Orange launch world's first HD voice over 3G… in Moldova

11 September, 2009
Apparently voice transmission is one of the few areas where GSM telephony hasn't seen any upgrades since the 1990's. The other day, on 09.09.2009 in 09:09h, Orange picked Moldova for the birthplace of the first...

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  • O
  • O-range
  • Mf5
  • 10 Nov 2009

simple testing of another blsht. nothing usefull for local customers

    • J
    • Joshi
    • uc6
    • 28 Oct 2009

    Hi, is this AMR-WB based HD-voice call available even if I drive across conuntries or my phone in roming mode from Orange to another operator coverage? In that case voice quality would eb automatically changed from WB- to NB-AMR quality with voice link loss or not due to switching? I guess At this early phase of WB-AMR adoption, this effect on voice quality would be questionable.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • LBb
      • 01 Oct 2009

      Isn't that called Hi-Fi instead of HD?

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • tVH
        • 16 Sep 2009

        Cootified, 16 Sep 2009I dont see the point? It's voice? It's not like your going ... moreIt's like the difference between listening to a shaky radio frequency and a clear CD. Which one would you prefer?

        I think clear voice quality and noise cancellation is extremely important since there are no visual clues to aid communication.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • tVH
          • 16 Sep 2009

          Hasn't AMR-WB / WB+ been part of the 3GPP specs for ages? I remember T-Mobile trialling it in Germany a few years ago, hard to believe that this would be the first time it's actually been deployed.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • tVH
            • 16 Sep 2009

            Anonymous, 12 Sep 2009Okay, with 3G video calls (Australia has em) treble the ban... moreAmericans also have Video Calls on both WCDMA and EVDO networks (ATT & Verizon) :)

              • C
              • Cootified
              • 95m
              • 16 Sep 2009

              I dont see the point? It's voice? It's not like your going to miss a certain voice tone? If you say "how are you" it will still be "how are you" at the other end? So what's the point? I know with HD in TVs, you get to see more detail, are you saying with Voice HD you will hear missing words? LOL This is called Marketing Technology, you don't need it but you'll pay for it.

                • A
                • Alex
                • p3x
                • 14 Sep 2009

                to my fellow countrymen... don't you think you should take your moldavian independence talks elsewhere? this is about phones not history :)

                  • D
                  • Dani
                  • mX8
                  • 13 Sep 2009

                  WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Orange rules

                    • D
                    • DIMEX
                    • p4M
                    • 12 Sep 2009

                    2 John: Republic of Moldova is a independent country from 1991.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • tAZ
                      • 12 Sep 2009

                      Okay, with 3G video calls (Australia has em) treble the bandwidth is used to transmit the video, these HD calls only dispense the video to send great audio. Just so everyone knows, this has nothing to do with hsdpa as it is not an IP technology. The typical phone call uses 8000hz, a cd uses 44khz and a dvd uses 96khz. This technology just uses a phone with a high quality speaker and microphone and uses a codec that sends info at a higher khz (but i dont know what exactly)

                      For americans who have never seen a video call (as i understand they were not released over there) you dial someones mobile number and the front facing camera sends the video, but its not great usually around 13fps.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • nwf
                        • 12 Sep 2009

                        Was it at 9 seconds as well? If not then I propose delaying it to 10/10/2010, at 10:10:10. Gotta be accurate on the seconds as well!

                          • K
                          • Khalil
                          • SYf
                          • 11 Sep 2009

                          this sounds absolutely great! finally something to cheer abt! bandwidth-wise, i dont think this will be an issue. when ur tallking abt voice calls, u will have a network connection dedicated to that, as opposed to voip which uses a data connection. 14 mbps is more than enough and it will count on the network signal and phone reception alone,,,,,
                          only thing is, someone who has an hd handset and calls a non hd handset and vise versa, they will not benefit from hd calling regardless cause the non hd handset will send and recieve low quality sound. but this will be great once it is more widespread and mass friendly.

                            • D
                            • Dan
                            • mt0
                            • 11 Sep 2009

                            Come on...Moldova? Do they have network coverage there? :)) just kidding. I'm from Romania, so, i guess we'll be the next country to have HD voice.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • iGB
                              • 11 Sep 2009

                              z, 11 Sep 2009waht does HD voice do?? give you 7.1 surround sound system????I'll give the benefit of doubt and assume that you are being funny...

                                • z
                                • z
                                • qKB
                                • 11 Sep 2009

                                waht does HD voice do?? give you 7.1 surround sound system????

                                  • S
                                  • Striker
                                  • MSN
                                  • 11 Sep 2009

                                  Anonymous, 11 Sep 20091stlol one of the biggest breakthroughs in mobile technology in years and all you can come up with to post is "1st"????

                                  You sir, are the end of a bell.

                                  As for the HD Voice, sounds fantastic - this has always been an issue for me as I like to change my phone regularly and have noticed a massive difference in voice clarity between the manufacturers, ranging from absolutely apalling to just OK, and looking at the speed of which handsets have progressed these last few years it seems a crime that we still have to struggle to hear who we're talking to.......Like people have said below though, bandwidth will be the issue with this, but with the networks constantly improving their coverage, I'd say it's only a matter of time before this technology is available to the masses. And about time too!

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 2CJ
                                    • 11 Sep 2009

                                    Yes it's interesting technology, however much like voip in countries like australia, there will be bandwidth limitations especially when your talking about masses. I am not sure how much bandwidth this take up, but for example a quality voip call takes up 750kup/750kdown now you can see the issues at hand here. When 4G is released and implemented then I can really seeing this take off, as for now I think it will be limited to one handset...

                                      • T
                                      • Tech freak
                                      • iGB
                                      • 11 Sep 2009

                                      Finally a new real step forward in GSM phones :-D Not more MP, xx GB of storage or the evergoing war between Symbian, WinMo, Android or iPhone (and now Maemo). Unfortunatly I foresee the following comments being directed towards the choice of a Nokia handset instead of other brands. For those who don't realize why, maybe it has something to do with Nokia not only selling handset but also solutions for 3G/GSM networks... So please no stupid brand wars or fanboyism. Peace!

                                        • A
                                        • Alin
                                        • pkP
                                        • 11 Sep 2009

                                        Moldova is N-E of Romania