VoIP Vs VoLTE: Understanding Differences and Similarities

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) are two voice technologies that have been around for a while. Both of them offer users a cost-effective and efficient way to make phone calls.

However, businesses looking to adopt either technology may be confused about which one they should choose. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the difference between VoIP and VoLTE. We’ll explore their benefits, drawbacks, and what they mean for your business.

Table of differences between VoIP and VoLTE

What is VoIP

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that converts voice signals into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. It allows you to make voice and video calls through the Internet instead of using traditional mobile and landline phones. VoIP comes with many features such as caller ID, instant messaging, call forwarding, virtual numbers, and more.

Advantages of VoIP callings: 

• Lower Monthly Costs: One of the significant advantages of using VoIP in business communications is that it offers lower monthly costs for domestic and international calls. 

• Complete Portability: VoIP is completely portable and allows you to take calls from anywhere, any device you use. It means you can take VoIP calls using an app on your phone, laptop, or tablet regardless of your location. 

• Better Sound Quality: VoIP offers better sound quality compared to traditional phone systems. With VoIP, you can experience HD voice quality even on long-distance calls. 

Disadvantages of VoIP callings:

• The Need for High-Speed Internet: One of the most significant drawbacks of VoIP calling is that it relies on the Internet. As a result, it’s essential to have a stable and fast internet connection when using VoIP to make phone calls. 

• Limited Location Tracking for Emergency Calls: Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP does not have the same level of location tracking for emergency calls. 

• Latency: Latency is the delay in the time it takes for data packets to travel between endpoints. This can cause poor voice quality during conversations, especially when you are speaking simultaneously.

Related Reading: VoIP advantages and disadvantages

What is VoLTE

VoLTE stands for Voice over Long-Term Evolution and allows voice calls over a 4G LTE network. This means that instead of using the traditional 2G or 3G network, your voice calls will be transmitted over a high-speed LTE network. The result is superior call quality and a smoother calling experience.

Advantages of VoLTE calls: 

• Superior call quality: VoLTE calls render higher-quality voice transmissions compared to traditional cellular calls. With clear sound quality, there are fewer chances of calls dropping or breaking up. 

• Improved coverage and connectivity: VoLTE network technology provides users with better network coverage, even in areas with weak signals. Additionally, it enhances network connectivity by making sure your phone stays connected to the internet when making your calls.

• Faster data: VoLTE calls utilize the 4G network, ensuring faster data speeds and improving multitasking capabilities by allowing simultaneous voice calling and data usage. 

Disadvantages of VoLTE calls: 

• Lack of Network Coverage: One of the primary disadvantages of VoLTE calls is their limited network coverage. The technology is still relatively new, and it requires seamless network connectivity to guarantee good call quality. 

• VoLTE Call Interoperability: Businesses that have VoLTE calls enabled on their devices may find it challenging to communicate with other devices with different network configurations.

• Cost Implications: The implementation of VoLTE technology can be costly, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. Switching from traditional circuit-switched calls to VoLTE calls may require updating existing infrastructure, which can be expensive.

10 Differences between VoIP and VoLTE

Now let’s explore the differences between VoIP and VoLTE and help you choose the right phone technology for your business.

1/ Technology: VoIP is a phone technology that enables voice calls through the internet, whereas VoLTE is a network technology that allows voice calls over a 4G LTE network.

2/ Call Quality: VoIP offers high-quality sound but is often dependent on the quality of the internet connection. VoLTE is designed to provide high-quality HD voice calls over a 4G LTE network, regardless of your location.

3/ Availability: VoIP is available globally and can be utilized on a variety of devices, such as smartphones and laptops. VoLTE, on the other hand, is only available on 4G LTE networks.

4/ Cost: VoIP is more cost-effective than traditional phone lines and typically offers unlimited domestic calls and in some cases international calls. VoLTE may incur additional charges for data usage, depending on your plan.

5/ Reliability: VoIP is reliant on an internet connection, which can be disrupted by power outages and poor signal strength. VoLTE is more reliable as it uses a dedicated network that prioritizes voice calls over data.

6/ Compatibility: VoIP is compatible with various devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. VoLTE is only compatible with 4G LTE-capable smartphones.

