Earlier this morning, AT&T unveiled their next big moves for their LTE network: HD Voice + VoLTE (Voice Over LTE). HD Voice is exactly how it sounds, better voice quality for phone calls. While VoLTE will allow you to use LTE data while on a phone call. Currently on AT&T, you already can use simultaneous voice and data. But while on a phone call you only have access to HSPA+ until you hang up then reverts back to LTE data.
This is the future of LTE.
According to 9to5Mac, we can expect the new iPhones to support VoLTE as well. Currently the hardware can but iOS 7 does not. The iPhone 5/5s should already support HD Voice.
The new features will become available on May 23rd and will launch in select markets at first. So if you live in certain areas in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, or Wisconsin and own a Galaxy S4 mini – congrats as you get have at it 1st. Expect AT&T to expand to other markets gradually afterwards.
