You’ve heard the term and maybe even seen the little LTE logo in the corner of your home screen, but what is VoLTE? Short for “Voice over Long Term Evolution,” VoLTE essentially means making phone calls over an LTE connection. Prior to using LTE, calls were transmitted to a separate channel, which would lead to your internet connection slowing down while you were on the phone. Now, VoLTE is a stronger, faster, improved system for making calls, allowing for more bandwidth. This means clearer calls, faster connections and the ability to continue using the internet on your phone while on a call. VoLTE is now the standard for most wireless phones and carrier networks. 

how volte works: call is dialed, network confirms connection, voice data transmits over LTE, call completes in real time

How VoLTE works

Previously, calls had to be made over a 3G network—but VoLTE changed that. Now you can keep your 4G LTE connection while completing phone calls, which are treated more like a data connection. Unlike 3G, which uses circuit-switching technology,  VoLTE converts voice calls into “digital packets” which are sent over the same network as your data connection, similar to how streaming music works.

Think of it like a road trip. Circuit-switching establishes the entire path first, essentially choosing a specific route and committing to it. Now if there’s heavy traffic, or perhaps an accident on the freeway, this would affect your journey. Packet-switching (VoLTE) is getting you to your destination via the fastest available route, even if that means taking some unexpected side roads along the way. 

why volte matters: better sound on calls, simultaneous voice and data, faster connection rates, improved coverage

Why VoLTE matters

There are many reasons why VoLTE is the new standard for wireless communications. 

  • Better sound on calls
    VoLTE is sometimes referred to as “HD Voice,” because of the crystal-clear call quality it provides.
  • Faster connection times
    There is hardly any delay between dialing a number and getting connected over LTE
  • Improved coverage
    4G LTE covers a lot more area than 3G, making it easier to use a VoLTE phone pretty much anywhere
  • Simultaneous voice & data capabilities
    You can browse the internet while still on a phone call which, for a long time, was impossible
  • It’s the industry standard
    Many carriers have already sunset their 3G networks, so VoLTE is required to use their wireless services 
does my phone support volte?

Does my phone support VoLTE?

If you’ve upgraded your phone in the last few years, there’s a good chance it supports VoLTE. Most modern smartphones, like iPhone 6 or newer and most Android phones since 2017, are VoLTE phones. 

If you’re still not sure, you can check your carrier’s compatibility list to see if your phone is on it. Or follow these steps to check in your phone’s settings:

iPhone

  • Go into your iPhone Settings
  • Select Cellular or Mobile Data
  • Tap on Cellular Data Options
  • Choose Voice & Data
  • Look for LTE with VoLTE 

If you see LTE, VoLTE On (or a toggle for VoLTE), your iPhone supports VoLTE. If you don’t see this, either your phone or your carrier may not support VoLTE.

Android

  • Go into your Android Settings
  • Select Connections or Network & Internet
  • Tap on Mobile Networks
  • Choose Preferred Network Type or SIM settings
  • Look for a toggle next to VoLTE 
  • Switch it On if it’s not enabled already 

If you see VoLTE Calls, 4G Calling or Enhanced 4G LTE Mode in this menu, your Android phone supports VoLTE.

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“NOTE”

These steps may vary slightly based on your Android make and model.

volte with ultra mobile? if you're looking to switch to a network that supports VoLtE while also going easy on your wallet

VoLTE with Ultra Mobile

Ultra Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network, which provides 4G LTE coverage to over 99% of Americans. We understand the importance of being able to connect to those you care about whenever and wherever, along with superior call quality. If you want to bring your unlocked phone to Ultra Mobile, use our compatibility checker to make sure it will work with our network.

VoLTE isn’t just a technical term, it’s a genuine quality-of-life upgrade when it comes to wireless communications. Also, wireless carriers are continuing to shut down their 3G networks, so if you still don’t have a VoLTE-compatible phone, you may want to look into upgrading sooner rather than later. If you’re looking to switch to a network that supports VoLTE while also going easy on your wallet, take a look at Ultra Mobile. We’ve got plans for every budget, with unlimited nationwide talk & global text included in all of them. See why Ultra Mobile is the best choice for VoLTE and beyond. 

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