Submitted by Frank Macey on
Wideband audio was showcased by Apple at the iPhone 5 keynote, however T-Mobile is the only US carrier to support the technology. This is all set to change later this week, when AT&T rolls out HD Voice on its Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) network starting Friday. HD Voice will be enabled on the Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini first, with more devices to follow.
Both the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s will support HD Voice, which expands the frequency range heard during a voice call. This reduces background noise and provides more natural and realistic sound, making caller's voices easier to hear. According to an AT&T press release, the first markets to receive the upgrade will be in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
As usual, AT&T customers will be able to use 4G LTE data speeds while talking on the phone with HD Voice. Wideband audio requires the handsets on both ends of the call to support the technology, as well as the wireless network in both markets. Once all of these items are in place, higher quality call audio is possible.
Besides T-Mobile and AT&T, Verizon is also working on delivering Wideband Audio to its iPhone customers in the near future.