HD Voice is rolling out on O2!

[Chris_K]

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.

[viridis]

Wifi should not affect call quality and hd audio is only activated when you are getting 3g

[Anonymous]

oh okay, so my issue could be an actual hardware issue 😞

[viridis]

Or a mast issue

[MI5]

What phones are we talking about?
If you have options for "enhanced voice" (or similar) in call settings, turn them off.

[jonsie]

 Check noise reduction is unticked in call settings. 

[MI5]

Lots of different names for it depending on handset but it shouldn't be an issue to have NR on as this uses a different mic to cancel out external noise.

[Anonymous]

note 4 (me)

S5 (Partner)

i've just disabled Noise reduction, will get her to do the same today too.

thanks

[Anonymous]

I have noticed a couple of times over the last 5 days or so the improvement in audio quality.

Although I found that on the occasions when I noticed the improvement, the audio quality then reverted back to the normal quality so far through the call. I can't understand this as I and also the caller had 3G coverage.

If I'm honest and if the HD voice is going to be as intermitant as this, then I find it of not much use

[Chl0e]

Just found this page after i googled strange voice change from o2, i had no idea of this HD voice change happening, would have been nice if o2 would have sent a text message or email out to its customers informing us of this, i thought i had been hacked or something, it never happened to any other calls i made only to my partner who is on o2 same as me, we use to contantly hang up and redial until we got a clear line, now that i know its a new thing i can rest assured, my thoughts at first is total wierd, my partner sounds different like super clear, almost like he is in a box and nothing else exists, so it does cut out all background noise which is a bonus, would take some getting use to the voice change, sounds like he is standing right next to me, now it works sometimes for us but not always, his phone is one of the compatable ones samsung s3, but mine isnt on the list, though it works for us when we call each other, i have a Moto G and it does work fine for us more than it doesnt, but let us know next time you change things please o2.

[perksie]

It's a nice freeby but no idea why they haven't made a noise about it: http://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-and-coverage/hd-voice