The signals coming from the preparatory talks, however, suggest it'll be a wiggle rather than a volte-face.
And there's no technical reason VoLTE and HD Voice can't go across carriers.
Consumers, in turn, will find VoLTE a better match for sophisticated services like mobile videoconferencing.
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If MetroPCS launches VoLTE this year, it could claim another telecom first over its larger competitors.
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Broadcom's VoLTE service consumes approximately 40 percent less power than a comparable WCDMA voice call.
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Matters were made worse by the coincidence of this apparent volte face with several others.
And it is almost certain that the government will do a volte-face on this.
MetroPCS is eager to adopt VoLTE because it bears advantages for both carriers and consumers, says Lau.
FORBES: MetroPCS Launches First LTE Android Phone, May Be First To Offer Voice-Over-LTE
To be sure, the Bush team will win plaudits domestically for its volte-face on dealing with Iran.
Beyond VoLTE, MetroPCS priorities include lining up more LTE handsets and expanding its LTE network to be truly national.
FORBES: MetroPCS Launches First LTE Android Phone, May Be First To Offer Voice-Over-LTE
VoLTE will also enable MetroPCS customers to use data and voice services simultaneously.
FORBES: MetroPCS Launches First LTE Android Phone, May Be First To Offer Voice-Over-LTE
He gives much of the credit for this volte face to Ms Claussen.
In particular, voice over LTE (VoLTE) calling is often touted by carriers as offering increased reliability and better sound quality.
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The costs to implement VoLTE are difficult to determine, said Jeremy Green, an analyst with London-based tech consulting firm Ovum.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��For Voice
But the questions raised by Mr Kay's volte-face may only go away if an independent inquiry is set up to answer them.
The delivery of voice calls using VoLTE is similar to the voice over IP, or VOIP, phone services offered by many cable and Internet-service providers.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��for Voice
The service is known in the industry as voice-over-LTE or VoLTE.
FORBES: MetroPCS Launches First LTE Android Phone, May Be First To Offer Voice-Over-LTE
Battery life is also a concern when making a VoLTE call.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��For Voice
The carrier says it will commercially launch the service, known as Voice over LTE or VoLTE, in 2012, in part to improve call quality for its customers.
Carriers and network operators are working to ensure that VoLTE calls will seamlessly hand off to older technologies when users move to areas with no LTE service.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��for Voice
The current cost of a VoLTE call is more expensive than one using the older network, but the move is really about investing in the future, he said.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��for Voice
Several hurdles remain before VoLTE is available for mass consumption.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��for Voice
The climate sceptic columnist Christopher Booker applauded her volte-face, arguing that previously she had been "under the spell" of her adviser the former UN ambassador Sir Crispin Tickell.
"LG was the world's first company to demonstrate VoLTE technology and announce a VoLTE smartphone, " said Paul Bae, Vice President of Marketing Center of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
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On Tuesday, Verizon Wireless, which activated its LTE network in December, revealed it had begun testing VoLTE on 4G handsets and would publicly introduce the service in 2012.
FORBES: MetroPCS Launches First LTE Android Phone, May Be First To Offer Voice-Over-LTE
VoLTE, as the new technology is known, offers greater efficiency because once-dedicated voice space can also run data when not being used for voice calls, something the current technology doesn't allow.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��For Voice
Nonetheless, the move to VoLTE is likely to continue.
WSJ: U.S. Wireless Carriers Move to New Technology��for Voice
It alleges that the Libyan authorities "performed a dramatic volte face" when faced with a deadline for surrendering Mr Gaddafi to the ICC and said they wanted to investigate him for war crimes.
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In order to provide our customers with a superior user experience over 4G networks, LG will continue to raise the bar on all its mobile products, including accessories that support LTE and VoLTE.
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