Calling Plus (VoLTE "Lite")

[burnout8488]

Is anyone testing Calling Plus in the wild? The two devices currently compatible are the LG Stylo 3 and Samsung J7 Perx. The service supposedly went live on 5/31/17.

 

"Calling Plus" bullet points, gathered from Reddit:

• Voice is transmitted over LTE
• Voice is not prioritized at the network level like in a traditional VoLTE implementation (Saturated LTE will cause call quality degradation)
• Simultaneous voice and data
• VoLTE/VoWi-Fi smooth handoffs both ways
• No 1x fallback

I'm really interested in hearing early impressions of this quiet rollout.

[Deval]

I have a J7 that I just flashed the build on. The initial setup was straight forward, similar to enabling WIFI Calling, the user is prompted with a toggle to enable calls over LTE. I haven't tested any calls yet, but will do so tomorrow.

 

The one challenge I have is that my apartment building elevator is an RF blackhole, so I'll hand off from WIFI to 1x to 3G before reconnecting with LTE.

[jakeuten]

No QoS like the other 3? That won't be good. Their network is already saturated enough as is in some areas.

[Volaris]

No QoS like the other 3? That won't be good. Their network is already saturated enough as is in some areas.

 

Yeah this is concerning; is this confirmed and is there a reason to this? I'm mostly concerned because I've noticed when band 41 gets (really) congested, ping times and uplink suffer, so I imagine this would have negative consequences if VoLTE isn't prioritized. 

[burnout8488]

No QoS - yet. This is just an early implementation for testing voice over LTE with a very small sample size. It's only on these two devices, I'd imagine by the time it hits the iPhone it will be full blown VoLTE with QoS. (Who knows, that could be a year off, or more.) 

[burnout8488]

I have a J7 that I just flashed the build on. 

 

Did it come in the form of an OTA software update? 

[travismheim]

It looks like an over the top solution like using messenger or FaceTime to make data calls to me.

 

Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

[greenbastard]

I have a J7 that I just flashed the build on. The initial setup was straight forward, similar to enabling WIFI Calling, the user is prompted with a toggle to enable calls over LTE. I haven't tested any calls yet, but will do so tomorrow.

 

The one challenge I have is that my apartment building elevator is an RF blackhole, so I'll hand off from WIFI to 1x to 3G before reconnecting with LTE.

A few screenshots of the menu would be appreciated.

[Deval]

No QoS like the other 3? That won't be good. Their network is already saturated enough as is in some areas.

 

This isn't true VoLTE in the complete sense, just a way to route audio calls over LTE rather than 1x/PSTN.

 

That's why there is a giant BETA disclaimer on it.

[Deval]

A few screenshots of the menu would be appreciated.

 

Sure, I'll reset the device and upload pictures later.

[Deval]

Did it come in the form of an OTA software update? 

 

Yep, it's part of an MR

[Deval]

It looks like an over the top solution like using messenger or FaceTime to make data calls to me.

 

Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

 

No, not really. Think of it as an extension of the WiFi Calling already built into the device.

[travismheim]

No, not really. Think of it as an extension of the WiFi Calling already built into the device.

If there's no network prioritization for a data call on LTE how is it different besides using the stock dialer?

 

Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

[RAvirani]

Since I am not familiar with the new wifi calling setup (the one released in 2016), and Sprint's Calling Plus implementation is, from what I've heard, essentially wifi calling over LTE, is there a reason why a call could not be handed to eHRPD/EVDO as a data session? Probably a dumb question but just wanted to see if someone with more knowledge could chime in...

[Deval]

If there's no network prioritization for a data call on LTE how is it different besides using the stock dialer?

 

Sent from my LG-LS993 using Tapatalk

 

Because this is a beta service. 

[Deval]

I took some screenshots of the device enabled with Calling Plus.

 

 

 

 

 

[lilotimz]

I took some screenshots of the device enabled with Calling Plus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How's the user experience in fringe lte / 1x spots?

[Deval]

How's the user experience in fringe lte / 1x spots?

 

I'll do some testing today and see how it works. I'm pretty sure the call will drop if the signal is that weak.

[WiWavelength]

...Sprint's Calling Plus implementation is, from what I've heard, essentially wifi calling over LTE, is there a reason why a call could not be handed to eHRPD/EVDO as a data session?

 

EV-DO is a legacy system on a different pool of IP addresses.  A drop from LTE to EV-DO is not a handoff.  It requires a new data session with a new IP address.  A call in progress would not survive.

 

AJ

[RAvirani]

EV-DO is a legacy system on a different pool of IP addresses. A drop from LTE to EV-DO is not a handoff. It requires a new data session with a new IP address. A call in progress would not survive.

 

AJ

How about eHRPD?

[JossMan]

How about eHRPD?

eHRPD is pretty much EV-DO, the call would still drop going from LTE to eHRPD.  

[RAvirani]

eHRPD is pretty much EV-DO, the call would still drop going from LTE to eHRPD.

Why? eHRPD is EV-DO routed through the LTE core network. If the VoLTE call is essentially a data session (which is my current understanding) and the network has the ability to instruct your device to smoothly handoff from LTE to eHRPD (through an RRC release), why would the call drop? Data is data, right?

 

This is the only reason I can come up with as to why Sprint didn't do a full VoLTE implementation with QoS and all. A more over-the-top solution has the potential to run on networks other than LTE (it already runs on wifi) and with Sprint's ability to push devices both from LTE to 3G (with an RRC release) and from 3G to LTE (using the OtherRATNeighborList message), it seems like they might be trying to do something slightly unconventional to allow a CDMA fallback...

[Deval]

Why? eHRPD is EV-DO routed through the LTE core network. If the VoLTE call is essentially a data session (which is my current understanding) and the network has the ability to instruct your device to smoothly handoff from LTE to eHRPD (through an RRC release), why would the call drop? Data is data, right?

 

This is the only reason I can come up with as to why Sprint didn't do a full VoLTE implementation with QoS and all. A more over-the-top solution has the potential to run on networks other than LTE (it already runs on wifi) and with Sprint's ability to push devices both from LTE to 3G (with an RRC release) and from 3G to LTE (using the OtherRATNeighborList message), it seems like they might be trying to do something slightly unconventional to allow a CDMA fallback...

 

It's hard to find non-LTE areas where I live, will do some additional testing tomorrow on my commute home. LTE site density in NYC is not conducive for that type of testing

[Jones]

 

 

Why? eHRPD is EV-DO routed through the LTE core network. If the VoLTE call is essentially a data session (which is my current understanding) and the network has the ability to instruct your device to smoothly handoff from LTE to eHRPD (through an RRC release), why would the call drop? Data is data, right?

I read (a little) about rrc release from eNB to UE in context of a data session.

 

Is the eNB equipment fast enough to issue an RRC release with carrier balancing to not cause the call to fail? I know loading a web page or video can lag a little and it's not a big deal, but if that occurs on a voice call would it drop, or suffer decrease quality?

 

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[nexgencpu]

Sprint finally posted a Calling Plus FAQ.

 

https://www.sprint.com/en/support/solutions/services/faqs-about-calling-plus.html