14 DAY TRIAL // Mobile phone carrier Verizon Wireless has just announced that it managed to successfully complete a live, IMS-based VoLTE (Voice over LTE) call on its commercial network using the LG Revolution 4G smartphone.
According to the wireless carrier, the call shows that VoLTE calling is no longer available only in the lab environment, but also on commercial networks, a first in the world.
The company also explained that the call was placed at 9:54 a.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, using a LG Revolution 4G smartphone, which runs under the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system.
The call was initiated from Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J., and was received in by Sanyogita Shamsunder, director of technology for Verizon Wireless, on a LG Revolution 4G smartphone in Basking Ridge.
The call was 33 seconds long. “During additional calls made that morning, the technologists were able to browse the Web and use other data services while participating in voice calls,” the wireless carrier also notes.
Subsequent test calls were over 10 minutes long, the carrier also announced, adding that technologists browsed the Web, and they also participated in chats and downloaded applications from the Android Market, all during the voice call.
“The GSMA launched a voice over LTE initiative a year ago with the aim of driving a single, industry-wide solution for voice and messaging services via IP,” said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA.
“We commend Verizon Wireless for helping to make this a reality by conducting the world's first voice call over a commercial LTE network. The progress made by the GSMA, its members, and in particular Verizon Wireless, to enable this functionality will play a crucial role in driving strong momentum and vast economies of scale for LTE all over the world.”
The wireless carrier also announced plans to enhance VoLTE with “rich communications services and optimize performance” on its newly deployed LTE network during the ongoing year. The operator aims at offering commercial services starting with 2012.