Verizon and AT&T have announced the companies are enabling VoLTE-to-VoLTE connections between their respective customers. VoLTE interoperability between Verizon and AT&T customers is expected to be available in 2015.
VoLTE is an all-IP technology that integrates the network's calling features into the smartphone. Engineers from both companies are working through a full set of requirements, beginning with extensive testing in lab environments and then moving to field trials. This approach ensures customers will have a seamless experience making VoLTE HD Voice calls between networks and lays the foundation for interoperability of other rich communications services (RCS) such as video calls and rich messaging.
Verizon introduced its Advanced Calling 1.0 services across the US in September, and will continue to make Advanced Calling-capable smartphones available to its customers. AT&T introduced VoLTE services in its initial markets earlier this year, and will continue to expand to more devices and more markets across the US.
AT&T and Verizon Wireless have worked closely with the GSMA on this initiative. The GSMA's Network 2020 programme is designed to encourage mobile operators globally to accelerate the adoption of native IP communication services such as voice and video calling over LTE and RCS.
