Verizon will launch its first Voice over LTE phone in the first half of 2016, and its first VoLTE-capable phone later this year.
This news may come as a disappointment to some as a VoLTE device was originally anticipated for a late 2014 launch. Verizon is slightly behind other carriers such as T-Mobile and AT&T, which have already started rolling out VoLTE technology in select markets.
"For us, when we launch a new technology, we have to make sure our quality is strong because the CDMA network was so strong," said Fran Shammo, chief financial officer and executive vice president at Verizon, in a web cast presentation. "We don't go before we know it's ready."
Verizon will continue to release devices on its CDMA network until its starts releasing VoLTE devices in 2016. Even when it starts relying on LTE, however, Verizon will continue to use its 3G network as a backup for areas without LTE coverage. Despite this, devices with only a 4G chip are cheaper than devices with both 4G and 3G chips, so it is likely that 3G support will be cut at some point down the line.
There are a number of devices on the market that support VoLTE provided that the carrier that they're supports it, too. LG's G Flex and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 are both devices that could potentially be used on such networks.
Shammo also showed strong support for Verizon's new multicast video service, which allows users to broadcast live video to multiple people using little bandwidth.
"It's a pivotal point that changes the way content is delivered over mobile," he said.
Shammo is confident that this feature will be attractive to users who might want to watch NFL games, the World Cup or other large events on their devices. According to Shammo, enough customers wanting to watch video for 30 minutes will justify the business model.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a device that is capable of taking advantage of Verizon's multicast features, with other devices reportedly on the way. Despite this, the actual service will not launch until next year, when enough devices are around to support the service.
While Verizon may be a little behind with some of its services, users should take this as a sign that the company is trying to do things right by avoiding any launches that fail due to badly tested technology.
