About the ThunderBolt and simultaneous 3G voice & 3G data

[RichardClark]

Not much is known about how the ThunderBolt will accomplish simultaneous 3G voice and 3G data when no other Verizon phone has it. Looks like Verizon insider "black_man_x" is about to shed some light on that subject with an entry later today on his blog at Twitter . So keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, he's tossed out a couple of teasers via Twitter:

"Fact is the feature being introduced only really works half way.. if u have perfect coverage u may get bout 200k speeds in real world"

and

"I will write up a quick blog on the thunderbolts data stack etc and post it later today. its 4am in london so back to bed i go"

Stay tuned!

 

[htowngator]

It makes sense considering they are using the data channel for VoIP access and if you are using data and talking you'll really put a strain on the quality of the call.

 

[blackmannx#AC]

hey,

not really much to share.. its piggy backing a data stream on a active call. with the new network enhancements its going to work if we turn it on but wont be a pretty or very stable data line..

 

[RichardClark]

Hey, Panda! Thanks for posting. You already helped clarify one important point. So it's data shoehorned into a voice call instead of converting voice to VOIP so you can use the data stream for both?

I'd be happy with even a limited data stream as long as voice quality doesn't drop too much. For me (and probably other business uses), there are many times when this functionality would come in handy. For example, when I'm on a conference call and someone sends me an e-mail saying the passcode changed or they forgot the bridgeline. Just being able to get a new mail notification with "From" and "Subject" would be enough to let me know it was something important and could then drop the call if I wanted to get the rest of the message or attachments. As it is now, I wouldn't find out until after the meeting is over. I don't need or expect to stream YouTube while on a call.

 

[edoublediz]

Hey, Panda! Thanks for posting. You already helped clarify one important point. So it's data shoehorned into a voice call instead of converting voice to VOIP so you can use the data stream for both?

I'd be happy with even a limited data stream as long as voice quality doesn't drop too much. For me (and probably other business uses), there are many times when this functionality would come in handy. For example, when I'm on a conference call and someone sends me an e-mail saying the passcode changed or they forgot the bridgeline. Just being able to get a new mail notification with "From" and "Subject" would be enough to let me know it was something important and could then drop the call if I wanted to get the rest of the message or attachments. As it is now, I wouldn't find out until after the meeting is over. I don't need or expect to stream YouTube while on a call.

abso freaking lutely! last minute email detailing conference call agenda changes. dozens of times i need data during call, even limited data.

 

[shaddix]

**** I'll take 200k over the 0-6k i'm getting from ATT right now......

 

[anon(75289)]

**** I'll take 200k over the 0-6k i'm getting from ATT right now......

Is ATT's data while on voice that bad?? I've never had them, but I guess it makes sense.

 

[shaddix]

Is ATT's data while on voice that bad?? I've never had them, but I guess it makes sense.

That's ATT's data while not on voice

 

[Green_Laser]

i just was to clarify for my own knowledge (and others who have the same question in mind), so if i'm in a 4G covered area and get a call, i will get the call thru the 3G chip and the data is on the 4G chip right? meaning that i will be able to simultaneously use voice & data right?

though the OP, and the concern going on is that this is halfway when my data isn't in a 4G covered area and is instead using 3G for data and 3G for voice - making it a partial simultaneous voice & data right?

 

[anon(75289)]

Correct. If you're in 4G area, your call will sound great going through the 3g radio and you will have screaming 4g data going on at the same time with the lte radio.

 

[bstmstrxellos]

It uses an sv-do chip. Basically voice is carried over ev-do 1x and the data is carried over ev-do rev A. Engadget had a post about the chip in 2009 when the chip was announced (sorry I don't have the link). This is just the first phone to use it.

 

[edoublediz]

New lease on life: 3GPP2 publishes CDMA2000 1X Advanced spec -- Engadget Mobile

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

If I remember correctly, recent revisions of the CDMA architecture have allowed for simultaneous voice/data over 3G, but neither Verizon or Sprint has enabled them until now.

 

[blackmannx#AC]

the voice and data service on the bolt is quite usable. but in a 4g area u will not use the same tech.. just good old fast arse LTE! Panda Approved!

its not quite up to snuff and was actually put in place for another device that determined that the solution wasnt up to standards and the amount of devices to use it would kill the network...

 

[anon62607]

If I remember correctly, recent revisions of the CDMA architecture have allowed for simultaneous voice/data over 3G, but neither Verizon or Sprint has enabled them until now.

Does it do this by using two separate carriers for each voice and data?

 

[anon62607]

the voice and data service on the bolt is quite usable. but in a 4g area u will not use the same tech.. just good old fast arse LTE! Panda Approved!

its not quite up to snuff and was actually put in place for another device that determined that the solution wasnt up to standards and the amount of devices to use it would kill the network...

Voice will be on LTE in an LTE area?

 

[upz3]

Voice will be on LTE in an LTE area?

No LTE voice for a while from what I've read. So far LTE is only for data. End of year is the target for LTE voice and data together.

 

[racinbill]

Voice will be on LTE in an LTE area?

Not Yet. Voice on LTE maybe on/after 2013. For now all voice on 3G chip and data on 4G if you have LTE coverage.

 

[French]

the voice and data service on the bolt is quite usable. but in a 4g area u will not use the same tech.. just good old fast arse LTE! Panda Approved!

its not quite up to snuff and was actually put in place for another device that determined that the solution wasnt up to standards and the amount of devices to use it would kill the network...

Aha...this makes sense!

 

[GolpherZX]

Alright, I may be wrong - and I really hope that I am. I'm not seeing a whole lot out there other than other forums. I haven't seen too much out there about what it would take to upgrade the network to support SVDO, but if it is as time consuming as it will take for a 4G network, the business case would be thrown out very quickly with a 4G LTE network being rolled out aggressively.