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What is HD voice (advanced calling) and why you need it for your business

HD voice, also known as advanced calling, is a premium type of audio technology that runs on the LTE (Long Term Evolution) network. At a high level, HD calling provides a larger frequency range, helping to deliver clearer sound and diminish background noise on calls.

 

LTE technology has been around since 2008. It provides network stability for regions with older networks (like 3G), faster speeds, and a higher bandwidth to handle video calls. If you’ve ever looked in the corner of your smartphone when trying to assess your level of available service, you might’ve seen 4G LTE, for example, on your screen.

 

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is the industry standard and agreed-upon evolution of voice service across networks. This technology began rolling out commercially more than 10 years ago. VoLTE and Wi-Fi are examples of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that support HD voice. This feature is available across devices, like mobile phones, and solutions that support VoIP phone services.

Compared to basic or traditional calling, HD calling offers the following benefits:
 
  • Improved audio quality. This technology solution uses a wideband signal that transmits clearer, crisper sound. That means you hear more of what you want and less (think, background noise) of what you don’t.

  • Efficiency in transcription. Equipped with this improved sound quality technology, HD voice makes it easier to pick up a speaker’s words and transcribe them correctly. For example, when you’re leaving someone a voicemail, the transcription feature will more accurately translate voice-to-text messaging.
     
  • Optimized customer service. Using this more advanced communication option, conversations between employees and customers should be more precise, leaving little room for muffled calls or miscommunication.
     
    Because of these benefits, many businesses use HD calling.

HD voice uses a codec, which is a device or computer program that compresses and decompresses media files. For HD voice, this technology is used to compress audio or video for transmission—for example, during a video conference call—resulting in faster speeds and better audio and video quality for both the transmitter and receiver. (More on codecs in the next section.)

 

To better understand HD voice, here are some terms to familiarize yourself with:


 

  • Sampling or sample rate. When audio is digitized from an analog signal, this is the rate at which samples of audio are captured per second, according to The Next Web. This is measured in Hertz (Hz) and, usually, the higher the sampling rate, the higher you can expect your audio quality to be.

  • A bitrate is the amount of audio transferred per second. It’s measured in kilobits per second, or Kbps. A larger bitrate usually translates to better audio quality; however, it also requires a larger amount of data, so it could put stress on your network.

    • VoIP lines require 100 Kbps, whereas a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) supports 64 Kbps (that’s in each direction for both).

 

  • Audio frequency. This spectrum describes the range of sound vibration per second. HD voice audio transmits between 50 Hz and 7 kHz, and sometimes higher (for reference, human voice frequency is between 75 Hz and 14 kHz.), according to Fit Small Business. Wideband, versus narrowband, provides a larger frequency range, meaning that notes—both high and low pitched—can be picked up and transmitted. This results in a more solid, rich quality of audio.

  • A PSTN is a phone system comprised of a circuit-switched telephone network. A PSTN is operated by national, regional, or local telephony operators. This is sometimes referred to as a traditional phone network.

    • A PTSN codec sample rate is 8,000 samples per second versus HD voice, which is 16,000 samples per second.

     

  • A VoIP is technology with hardware and software that enables people to use an IP-based network. Basically, it allows you to make audio or video calls with an internet connection instead of a traditional phone network.

    • VoIP sample rates will vary depending on the type of codec you use, but usually begin at 16,000 samples per second.

As mentioned earlier, HD voice uses a codec, which converts analog sound into a digital data format. The word itself stems from a combination of “compressor” and decompressor” or “coder” and “decoder,” depending on the source. Codecs might include an encoder that compresses a media file and a decoder that decompresses a file, or only one of them.

 

Here are three of the most common types of VoIP codecs:
 

  1. 711. This codec offers good sound quality, but at the expense of a high bandwidth. There is no digital compression, which makes it the choice for a PSTN.

  2. 722 HD. This codec is high definition (wideband). It has a higher sample rate than G.711 and supports HD voice.

  3. 729. This codec has low bandwidth requirements, but average sound quality. Not all VoIP providers support it.
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To establish HD voice calling for your operation, you’ll need the following for a proper setup:
 

  • System and network compatibility. To get the full benefits of HD voice, both parties need to have a VoIP phone network or system compatible with HD calling.

  • High-speed internet. Plus, significant bandwidth—it’s recommended that you have 100 Kbps of data (at least), per line, for a quality VoIP call.
     

  • High-definition You’ll need an HD wideband codec to support HD voice.

And, of course, you need to be in an area with HD voice coverage, too.

 

To further improve your setup, consider investing in a headset or device with noise-canceling technology that helps detect and eliminate background voices and noises, as well.

 

There are many benefits to HD voice. To reiterate some of the points mentioned earlier, the following benefits of advanced calling include:
 

  • Cleaner, richer sound. Achieve more effective communication inside and outside your organization with customers and friends.

  • Better Improve meeting and voicemail transcription accuracy.
     

  • An enhanced customer experience. Help eliminate errors, confusion, and frustration due to poor audio quality when communicating with customers.

 

Additionally, HD voice is available on an array of VoIP phones and apps—no setup required. This wideband technology will also use the best available codec to improve call quality on both sides.

 

In an era of hybrid work, modern and reliable calling solutions are an essential investment for your organization. Learn more about business phone systems, including the features and benefits of a cloud-based system.

 

When considering making the switch to HD voice, you’ll want to take several factors into account. Consider the following when doing your research into advanced calling:
 

  • Technology requirements and capabilities. You’ll want high-speed internet and the capacity for higher data usage to get the most from HD calling. Depending on your budget or location, this might not be attainable.

  • Call and data volume. Calculate how much bandwidth you think you’ll need. For example, depending on your preferred communication styles, you might need more bandwidth to support regular video conferencing, streaming, or gaming.

  • If you’re a business owner, the move to a HD voice system is an investment. You’ll want to consider the overall tiers or plans that best fit you and your budget before committing to this switch.

 

If you’re looking for the only native calling solution for Microsoft Teams, check out Microsoft Teams Phone. This telephony solution reduces costs and improves collaboration by keeping communication in a single, context-rich environment. Learn more in this infographic.

 

HD voice can be a good choice for individuals and businesses alike. HD calling is:
 

 

And, last but certainly not least, it offers a premium audio experience for everyone on your call. Learn how Teams Phone can help your employees collaborate seamlessly, effortlessly switch between devices, and access their apps, tools, message and call history from anywhere in this e-book.

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Business Insights and Ideas does not constitute professional tax or financial advice. You should contact your own tax or financial professional to discuss your situation.

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