Orange launches HD Voice service for mobiles

Orange has launched a high-definition (HD) voice service which it claims will remove background noise and enhance muffled speech to provide crystal clear calls.

The service works by encoding and transmitting more of the actual speech data being recorded, sending it over the same amount of capacity so that no network upgrades are necessary.

"Much in the same way that broadband technology has evolved to send more data over existing capacity, we have developed the ability to send more voice data," said Andrew Warner, head of mobile voice and messaging products at Orange.

"For workers in numerous industries the technology marks a vast improvement on how voice calls have traditionally sounded, and will allow them to carry out important conversations for longer, wherever they are."

The service will initially be available on four devices from Orange - the Nokia X6, E5 and N5230 and the Samsung OmniPro - but most devices should be updated in time to run the service.

"We've worked with industry standardisation bodies the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and the GSM Association to ensure that codec manufacturers and network operators use the same equipment so that all types of devices will be able to provide HD Voice in the future," said Warner.

Orange is unable to provide any details on other manufacturers with which it is in discussions to carry the new service.

The company claimed that HD Voice will be popular with businesses because it will help to make interactions between staff and clients more natural and straightforward.

"Around 20 per cent of customers say they have lost business because of unclear calls, so a service like this will help remove these issues," said Warner.

Orange launched the service initially in Moldova as part of a new network rollout before undertaking trials in south west England over the past few months.

"Feedback was very positive from those that used the service, with many saying they found it made long calls far more pleasurable," claimed Warner.

HD Voice will be available from today at no extra cost, and Warner expects the technology to become a standard offering on all networks in around two years.