topic Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2! in Welcome & News

HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Chris_K — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:44:17 GMT

You're about to notice an evolutionary step in the quality of voice calls on O2. Starting this week we'll be rolling out HD Voice across our network – our network will work fine alongside this rollout and there will be no loss of service due to it. HD Voice is just one of the ways we’re making O2 a ‘smarter network’ for our customers.

What's HD Voice?
HD (High Definition) Voice gives you crystal clear voice calls. It also filters out background noise, so if you're stood in a busy street or at the train station, the person you're calling will be able to hear you loud and clear. And the best part is you won't be charged any differently for an HD Voice call.

What are the HD Voice requirements?

A compatible phone (see section below)
The latest software available for your phone
Both you and the person you're speaking to need to be on O2 and in a 3G area

Note: If you notice any change in quality during an HD Voice call, this will be if one of you has lost your 3G signal.

Compatible phones
HD Voice is ready to use on the following phones on the latest software update- iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6 & 6 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S3, S3 Mini, S4, S4 Mini, S5 & S6
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 & Note 4
Sony Xperia E1, E3, M2, SP, Z1, Z2 Compact, Z3, Z3 Compact
Lumia 520, 530, 625, 630, 635, 735, 1020
Nokia 909.1
HTC One, M8 & M9
BlackBerry 9320

Note: More and more handsets will become compatible in time with new software updates so keep your eyes peeled for any new updates headed your way that may enable this.

Activating HD Voice
As long as you meet the requirements above, you don’t need to do anything to activate HD Voice. There are no settings to configure – we’ll handle the rest on our end.

Experience it...
As we've been testing and rolling it out, some of you may already have experienced it. And if you haven't, hopefully you will soon once the rollout finishes. At the next X-Factor auditions maybe you can sing down the phone to the judges instead of going in person?

If you've had an HD Voice call already on O2, let us know your thoughts and feedback below... We'd love to hear from you.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

viridis — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:30:27 GMT

Knew it lol 😁

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Cleoriff — Wed, 20 May 2015 17:40:04 GMT

I don't suppose I have got it then? Yes Note 3...but no Lollipop...yet...

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

blissgirl — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:01:24 GMT

shame I can't use it on my note 4 since i'm with vodafone

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Chris_K — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:03:52 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:

I don't suppose I have got it then? Yes Note 3...but no Lollipop...yet...

Never know - but hopefully you can test that out for us 😉 With the list of compatible handsets above, those are the ones we know to work with HD Voice, at least on the latest software.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

MI5 — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:11:47 GMT

I have to say "it's about time" but yes, I have noticed it's been trialed recently.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:16:26 GMT

Although I have a compatable phone (iPhone 6 Plus) I haven't noticed any difference in my call quality, so perhaps my area hasn't got the HD Voice yet.

Just need 4G now in my area

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

newneotoo — Wed, 20 May 2015 21:52:21 GMT

Yep just noticed it this today, very nice

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

jonsie — Thu, 21 May 2015 06:25:50 GMT

I won't be able to try this out until I'm back in the uk but I have to say its long overdue. Call quality had been noticeably poor having used o2, EE and DTAC in my Note 4. O2 has had distorted sound for a number of years.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2015 11:55:05 GMT

Hi. Noticed today when ringing from my s4 to the wife's iPhone 5s. Very clear, so sounds a bit strange after being on the old system.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Thu, 21 May 2015 19:43:10 GMT

Oh about time, I was waiting eagerly for this to happen. I have only been on my mobile once and didnt hear any change yet, so will this take 1 week to roll out fully?

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Fri, 22 May 2015 14:00:41 GMT

is that why my calls sound like i am whatsapp or skype calling now???

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

MI5 — Fri, 22 May 2015 14:06:41 GMT

It should sound clearer and brighter now.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Toby — Fri, 22 May 2015 15:07:21 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Have you noticed any difference yet? I'm sure you have, but make sure all of the criteria in Chris' post are met

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:27:21 GMT

Is there a way to disable this? Sounds horrible sounds like I am whatsapp calling someone

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

MI5 — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:30:28 GMT

I doubt it.....

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

viridis — Fri, 22 May 2015 18:34:53 GMT

The reason it sounds like WhatsApp or Skype, or xbox live or psn is because O2 used to use a much poorer bitrate for the transferred audio, much like Skype in 1998.
Now with more bandwidth to play with, O2 have now caught up with the aforementioned services as prior to this, they had much higher quality audio.
On an up to date handset, the quality should sound very very clear and pick up more of the vocal range.
A very good step forward imo.

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Anonymous — Fri, 22 May 2015 20:17:23 GMT

i think i experienced it tonight the call started really clear and loud and then about 15 mins into the call it went muffled and rubbish so i think i did have it, definately an improvement

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

MI5 — Fri, 22 May 2015 20:20:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
i think i experienced it tonight the call started really clear and loud and then about 15 mins into the call it went muffled and rubbish so i think i did have it, definately an improvement

Your free trial period ended

Re: HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

Cleoriff — Fri, 22 May 2015 20:34:02 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
i think i experienced it tonight the call started really clear and loud and then about 15 mins into the call it went muffled and rubbish so i think i did have it, definately an improvement
Your free trial period ended

I bet they got dead excited....for 15 minutes