Libon wanted to use the best available codec, according to a company source, but one camp within France Telecom wanted to the [...]]]> Las Vegas, Nevada – France Telecom’s over-the-top service/app Libon uses SILK as its HD voice codec for client-to-client calls. Part of the mystery behind the use of SILK was due to political considerations.

Libon wanted to use the best available codec, according to a company source, but one camp within France Telecom wanted to the independent start-up group to use AMR-WB.  The group was initially reluctant to talk about the use of SILK because it didn’t want to trigger another discussion about AMR-WB vs. SILK.

Ed Guy said the codec is already within its Apple iPhone client, but not yet turned on for client-to-client calling within its network. Support for Opus is also being added to the company’s other softclients, [...]]]> Las Vegas, Nevada – Upstart over-the-top/SIM player Truphone is bringing the Opus wideband codec to its clients and network.

Ed Guy said the codec is already within its Apple iPhone client, but not yet turned on for client-to-client calling within its network. Support for Opus is also being added to the company’s other softclients, with network activation expected “within a few weeks.”

Earlier in the week, Truphone announced international shared minutes plans for businesses with voice, text, and data.

The Opus codec is also supported by CounterPath.  WebRTC seems to be a driving force behind the current wave of Opus adoption, as companies work to be interoperable with the open source in-browser voice standard.

Nomad HD incorporates Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Assessment (POLQA), the next generation voice testing algorithm [...]]]> Las Vegas, NV – Spirent has launched Nomad HD, a call and voice quality measurement system. The new system provides voice quality analysis for HD voice and VoLTE services “on any device, across any network,” according to the press release.

Nomad HD incorporates Perceptual Objective Listening Quality Assessment (POLQA), the next generation voice testing algorithm to replace MOS scores. Carriers can measure and compare between legacy circuit-switched and packet-switched voice on their network.  Nomad HD can simultaneously measure VoLTE voice quality, delay, and call performance “objectively, under real-world conditions” in both lab and field environments.

The system offers globally accessible service end points in the cloud; supports all mobile devices, regardless of operating system or radio access technology; and is deployable in both lab and field test configurations. Two operational modes allow carriers to address narrowband and “superwideband” communication in a single box.

Service runs over Orange Slovkia’s 3G (HSPA+) network and all devices supporting AMR-WB. Tests have been ongoing for “several weeks” before going live.  Phones supported include the usual suspects: Apple iPhone 5, Nokia [...]]]> Rounding out the rest of its subsidiaries, Orange has launched HD voice service is Slovakia, according to a report in IT News.

Service runs over Orange Slovkia’s 3G (HSPA+) network and all devices supporting AMR-WB. Tests have been ongoing for “several weeks” before going live.  Phones supported include the usual suspects: Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumina, Sony, HTC, ZTE, and RIM BB10 OS devices.

Orange says it is the first operator to deliver HD voice in Slovakia.

The discount is applicable for both new subscribers and existing customers signing up for a new contract.

An Orange Romania official said the company has about “50%” of HD voice [...]]]> In celebration of two years of HD voice service, Orange Romania is offering a10 euro discount on phones supporting HD voice, reports Comunic.

The discount is applicable for both new subscribers and existing customers signing up for a new contract.

An Orange Romania official said the company has about “50%” of HD voice compatible handsets (assuming deployed from the Google Translate).  The number of HD voice calls on the company’s network is 7 times higher in April than the same period last year, reaching a total in the two years of more than 70 million HD voice calls.  Rate of adoption for HD voice compatible phones rose three times the rate than the same period last year.

In addition, the official noted the first HD voice interconnect between the countries of Romania and Moldova in October 2012.

Readers may wish to compare Orange’s success with HD voice to current HD voice activity in the U.S.

Testing was conducted with Huawei, the vendor providing “end-to-end” networking, including radio access and core network.

VoLTE provides voice over an LTE network while eSRVCC delivers seamless [...]]]> Abi Dhabi-based Etislat announced it has completed successful Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and eSRVCC (enhanced Single Radio Call Continuity) trials, according to a report at zawya.com.

Testing was conducted with Huawei, the vendor providing “end-to-end” networking, including radio access and core network.

VoLTE provides voice over an LTE network while eSRVCC delivers seamless roaming of calls between 3G and LTE networks using a single radio within a handset. Several carriers have discussed testing and implementing eSRVCC, but it appears Etisalat is the first (at least one of the first) to publicly announce a trial on a production network.

The move shouldn’t be that surprising, since the CounterPath Bria clients are able to support multiple codecs already.  Opus would be a drop-in/upgrade to existing software.

CounterPath’s line of VoIP/UC soft [...]]]> A tweet using the #HDvoice hashtag says soft client maker CounterPath will support Opus across its entire line of softphones “in just weeks.”

The move shouldn’t be that surprising, since the CounterPath Bria clients are able to support multiple codecs already.  Opus would be a drop-in/upgrade to existing software.

CounterPath’s line of VoIP/UC soft clients are available for Apple iOS, Google Android, and PC desktop environments.

VoiceManager IP Centrex is a managed hosted in Cox’s private IP network. Businesses pay a flat rate per seat and receive Cisco SPA phones with HD voice, fitting in with the same pay-per-seat/you-get-a-phone model that has become the standard for SMB and enterprise [...]]]> Cox Business has announced a cloud-based HD voice service for businesses.

VoiceManager IP Centrex is a managed hosted in Cox’s private IP network. Businesses pay a flat rate per seat and receive Cisco SPA phones with HD voice, fitting in with the same pay-per-seat/you-get-a-phone model that has become the standard for SMB and enterprise hosted offerings over the past twelve months.

Privately-held Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines (including the business line for HD Voice News). 

The DSP Group DCX81 DECT/CAT-iq 2.0 SoC provides HD voice via G.722 and CAT-iq DECT wireless plus DECT ULE support for home automation/monitoring support.  It [...]]]> DECT and VoIP chipset maker DSP Gropu announced its DECT/Cat-iq 2.0 System on a Chip (SOC) can be integrated into home cable gateways using the Intel Puma 6 SoC.

The DSP Group DCX81 DECT/CAT-iq 2.0 SoC provides HD voice via G.722 and CAT-iq DECT wireless plus DECT ULE support for home automation/monitoring support.  It supports multiple lines, handsets, and “in-field” software upgradability.

Intel says the DCX81 DECT SoC is a “good solution” for adding HD voice and CAT-iq to Puma 6-based cable customer CPE.

Liberty Global Chief Technology Officer Balan Nair said he wanted to keep his team tightly focused on its Horizon project and other innovative technology.  He said he wasn’t [...]]]> GENBAND Perspectives13, Orlando, FL – Liberty Global has nothing in the works at this time for HD voice, either as a broadband or mobile service offering.

Liberty Global Chief Technology Officer Balan Nair said he wanted to keep his team tightly focused on its Horizon project and other innovative technology.  He said he wasn’t discounting the quality of HD voice, but he needed to keep his finite resources focused on current projects. 

In the future, the carrier/VC/cable operator may revisit the issue depending upon its potential to add revenue and/or customer/market demand.