HD voice now the norm

The latest Mobile HD Voice report from GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) confirms that several models of phones are now shipping with HD Voice (W-AMR) activated as default. This trend is expected to extend to an increasing number of new product launches as leading manufacturers confirm HD Voice capability as a main strategy.
Mobile HD Voice based on AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate) Wideband technology (W-AMR) enables high-quality voice calls in mobile networks and an improved user experience. It provides significantly higher voice quality for calls between mobile phones supporting the feature, and can be implemented in GSM, WCDMA-HSPA (UMTS) and LTE networks. The higher voice quality using HD Voice improves the call experience and allows people to better share feelings, do business and communicate information. HD Voice transmits a broader spectrum of the human voice; therefore conversation is more natural and is likened to speaking to the other party in the same room. HD Voice also helps people hear better in noisy environments. The W-AMR speech technology is standardized by 3GPP (Release 5).

There is a strong business case for Mobile HD Voice. Customers make more, or longer, calls with HD Voice, and place a high value on HD Voice. HD Voice helps operators to clearly differentiate their offerings and enable high quality services to voice dependent business like call center services, information services, emergency services, etc. HD Voice is also ideal for conference calls and can contribute to a reduction in business travel and raise productivity while reducing the environmental impact. Calls which are easier to hear and understand reduce fatigue typically associated with long conference calls.

The first commercial mobile HD Voice service was launched in September 2009. The momentum for introducing HD Voice is growing. HD Voice services are launched on 15 mobile networks in 14 countries across the world: Armenia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Russia, Spain, and the UK.

The report identifies 27 models of HD Voice-capable phones from leading manufacturers that have been launched in the market.
The maximum benefits from using HD Voice on a mobile HD-capable network are realized or perceived when both calling and called party use HD Voice-capable phones. However, improvements in call quality are also observed even when calling a non-HD Voice phone, due to improvements in the acoustic performance and advanced noise reduction capabilities present in most HD Voice phones.
The report also includes links to demonstrations of HD Voice phone quality.