Verizon may use Voice over Rev A to placate Apple

The Verizon iPhone may be capable of supporting both voice and data like its AT&T cousin, a tip today says. Verizon is reportedly planning to add Voice over Revision A (VoRA) to its network that would use its EVDO Rev A 3G network to handle voice calls as well as data. Unlike usual CDMA networks, which cuts off 3G when a call comes in, VoRA would behave more like HSPA on phone networks and allow both to run at the same time.

Phones like the BlackBerry Tour, as well as some Sprint phones, already use a somewhat similar technique for push-to-talk over Rev A rather than using aging networks like iDEN.

The technology would be a precursor to Voice over LTE (VoLTE), the technology Verizon will likely need to use soon after phones start reaching its 4G network. While the timing of any possible iPhone wasn't mentioned, the BGR source said that the Apple handset could use VoRA if it ships on or before the time the network upgrade goes live.

Rumors have put mass production of a CDMA iPhone in August or September and could see actual sales start sometime later. If real and accompanied by VoRA, it could juggle data as well as the present-day iPhone and would take away one of the frequently-cited advantages of having the Apple device on AT&T's network. It would also greatly simplify Apple's OS development as it wouldn't have to discourage the use of data in the background.

By Electronista Staff