What is VoLTE?

David Pogue
·Tech Critic
Updated

Apple, T-Mobile, and Verizon have all, in their uncoordinated ways, been advertising things called HD Voice, Advanced Calling, and VoLTE. Apparently, one of the advantages of the iPhone 6 is that it can use these new features.

So reader Willa would like to know: What are they?

VoLTE stands for “voice over LTE.” What it means is that, when you make a call, your voice goes over your carrier’s high-speed data network instead of its voice network.

Big advantages:

First, better sound quality — if you and your calling partner both have VoLTE and VoLTE-compatible phones. In today’s “Ask Pogue” video, I conducted a rock-solid experiment, so that you can hear the difference. (The improved quality is what the carriers are calling HD Voice.)

Second, your call connects faster after you’ve dialed.

Third, there’s no more big difference between the two competing cellphone networks in this country: CDMA and GSM. Verizon and Sprint have CDMA; AT&T and T-Mobile have GSM.

Fourth, if you have Verizon or Sprint, right now you can’t be on the phone and on the Internet at the same time. Once you’re on VoLTE, you’ll be able to.

Right now, only two networks have VoLTE nationwide: T-Mobile and Verizon. (Verizon’s VoLTE services just went live as we were posting the video, which is why you see my little postscripts!)

AT&T and Sprint are working on it.

How to turn it on
Here’s how to turn on VoLTE features for Verizon or T-Mobile. There’s no extra cost, and you’ll love the results.

(Requirements: You need a VoLTE-compatible phone. On Verizon, that means the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S5, or LG G2; T-Mobile offers a few additional models. You also have to be in an LTE high-speed area of Verizon’s or T-Mobile’s network; and your calling partner needs all of that, too. And you’ll get VoLTE quality only when you call T-Mo to T-Mo, or Verizon to Verizon; it doesn’t work across carriers.)

In your iPhone’s Settings, tap Cellular. Make sure that Enable LTE is turned on — and choose Voice & Data. Restart your phone.

For T-Mobile, you might also want to visit Settings → Phone → Wi-Fi Calls and turn on Allow WiFi Calls. That way you can make free calls whenever your T-Mobile phone is in a WiFi hotspot.

For Verizon, you have to go to your My Verizon page on the Web. Select Change Features. Add HD Voice. If you have an Android phone, you should now turn the phone off and on again.

Happy clear, free calling!

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