PagePlus in a VoLTE world? (Verizon to force VoLTE by 2014?)

**monkeyboy** · 05-30-2012, 11:45 PM

Stumbled on this article...

Verizon's Melone: There is no rush for VoLTE

"We're optimistic and bullish but we're not rushing it. We will enable it in 2012," he said. "My view is there is no reason to force customers to it." He said for a certain time period Verizon will allow customers to use VoLTE with Rich Communication Suite (RCS) as well as traditional CDMA voice to allow them to get used to the idea of voice being an application. He said that later in 2013 and into 2014, Verizon may begin to offer VoLTE as its only voice offering.

funny notion... "no rush", BUT "into 2014" Verizon may make VoLTE its *only* voice offering...

That seems alot faster than I had originally understood (the transition to VoLTE and presumptive shutting down of CDMA). So where does that leave PagePlus? And does Verizon really think that within 2-3 years EVERYONE (of its customers, direct and wholesale), will ditch their old phones and buy new VoLTE phones?

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...lte/2012-05-30

**meow79** · 05-31-2012, 12:30 AM

Wow. Can you explain what changes that would bring? More expensive phones and? I got 3 palm pixi + because they were a good deal and will set them up. I am new to PPC. I guess it's good we are no contract so I can change in 2 years if I want. I will be happy when my ppc phone rings and my at&t is disconnected!

**monkeyboy** · 05-31-2012, 12:43 AM

well, if it is true that VoLTE will be the ONLY voice choice on Verizon in 2014... it would mean all CDMA phones would be useless for voice, text, etc. half a billion phones would become useless...

**icebook** · 05-31-2012, 01:00 AM

He said that later in 2013 and into 2014, Verizon may begin to offer VoLTE as its only voice offering.

I take that to mean the only offering for new customers and people who upgrade.

If the start of the phase in is 2013 then you're looking at a 3-4 year span (at the very least) before they'd make it a requirement for active customers using CDMA handsets. On top of that I wouldn't rule out them keeping a CDMA voice network running for various reasons one of them possibly being a contractual obligation with other carriers they have roaming agreements with.

ATT had their TDMA network running somewhere in the area of 6 years after they went to GSM
That's a huge window for Verizon to decide how to proceed with their MVNOs

**meow79** · 05-31-2012, 01:27 AM

I have seen LTE in articles online, but never paid attention (and I can't post links). Read a few more articles and most had old dates. So basically it's 4g. It's actually not a surprise to me that they are forcing people to give up 3g just like they are trying to force everyone onto smart phones. And this all probably has something to do with the plam pixi plus being so cheap. We are all going to be forced onto 4g. I don't agree with it, but it looks like metro pcs, at&t, tmobile and sprint are all on their way too, so it won't matter because they will all require it.

"Increasingly, carriers are going to continue to shift from a time-based subscription model to one that is purely based on data." (What Is 4G? A FAQ On Next Generation Wireless). Hence me getting my feet wet with a smartphone. It's all connected I think. If it actually benefits us the customers with better calling quality (like they say) then it won't bother me so much. I still feel really bad for the person paying $60 for the flip phone because they refuse to get a smartphone. Those customers will be upset. Not only will they be forced to give up their fav phones, they will also have to get used to a completely new world. My grandparents fall into this category. If they are really planning on plopping that on everyone without warning (because that's how it will feel to those customers) I hope they start warning them now. "Hey, in 2014 you will be forced to get a 4g LTE phone. Plan accordingly." I would imagine they will honor contracts, but you are right. Probably a sudden shift for PPC (and ST).

**meow79** · 05-31-2012, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by icebook

I take that to mean the only offering for new customers and people who upgrade.

If the start of the phase in is 2013 then you're looking at a 3-4 year span (at the very least) before they'd make it a requirement for active customers using CDMA handsets. On top of that I wouldn't rule out them keeping a CDMA voice network running for various reasons one of them possibly being a contractual obligation with other carriers they have roaming agreements with.

ATT had their TDMA network running somewhere in the area of 6 years after they went to GSM
That's a huge window for Verizon to decide how to proceed with their MVNOs

Opps, I type slow. Thank you for your reply.

It all sounds good to me.

**RShea** · 05-31-2012, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by meow79

I have seen LTE in articles online, but never paid attention (and I can't post links). Read a few more articles and most had old dates. So basically it's 4g. It's actually not a surprise to me that they are forcing people to give up 3g just like they are trying to force everyone onto smart phones. And this all probably has something to do with the plam pixi plus being so cheap. We are all going to be forced onto 4g. I don't agree with it, but it looks like metro pcs, at&t, tmobile and sprint are all on their way too, so it won't matter because they will all require it.