7/ Security: VoIP is known for its robust security features and encryption capabilities. VoLTE utilizes security features such as authentication and encryption, making it a secure communication tool for business.

8/ Features: VoIP offers advanced features such as call waiting, call routing, and auto-attendant. VoLTE offers advanced features such as video calling and group messaging.

9/ Purpose: VoIP is primarily used as an affordable communication tool for businesses. VoLTE is mainly used to provide high-definition voice calling on the go.

10/ Battery life: VoIP uses the device’s battery to maintain a stable connection, reducing battery life. VoLTE uses a dedicated network for voice calls, enabling longer battery life than VoIP.

What are the similarities between VoIP and VoLTE?

Voice over Internet Protocol and Voice over Long-Term Evolution are both technologies that enable voice communication over digital networks, and they share several similarities. Here are some common features between VoIP and VoLTE:

1/ Data transmission: The primary similarity between VoIP and VoLTE is that data is transmitted over the internet. The two technologies use IP to transfer data, allowing for the simultaneous transfer of voice, text, and video.

In comparison, traditional phone systems use analog signals to transfer data, making them incompatible with digital devices. The advantages of using VoIP and VoLTE for data transmission are speed, scalability, and flexibility.

2/ Audio Quality: Both VoIP and VoLTE use codecs to compress voice data. These codecs reduce the bandwidth needed to transmit data, resulting in clearer, more consistent audio quality. Typically, codecs modify the data stream in ways that remove redundant information while retaining the essential data that should be sent.

This feature is achieved through various algorithms such as G.711, G.729, or OPUS. These algorithms compress the audio stream on one end and then decompress it on the other end. This feature results in improved audio quality for VoIP and VoLTE calls.

3/ Feature sets: VoIP and VoLTE are structured to support advanced features that enhance the user experience. For instance, both services may offer voicemail to email transcription, call forwarding, as well as video conferencing.

Furthermore, the two technologies can be integrated with other software solutions such as CRMs and virtual non-public branch exchange (PBX) systems. These features allow for clear communication, improve efficiency, and promote collaboration.

What is the difference between VoIP and VoWiFi?

To understand the differences between VoIP and VoWiFi, it’s important to understand how they work. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that transmits analog voice signals in a digital data format over a local network or the Internet.

VoWiFi, on the other hand, is a method of sending and receiving phone calls over a wireless internet connection instead of using a cellular network. 

One of the biggest differences between the two communication methods is the quality of sound. VoIP transmits a higher range of sound frequencies than traditional phone lines, which results in better call quality.

In contrast, VoWiFi call quality is dependent on the strength and quality of the wireless connection. This makes it a less reliable option, especially in areas with weak internet connectivity.

Another significant difference between VoIP and VoWiFi is the hardware required. VoIP requires specific hardware and software to transmit and receive calls. This can include desk phones, computers, and various types of software.

VoWiFi, on the other hand, only requires a mobile phone and a wireless internet connection. This makes VoWiFi a more cost-effective and convenient solution for personal communication, however, it is limited in professional settings.

What are the benefits of VoWiFi over VoLTE?

(VoWiFi) and (VoLTE) are both technologies that operate over different types of networks. One of the primary benefits of VoWiFi is improved call quality in areas with weak or no network coverage. In these situations, it is often impossible to make voice calls because the network is either non-existent or too weak.

VoWiFi allows individuals or businesses to make calls using their mobile phones and WiFi, which means that even with weak cellular network coverage, calls can still be made seamlessly. 

Another benefit of VoWiFi is that no additional hardware or software is required to make use of it. To use VoWiFi, you only need a device that is compatible with this technology and a stable WiFi connection. This means that businesses and individuals will not have to invest in extra hardware or software to make use of this service and can arrive at cost savings.

Difference between IMS and VoLTE

IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is a network element that facilitates Voice over LTE (VoLTE) calls in an LTE network. IMS was designed to provide a converged multimedia service platform, including voice, video, messaging, and other multimedia services over an IP network.

It is a core technology that powers Voice over NR (VoNR), RCS (Rich Communication Services), and other IP-based communication services in 5G NR networks.

The key difference between IMS and VoLTE is that IMS is a platform for multimedia services and can offer more than just voice calling. It also offers video calls, messaging, and other enriched media services, while VoLTE is primarily built to support voice calling. IMS works alongside the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) to offer various multimedia communication services and features.

