Future Verizon phones might rely on a web connection to place calls.
Verizon wireless is preparing a new calling service that uses the new 4G data network to initiate voice and video calls. Unlike traditional VoIP web phone services, Verizon's internet calling feature would be tied to a person's phone number rather than a username or e-mail address on a service such as Skype, CNN's Mark Milian reports.
The webphone service will be called VoLTE — an acronym that plays on the name of the 4G network, LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution. Verizon's 4G LTE network began rolling out December 2010.
Verizon may opt to transition to web calls slowly by adding VoLTE-compatible phones to its offerings gradually, according to CNN. The hope is for VoLTE to replace the traditional infrastructure that cellphones use to place calls.
Web-based mobile phones have not seen wide adoption in the consumer market, largely because available VoIP services offer inferior, tinny call quality compared to phone calls placed with a traditional cell signal.
If brought into fruition, the VoLTE service would address a limitation of current Verizon smartphones, which cannot simultaneously place a phone call and transmit web data. VoLTE would theoretically enable web calling and internet use at the same time.
Verizon plans to demonstrate VoLTE on an LG smartphone at next week's World Mobile Congress, according to CNN.
Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
