One of the leading advocates for mobile HD Voice services, France Telecom Orange, has reported that over 90 per cent of its subscribers were satisfied after using the service.
The company also confirmed that its French 3G network was now able to support HD Voice services, and announced the addition of six new handsets supporting the technology to its sales portfolio.
Of note, Orange said that mobile HD Voice (which is claimed to reduce background noise and provide a more natural sound) was sufficiently attractive to consumers that 86 per cent of them would look for handsets supporting the service when purchasing a new device. The company said that over 70 per cent of those that had tested HD Voice would be prepared to change mobiles to obtain access to the service.
While Orange now supports HD Voice in France, the UK, Spain (Catalonia region only), Belgium, Egypt (Cairo only today, nationwide next year), Moldova and Armenia, it has plans to extend coverage to Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Dominican Republic next year.
The GSA, the cellular industry suppliers body, said that over 10 mobile networks now supported HD Voice and more were expected in the coming months.
Alan Hadden, president of GSA, said: "HD Voice on mobile networks is taking off around the world. Several more operators are trialling or deploying the HD Voice feature on their networks. There is also a good choice and availability of HD Voice-capable phones already on the market today."
The new HD Voice handsets from Orange include the Nokia N8 and E5, the Samsung Omnia 7 and B7350, the LG-A310 as well as the HTC Desire HD.
For more:
- see this Web Wire article
- see this My Broadband article
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