Can wimax/Evo do simultaneous voice/data?

[6tr6tr]

For some reason this was never mentioned in any of the demos, and since it's a huge thing, unfortunately I'm thinking the answer is no.

Can Sprint's WiMax and the HTC Evo allow you to be on a voice call and surf the web at the same time like AT&T + iPhone?

 

[donald.aleshire]

there was a post on engadget I think that stated they "believe" it is going to be capable of doing this. Not 100% sure what site but we shall see. This would be a huge blow to ATT's few valid arguments lol

edit:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/23/htc-evo-4g-is-sprints-android-powered-knight-in-superphone-armo/

here is the link, its in the first paragraph of the article...

 

[6tr6tr]

Yeah but it's just a guess. The fact that the Sprint/HTC reps didn't mention it makes me think it's NOT possible. Pretty stupid of them if that's the case.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Donnie, you beat me to it.

WiMax works off a concept similar to Wi-Fi, just a whole lot longer of a range. Theoretically, if you're on a WiMax network, you SHOULD be able to do Voice and Data simultaneously. As that article states, Sprint is still testing it...but I'd bet they do everything in their power to make this happen, as it'll put a major dent in AT&T's argument.

Also, at the rate Sprint is deploying WiMax, they'll soon catch up to AT&T's 3G coverage anyhow...hahaha.

 

[GolpherZX]

I have to agree that in my understanding that talk and surf "should" be available to this device. The big thing hampering 3G CDMA is the fact that it is all TDM based. That has two negatives involved.

First that you can only be doing one thing at a time. Once a voice connection is open to the tower you can't do data (Not sure how text messages arrive though). There is also a latency factor in converting the TDM signal into the IP networks. So the web should be more responsive in just using 4G instead of 3G.

As far as the talk and surf part as well, there has to be two different antennas. The frequency in which Clear/Sprint are building out the 4G network is different than the frequencies used by 3G. Since voice will still be on the 3G frequencies, data should be able to be used at the same time.

Just my opinion based on knowledge of the little technical details that I do know about cellular.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Stuff about WiMax.

Exactly. This is the same reason why you can be on WiFi at your house to do data services while talking on the phone.

I've never figured out how Text Messages work while you're on the phone either.

 

[avacomputers]

Sms messages are not sent over data.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Well, I gathered that...but HOW do they work then? I understand that it's all digital regardless, but I don't fully understand the concept behind it.

 

[ChaosShadow]

I was told by a Sprint store employee back in november when I got my Hero that 4G phones WILL be able to do simultaneous voice/data. Voice will be carried over the CDMA frequencies, and data over the WiMax frequencies. Dunno how true this is... but it makes sense to me.

 

[devonair]

The frustrating thing about this whole "simultaneous voice/data" debate is that I had read a few articles saying that it actually was possible on EV-DO Rev A (apparently not Rev 0). Unfortunately Sprint and Verizon chose not to roll it out this way. Not sure why, but if it was possible on EV-DO then it sounds even more likely to work on WiMax.

 

[crowordove]

The frustrating thing about this whole "simultaneous voice/data" debate is that I had read a few articles saying that it actually was possible on EV-DO Rev A (apparently not Rev 0). Unfortunately Sprint and Verizon chose not to roll it out this way. Not sure why, but if it was possible on EV-DO then it sounds even more likely to work on WiMax.

Regardless of their past mistakes I'll forgive them to have the option at my disposal

 

[SprintDaddy]

The frustrating thing about this whole "simultaneous voice/data" debate is that I had read a few articles saying that it actually was possible on EV-DO Rev A (apparently not Rev 0). Unfortunately Sprint and Verizon chose not to roll it out this way. Not sure why, but if it was possible on EV-DO then it sounds even more likely to work on WiMax.

Yes and No. I think it would have been EV-DV but it would have been more equipment that needed to be change at the tower end and more changes to software at the CO end. Why do all that work and spend all the money when you have the 4G coming up right.

 

[SprintDaddy]

I have to agree that in my understanding that talk and surf "should" be available to this device. The big thing hampering 3G CDMA is the fact that it is all TDM based. That has two negatives involved.