Why use VoIP instead of a cell phone 

When comparing cell phones to VoIP, the pricing of VoIP communication is much more affordable. One of the significant advantages of VoIP services is the opportunity to choose a package that fits your business needs and budget.

With VoIP, you have the flexibility to scale up or down depending on the size of your business, meaning that you can avoid the high costs of purchasing and maintaining a cell phone infrastructure. Additionally, most of the VoIP service providers offer unlimited domestic and international calling at a fixed rate, which means you can avoid expensive long-distance fees.

Additionally, VoIP offers more versatility and flexibility than cell phones. Unlike cell phones, voice-over IP communication can be used from any location, as long as you have an internet connection.

Furthermore, VoIP technology, incorporating Fixed VoIP and Non-Fixed VoIP, can be used on laptops, smartphones, and even desktop computers, giving you the flexibility to work remotely. VoIP also offers software integrations like CRM and other business applications to increase productivity and streamline business operations.

Factors to consider when selecting between VoIP and VoLTE

When deciding between (VoIP) and (VoLTE), several factors should be considered to ensure that the chosen technology aligns with specific requirements and preferences. Here are key factors to consider when selecting between VoIP and VoLTE:

1/ Reliability: Your business communication solution needs to be reliable, meaning that it should be operational whenever needed. In this regard, VoLTE has the advantage since it’s built on a mobile network. VoIP depends on internet connectivity, which is subject to availability fluctuations. Ensure your business’s internet connection is reliable, else VoLTE might be the best solution for your business.

2/ Audio Quality: Both VoIP and VoLTE have high-quality audio. Still, VoLTE is known for its higher sound quality compared to VoIP. This is because VoLTE operates on an LTE network, which carries voice calls with high clarity and nearly zero latency. The audio and voice quality reduction you get over VoIP may frustrate potential customers, so consider this before deciding which platform to use for your business.

3/ Cost: Cost is a critical factor in deciding on the communication solution to adopt for your business. VoIP is considered more affordable compared to VoLTE, primarily because it can use the existing internet connection, making it cheaper to deploy and maintain than VoLTE. With VoLTE, you would need a specific mobile carrier subscription, which could be more expensive. 

4/ Infrastructure: Infrastructure is critical in communications technology, so businesses need to consider it when deciding between VoIP and VoLTE. While VoIP requires minimal infrastructure investment, VoLTE requires advanced mobile network coverage to function. Smaller companies with limited resources may find VoIP more practical and less risky in terms of infrastructure investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1) What are the disadvantages of VoLTE? 

Ans: One of the most significant disadvantages of VoLTE is its limited coverage area. Unlike the traditional 2G/3G network, which has a wider coverage area, VoLTE requires a 4G LTE network for proper functioning. This means that if you are traveling to a rural or remote location without 4G/LTE coverage, you may experience call drops or poor call quality. 

Q2) Can you use VoIP with LTE? 

Ans: Yes, you can use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) with LTE. In fact, VoLTE is a form of VoIP technology specifically designed for use on LTE networks. So if your device and carrier support VoLTE, you can make calls using VoIP over your LTE connection.

Q3) What is VoLTE voice-over IP? 

Ans: Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a technology that allows users to make phone calls using an LTE data network, instead of traditional cellular connections. It uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to transmit voice data over the Internet, providing higher quality and faster connections than traditional.

Q4) Is VoLTE the same as wifi callings?

Ans: No, VoLTE is not the same as Wi-Fi calling. While both technologies use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), they operate on different networks. VoLTE uses an LTE data network, while Wi-Fi calling uses a Wi-Fi network. 

Q5) Should I use VoLTE or LTE? 

Ans: This ultimately depends on your device and carrier support. If both your device and carrier support VoLTE, then it is recommended to use VoLTE for higher quality and faster connections. However, if either one does not support VoLTE, then you will have to use LTE for your phone calls.

Q6) Do you need VoIP for Wi-Fi calling? 

Ans: Yes, you do need Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for Wi-Fi calling. This technology allows voice data to be transmitted over the internet, instead of traditional cellular networks. Without VoIP, it would not be possible to make calls using a Wi-Fi network.  So, to use Wi-Fi calling, your device and carrier must support VoIP technology.