"Increasingly, carriers are going to continue to shift from a time-based subscription model to one that is purely based on data." (What Is 4G? A FAQ On Next Generation Wireless). Hence me getting my feet wet with a smartphone. It's all connected I think. If it actually benefits us the customers with better calling quality (like they say) then it won't bother me so much. I still feel really bad for the person paying $60 for the flip phone because they refuse to get a smartphone. Those customers will be upset. Not only will they be forced to give up their fav phones, they will also have to get used to a completely new world. My grandparents fall into this category. If they are really planning on plopping that on everyone without warning (because that's how it will feel to those customers) I hope they start warning them now. "Hey, in 2014 you will be forced to get a 4g LTE phone. Plan accordingly." I would imagine they will honor contracts, but you are right. Probably a sudden shift for PPC (and ST).

4g vs 3g has NOTHING to do with talk in the traditional sense of the usage, that is data usage only. A 4G LTE phone is still today using CDMA for the talk side of things. What they are proposing to do is move away from CDMA talk to the newer VoLTE. And as stated here it would be similar to the switch over from TDMA or like. It would be a period of time where they would have to maintain both but at a certain point any new phone activated would have to be the new VoLTE. They question would be what is the window of time that any older phone would be allowed still on the CDMA and if PagePlus would activate the CDMA phones longer than Verizon or if they would be starting to require the new handsets.

**Pabster** · 05-31-2012, 02:00 PM

VoLTE is going nowhere fast. It will come, but not any time soon. Verizon is spending enough on LTE and will milk all they can from the old EVDO before they even begin anything more than "trials" of VoLTE.

Also, even when they do eventually go VoLTE (And 2014 is probably late 2014 at best) the older network won't be retired immediately. It may still be a cash cow, and they'll milk every cent they can.

**Marty913** · 05-31-2012, 03:00 PM

I agree the transition will last several years for Verizon (perhaps a lot less for other providers trying to free up spectrum for LTE). Wireless Week mentioned that "Verizon, by comparison, doesn't plan to introduce the technology until next year, with VoLTE as the only voice solution on some devices" in 2014. I assume that to mean data intensive devices (iPhone 7/8 anyone) - of course almost all new phones in 2014 will be data intensive. Since most people trade in their phones every 2-3 years and generally don't care how their voice gets from one place to another, I suspect it will be a non-event.

**spdracer5g** · 05-31-2012, 04:53 PM

As far as I know There isn't a single vendor in the United States currently offering Voice Over LTE service today, I have no doubt that it is in use for test purposes, but as of today it is not being offered at a retail level to anybody.

There is still a fair amount of the Verizon network that has no LTE service whatsoever.

A 2014 Z date to turn down the last CDMA customer in favor of a technology that isn't even in stores today is insane. It will take several years just to get the entire Verizon network equipped for LTE, and until that happens CDMA will still be needed to service a large number of customers. I couldn't even imagine Verizon offering LTE only phones until the network is well over 90% LTE equipped.

Verizon has worked very hard to earn the reputation they have regarding their robust network, putting out phones that only work in major cities and along major interstates would kill that reputation. Who in their right mind would pay what Verizon charges if they had coverage no better than Sprint?

**monkeyboy** · 06-01-2012, 12:58 AM

Melone, in fact, said that by 2013 Verizon will have an LTE network nearly as ubiquitous as its CDMA footprint, allowing it to offer its first phones without a CDMA chip since Verizon’s birth. As it moves more of its voice traffic to LTE, Verizon can start shutting down parts of its CDMA network to clear spectrum for future mobile brand service, Melone said.

surprised that its coming this fast...

**fraydog** · 06-01-2012, 01:01 AM

VoLTE on VZW would NOT affect any prepaid customers for quite a long time.

No worries guys.

**vey9** · 06-01-2012, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by meow79

I still feel really bad for the person paying $60 for the flip phone because they refuse to get a smartphone. Those customers will be upset. Not only will they be forced to give up their fav phones, they will also have to get used to a completely new world. My grandparents fall into this category.

Somebody needs to make up a ROM to dumb down the phones for old folks.

**meow79** · 06-02-2012, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by vey9

Somebody needs to make up a ROM to dumb down the phones for old folks.

That sounds like a good idea. I think overall they would prefer to keep their fav old phones around though. Instead they overcharge them, like jitterbug. Great idea, but just too expensive for many seniors.