Voice over LTE (VoLTE) means better sounding voice calls and the ability to use voice and data at the same time, among other things. Here are five facts you should know about the next-generation wireless network technology. Credit: Getty Images Meet the latest telecom buzzword: VoLTE, short for Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE). Unlike many buzzwords, VoLTE refers to something wireless customers should actually care about and will probably appreciate: better quality voice calls; the ability to use voice and data at the same time; and more network efficiency, which translates into better service. Simply put, VoLTE is a way to route voice traffic over the 4G LTE networks carriers use to transmit data. (Check out this detailed explanation of the technology for details.) Here’s a look at what the four major carriers offer in the way of VoLTE, as well as some information on what the technology means to you. Simultaneous Voice and Data Calls Say you’re on the phone with a friend while you’re out and about, and you decide to take in a movie. If you’re not sure what’s playing, you’ll want to check the listings while you talk. If you’re an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, you’ve been able to do this for years. That hasn’t been the case for Verizon and Sprint subscribers; you’d have to end the call to get on the Web. Now that Verizon rolled out VoLTE, it’s no longer a problem. Sprint says it will adopt VoLTE, but it is not clear when. Better Quality Voice Calls VoLTE enables what’s called high definition (HD) voice calling. It’s hard to quantify the higher quality of these calls, but they are a significant improvement over traditional calls made via cellular networks. There is, however, a catch. To make an HD voice call, you need to use a phone that supports VoLTE, in an area with 4G LTE service, and the person on the other end must also meet the same requirements. No Increase in Voice Charges Since HD calling utilizes the data network, you might assume that your HD voice minutes affect your data allotment. Fortunately, that’s not the case. The networks are smart enough to identify voice packets, and they don’t lump them into your data usage. Not Every Phone Supports VoLTE On the iPhone side of the house, only the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support VoLTE. On Verizon, your other choices for VoLTE phones include the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G2. On T-Mobile, there’s the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Light and Galaxy Note 3. For now, you need an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to utilize HD calling on AT&T’s network. Some Parts of the United States Don’t Have VoLTE Yet Verizon and T-Mobile have deployed VoLTE nationally, but not all of their towers are equipped to support it. AT&T only rolled out VoLTE service in a limited number of markets – mostly in the upper Midwest, according to its website – and the carrier hasn’t said when it will expand the service. Sprint is not yet offering VoLTE. Related content feature TransUnion transforms its business with IT On the heels of its Neustar acquisition, the consumer credit reporting agency seeks to give customers access to its troves of consumer data to fuel next-generation services through solutions platform OneTru. By Paula Rooney Apr 26, 2024 6 mins Financial Services Industry Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence feature The 10 highest-paying industries for IT talent The tech industry isn’t the only hot spot for IT jobs, as there’s a growing demand for IT pros across every industry. These 10 verticals pay the most for IT roles, according to data from Dice. By Sarah K. White Apr 26, 2024 7 mins Salaries IT Jobs Careers brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks M&A action is gaining momentum, are your cloud security leaders prepared? Direct visibility is critical in M&A, and cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPP) are ideal to provide this capability. By Amol Mathur, SVP & GM of Prisma Cloud, Palo Alto Networks Apr 25, 2024 4 mins Cloud Management news CIOs eager to scale AI despite difficulty demonstrating ROI, survey finds CIOs prioritize integrating AI into their organizations alongside cybersecurity, according to a new survey. By Sandeep Budki Apr 25, 2024 5 mins Artificial Intelligence PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe