Vodafone has made progress with its 4G calling trials, completing a trial of its first voice calls using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, as it looks to make the technology available to customers later this year.VoLTE technology fully integrates voice and data, allowing mobile phone users to talk on their device and access 4G data simultaneously, as opposed to current technology which sees smartphone users revert to 3G when making or receiving calls.
“With VoLTE, customers will enjoy call connection times that are two-to-three times quicker,” commented Vodafone chief technology officer Benoit Hanssen.
“There’ll be virtually no lag between pressing the call button and being connected to the number you’ve dialled.”
Vodafone last year announced it would embark on “modernising and consolidating” its core network, working with Ericsson, stating at the time this would enable the introduction of new LTE 4G services, including VoLTE.
“This is the next stage of our network evolution, made possible through the introduction of our new core network,” Hanssen commented.
VoLTE-compatible smartphones currently include the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4, and the Huawei Ascend Y550.
