Voice will always have a place in virtual communication, just as voice will always have a place in real-life interactions. It’s just the way we’re wired. Recent surveys and studies emphasize the importance of audio in real time communications, and fresh on the wagon is Telstra (News - Alert)'s Head of Global Wholesale, Peter Hobbs, who reminds us that voice services have “yet to hit their peak.” 

"Voice services are sometimes misunderstood and undervalued by carriers because of the challenges they present, such as squeezed margins and increased competition, but it is a mistake to ignore voice altogether," Hobbs says.

And his claims are well supported because, even as over-the-top (OTT) communication hogs the limelight for many global carriers, voice continues to occupy the minds of many communication app users — 82 percent, in fact, according to the results of a survey earlier this month conducted by Voxox.

In addition to the fact that users are comfortable with using voice for communication, especially for advanced or complicated information that is too cumbersome for messaging but doesn’t necessarily warrant video communications, the sleek video management services everyone is going on about are essentially useless without voice. The last thing users want is a streamlined video communication system that requires them to mime to one another.

Not to mention that voice isn’t exactly out of style. If anything, having good audio quality is in demand as ever, and still the most relied-upon means of instant communication; almost nobody texts or video-chats with 911 dispatchers yet. When you get into a car accident, you’re more likely to make a few phone calls than text or Skype (News - Alert). Voice remains a powerful and extremely significant avenue in our communication infrastructure.

And it’s not just for emergencies. Voice, even in HD, has fewer demands on data than video, and when the connection is bad and the stream is choppy, you still have your voice. Or maybe you just woke up with an unnaturally large zit, and you don’t want your significant other or your newest client to see it over video calls. Either way, companies would be making a huge mistake by not diving head-first into voice communication innovation,  especially in terms of exploring Voice over IP (VoIP), specifically Mobile Voice over IP (MVoIP), which should blow the parameters of the industry wide open by enhancing mobile communication, and by integrating video and voice to connect users in new ways.

"HD voice is like HDTV, but instead of high-definition images, you get high-definition sound, no background noise and crystal-clear voice quality. Offering these superior quality services is key for carriers, and partnering with the right wholesaler is the first step," Hobbs said.

The key word in that last paragraph is “said.” With voice, we can keep “saying,” and with improved voice communications, hopefully we won’t have to repeat ourselves.