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The technology is expected to improve the
quality of calls and allow for video calling and voicemail.
The calls would be transmitted using a technology known as Voice
over LTE, which repackages voice calls as data and transmits
them over carriers' high-speed data networks.
Carriers currently transmit most voice calls on older 2G
networks, while data is sent through high-speed 4G networks.
"Interoperability among all VoLTE providers takes connectivity
to the next level with HD quality voice and additional features
that customers want," Tony Melone, chief technology officer at
Verizon, said in a statement.
AT&T and T-Mobile began rolling out Voice over LTE in select
cities earlier this year. Verizon announced a nationwide launch
in September, but customers cannot yet call subscribers on other
networks using the technology.
The technology could also allow customers to purchase devices
that are not bound to a particular carrier and can easily be
transferred to a different network.
"Customers expect to be able to connect anywhere, anytime – and
as LTE technology continues to evolve, it's imperative that we
provide a seamless experience between carriers," Krish Prabhu,
president, AT&T Labs and AT&T chief technology officer, said in
a statement.
For wireless carriers, Voice over LTE will help them to use
their network resources more efficiently by allowing them to
dump old voice network infrastructure and free up wireless
spectrum currently used for voice calls.
(Reporting by Marina Lopes; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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