do this sort of thing as a way to free up valuable spectrum that is currently being used for 3G voice calls. With the need for spectrum room all the time, the move to VoLTE is an important one for all involved.
Edited by Allison Sansone