Skip to main content

T-Mobile improves call quality and reliability with Enhanced Voice Services

Given the ubiquity of instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and Line, you’d be forgiven for assuming that most phone conversations these days took the form of texting. But contrary to popular belief, good old-fashioned calling hasn’t quite gone the way of the dodo. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center study, 93 percent of smartphone owners ages 18-29 place voice or video calls at least once a week.

In light of that statistic, it’s not entirely surprising that quite a few mobile carriers are devoting attention to call quality. Among them, T-Mobile seems to be leading the charge: on Wednesday, the self-styled “un-carrier” announced the deployment of Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), a “next-gen” voice technology that it says will improve the fidelity and reliability of calls placed on its network.

Recommended Videos

T-Mobile, along with Verizon and AT&T, began transitioning from legacy circuit-switched calling tech to data-based Voice over LTE (VoLTE), or HD Voice, several years ago. That conferred benefits such as improved voice quality, Wi-Fi calling, and faster call setup times, but T-Mobile says EVS introduces even more. With EVS, call reliability should be improved in areas with weaker signals, it says, and audio should reach an even higher fidelity than HD Voice calls thanks to “a broader audio frequency range.” Better still, T-Mobile says the the benefits of EVS extend beyond its network — you’ll get improved quality on Wi-Fi in addition to T-Mobile’s LTE network, for example, and in calls with T-Mobile subscribers that lack an EVS-supported device.

EVS isn’t a T-Mobile technology, per say, but a product of a collaboration between mobile device makers, telecom technology firms, and engineers, It’s basically a derivation of VoLTE both simultaneously reduces the bandwidth needed for calls while improving overall service. “Envisioned use cases for enhanced voice service include improved [call quality], and high-quality multiparty-conference or audio-visual communication,” according to VoiceAge. “Even streaming voice and audio as well as offline voice and audio delivery are possible application scenarios.”

“EVS is yet another example of how America’s fastest LTE network is also the most advanced,” said T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray in a blog post. “Our shift to IP-powered voice and data services has led to a steady drumbeat of ground-breaking calling innovations from Wi-Fi Calling to Video Calling built right into your phone’s native dialer.”

If there’s a downside to EVS, it’s slim compatibility: LG’s G5 is the only handset capable of taking advantage right now. But there’s hope: T-Mobile says Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will gain EVS through a software update this week, and says that it’s working on bringing enhanced calling to seven additional smartphones “by the end of this year.”

Ray said the adoption of EVS was a natural progression for T-Mobile, which has shown a steady uptick in VoLTE usage over the past several years. According to the carrier, 27 million of subscribers with VoLTE-enabled phones make 300 million calls a day, or more than half of all calls on the carrier’s network.

Kyle Wiggers
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
OnePlus Nord 5 shows Samsung how to make the perfect Galaxy S25 FE
Rwar shell of the the OnePlus Nord 5.

About three weeks ago, a rather interesting phone landed at my doorstep. It was OnePlus’ latest budget pleaser, which neither falls in the “mid-tier” segment, nor sniffs too close to the flagship summit. Yet, the value it offers at an MSRP of around $400 redefines the whole concept of the class that we often refer to as “budget flagships.” 

The Samsung Galaxy Fan Edition phones are the quintessential definition of this honor, at least for the competition-starved US market. After using the OnePlus Nord 5, I’ve come to the realization that this is what a true Fan Edition phone should look like. One that delivers where it matters, without a confoundingly high price tag slapped on the box. I believe it's a recipe for Samsung to emulate for its next Fan Edition phone.

Read more
I’m excited for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but it could let us down in one area
Google's tipped to deny its most expensive phone a top spec
Someone holding the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, showing the back of the phone.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks set to gain a number of significant upgrades over its predecessor including a larger display, smaller hinge, bigger battery, and improved dust resistance.

The Google Pixel 10 series is tipped to arrive in the coming months - possibly as soon as August - and we're expecting to see a quartet of new devices, including the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Read more
OnePlus 13 owners get a major new AI tool for free
Plus Mind is just the beginning of OnePlus' AI ecosystem
A person holding the OnePlus 13.

Owners of the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R smartphones are receiving a software update which includes a significant new AI feature.

OnePlus has started to roll out its Plus Mind AI tool to 13 and 13R handsets around the world, giving users the ability to receive intelligently suggesting actions while also storing the information for you to search through at a later date.

Read more