AT&T VoLTE video calling, RCS messaging support limited to just a pair of Samsung devices
UPDATED: Story updated to clarify billing for Advanced Messaging service.
AT&T Mobility over the weekend pushed a slew of LTE-based advanced services to select customers, including messaging, enhanced rich communication services and voice-over-LTE video calling.
The VoLTE video launch builds on AT&T Mobility’s past VoLTE service launch, which began in mid-2014. The video service is said to allow customers with compatible devices – currently just the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, with more said to be on the way – and in AT&T Mobility’s LTE coverage to conduct video calls. Customers can initiate the call as a video call or switch between regular voice calls and the video session.
Video calls use both voice and data, which are billed separately under a customer’s current rate plan. The service is presently only available to postpaid subscribers.
AT&T Mobility said the VoLTE video calling service supports handoffs from sessions initiated in a cellular connection that then sees a customer move to a Wi-Fi connection, although that session will continue to need cellular access to maintain the call.
The RCS service is designed to allow customers to send larger files via text message, see when that message is delivered, when it’s read and when the person is typing a reply – similar to instant messaging applications from Apple’s iMessage and over-the-top providers. The AT&T Mobility version is currently only available on the Samsung S5 Mini and Galaxy S6 Active devices to postpaid customers within AT&T Mobility’s coverage area. Customers using the service will have messages deducted from their rate plans if not on an unlimited plan.
To access the VoLTE video calling and RCS messaging services, customers must download a software update to their device, with AT&T Mobility stating notifications on those updates will be sent to qualified customers.
AT&T Mobility’s VoLTE launch nipped just ahead of a broader deployment from T-Mobile US, which has since expanded across that carrier’s full network. T-Mobile US in July launched its RCS-powered messaging service, which includes one-on-one and group messaging that is conducted in “near” real-time; the ability to see when others are typing; when a message is delivered and read; the ability to share high-resolution photos and videos up to 10 megabytes in size; and works “across all devices, makers and operating systems – and wireless operators.”
T-Mobile US has been the most aggressive domestic operator in terms of working with RCS, having inherited work done by MetroPCS, which was the first domestic operator to launch an RCS-powered messaging service in 2012. RCS has seen greater acceptance among mobile operators in Europe, which has tapped into the GSMA’s Joyn initiative. Analysts have been predicting stronger uptake of RCS for some time, although timing has been questionable.
Verizon Wireless announced its network-wide VoLTE launch in September 2014, coinciding with the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6 models that were the first from the devicemaker to support VoLTE. However, Apple devices still do not support carrier-based VoLTE video services, instead relying on the devicemaker’s proprietary FaceTime video calling service.
Sprint remains a laggard in launching VoLTE, although the carrier has said it is working on its own solution. Sprint has put greater emphasis on its voice-over-Wi-Fi calling features.
AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless announced in late 2014 plans to work on cross-carrier VoLTE interoperability, though so far there has been little public comment on progress. T-Mobile US did say it was also working with those carriers to further interoperability.
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