VoWHAT? What is Voice Over tech?

Despite already using the LTE network, my phone provider urged me to upgrade my SIM card (for free), due to the card lacking VoLTE support. That reminded me of a few things.

Let's do a fun little history recap and explain what the Vo stuff is, because I'm bored!

The past

Back in Ye Old Days, telephone networks were manually operated, but eventually switched to mechanically switched signals.

Pulse dialing telephones sent a fixed number of signals per digit, in which the mechanical system translated these into a series of movement to select another endpoint. Lots of clicking!

The retro

Eventually the networks grew, and switched to digital computer systems alongside the use of tone phones. The SS5, SS6, and the later SS7 signalling systems translated these dual tones into a digits or character from A to F.

Cellular

0G -- Yes, there was a "0th" generation, this includes stuff like short-distance radios ("walkie-talkies").

1G -- The first cellular network, or rather, networks. Some countries had their first systems here and there, but it wasn't as major as 2G.

By cellular, the multiple towers make up a "cell" to increase coverage, just like the multiple cells covering your body.

2G, 2.5G, *, 3G

GSM and EDGE networks are what the world ran for at least two decades before being condemned flawed with performance, security, and stability issues.

Ever had a speaker emit a series of beeps with a phone next to it? Haha, yeah, that's because the speaker magnets are catching up the GSM "search" signals.

2.5G (GPRS) was the first network to being able to transmit IP packets (Internet Protocol), which means being able to access the Internet!

4G, 5G

With 4G (LTE) being around for a decade now and 5G attempting to take life, the 2G and 3G networks are being discontinued, alongside all copper wiring.

VoIP

With the invention of the Internet, calls could now be done via the Internet Protocol!

Discord is an extremely famous example of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.

Back then, a famous example used to be Skype, where calls could be done in-between two Skype users for free on your computer, or for a fee, calls could be translated into the phone network (PTSN).

VoLTE

Which brings me here.

Since modern cellular networks now basically use the Internet for calls, older dedicated phone networks are being put down, and all protocols are being switched to IP, at least in North America.

I'm assuming this facilitates management, since now phone services can be setup by basically any form of computer (using Asterisk or something similar, love you Mark Spencer).

VoLTE is basically a term used that the phone modem has supported for Voice over the LTE network, which by itself is technically VoIP.

VoWiFi / VoWLAN

Confusing term, isn't it?

This is basically "VoLTE" over your home network. The "Wi-Fi" part attempting to tell you that you can use your phone, if supported, via the same Internet connection as your computer.

At this point, everything is technically VoIP, but, VoLTE and VoWiFi/VoWLAN are terms used in phone advertisement in an attempt to avoid confusing the market, because current apps that do voice don't use the phone cellular network.

Oh, who am I kidding, I have to keep explaining to my parents what those are.

As a quick recap:

• VoIP: Any software or hardware capable of having a voice over the Internet.
• VoLTE: Voice over any LTE cellular network.
• VoWiFi/VoWLAN: Voice over any Wi-Fi network, for cellular network providers.