First that you can only be doing one thing at a time. Once a voice connection is open to the tower you can't do data (Not sure how text messages arrive though). There is also a latency factor in converting the TDM signal into the IP networks. So the web should be more responsive in just using 4G instead of 3G.

As far as the talk and surf part as well, there has to be two different antennas. The frequency in which Clear/Sprint are building out the 4G network is different than the frequencies used by 3G. Since voice will still be on the 3G frequencies, data should be able to be used at the same time.

Just my opinion based on knowledge of the little technical details that I do know about cellular.

The 3G and wimax are completely different towers so there is no problem on that end. On the TXT message thing, TXT messages go thru on a seperate channel of the voice circuit.

 

[letsgoflyers81]

Sprint would be very foolish not do have simultaneous voice and data. Considering that's AT&T's main weapon in their ads right now, Sprint would be wise to throw that back in their faces. Hopefully they can do it relatively quickly and if it doesn't work out of the box, then it would only need a software update. I'm a little worried though because you'd think if they could do it, Dan Hesse would have been talking about it. Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Ozmodiar]

I disagree. Dan Hesse would be foolish to say it CAN do it, and later find out they cannot make it work for some reason. The backlash would be horrendous.

I think he made the right move in saying they were "testing it" and would let us all know about it later. First, it makes us all talk about the concept so we basically freely market it for Sprint. Second, if it doesn't work, sure we're disappointed, but we're not completely let down by a broken promise.

That said, I'd love to be able to do voice and data at the same time, and throw it back in my girlfriends face (she has an iPhone). B*tch.

 

[letsgoflyers81]

I don't disagree with your points. It'd look really bad if they said yes but couldn't get it to work. If they're serious about working on it, best to keep quiet for now. I'm just concerned that it might now happen, or might happen 6 - 9 months down the line. I would have loved to hear it would work right from the get go, or at least hearing concretely that it would work later.

 

[waazzupppp#WN]

It's the money grubbing carriers that made EV-DO A not do it... They don't want you surfing and talking at the same time, bigger strain on the network (see AT&T/Iphone) when millions of users do it.

As far as WiMAX/CDMA voice/data - Yes, the hardware will do it... Now the question is, for how long will people be using CDMA for voice vs. just doing a VoIP call on Sprint?

Saw the statement that Hesse made yesterday about voice minutes going bye bye and data being the part to get charged for... Makes me think tiered data plans and no voice minutes!

 

[Ozmodiar]

Makes me think tiered data plans and no voice minutes!

If I'm not mistaken...he basically said this WOULD be the model going forward..."paying for gigabytes, not minutes" or something to that effect...

And, let's face it...This is really the future business model for ALL companies that connect you to the internet. Several Cable companies have already begun testing this business model, and a good portion of the rest of the world pays for internet based on "usage per month" plans. The U.S. business model of "unlimited everything" for Internet is really pretty unique.

Further, name one thing that "traditional" phone lines (and CDMA calling frequencies for that matter) do better than VOIP? We're all A LOT better off moving to a VOIP model instead of the traditional model.

 

[GolpherZX]

Unfortunately I think I've heard the same thing elsewhere as well. I'm not looking forward to the idea of having to optimize applications to be as bandwidth efficient as possible. Being a network engineer myself, I know what it is like to have to work with application teams when something is put out there is a bandwidth hog, but didn't realize it.

Many applications have been built lately (especially in the US) where their is "unlimited" bandwidth. The thought being that bandwidth is cheap. That may be changing quite quickly.

 

[6tr6tr]

Foolish? Yes. BUT....

1. One of the demo videos recently had a Sprint rep saying they're testing this capability but can't guarantee it'll be avail.

2. In one of the articles (engadget?) a Sprint rep said they couldn't confirm that capability

3. I sent an email to Sprint about this capability and their response was:

As of now, we are unable to provide you any information about the feature of HTC Evo. Once it is launched you can view the same on our website."

Their repsonse in #3 probably means, "Crap! That functionality just isn't working. Someone call the PR department to write some study about how no one really uses or wants that functionality!"