Android Phones
Sprint EVO 4G: No simultaneous voice and data use — yet
March 30, 2010 | by Robert Nelson
Android Phones, Carriers, HTC, Sprint
One of the points that AT&T seems to make abundantly clear when advertising their network is the ability to make a voice call and surf the web at the same time. Lots of people love this ability, and others would go as far as saying that Sprint and Verizon are lacking because they cannot offer this. Personally, I was an AT&T customer for roughly 3 years and used this maybe a handful of times. That said, after the announcement of the Sprint EVO 4G there was some speculation that users would be able to simultaneously use voice and data. And that is something that no other Sprint handset is capable of doing.
Anyway, HTC has come forward and released a statement making it clear, the HTC EVO 4G will not be able to use voice and data at the same time. But that comes with a slight catch, so read on.
“If you’re using 4G for data, you can’t use CDMA for voice. Currently the only way to do simultaneous voice and data would be through a third-party VOIP solution. However, this is not due to strict hardware limitations, so it’s possible this could change with future updates.”
But that said, the nice part here is that they mentioned this is not due to a harwarde limitation, which means that this is something Sprint is limiting and could be changed. Of course, I said could be changed, because while it may not be possible, it may not be likely to happen.
So, voice and data at the same time? Yes, no? Is it important to you?
[via AndroidCentral]
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I am with sprint and have the palm Pre and I use data when talking on the phone.
I'm on sprint too and just realized a week ago that I could talk and surf the web at the same time too. Also note that I was using wifi though (if that makes a difference)-Pre User.
it is not important to me. let me know when the iphone can multitask then we can talk.
okay the i-Phone can multi task now
I dont think being able to use voice and data at the same time is all that big a deal. Android based handsets are already blowing away what the iPhone can do and the EVO will only continue that trend.
I heard the HTC Evo has a tether capability – up to 8 devices, basically setting up your own hotspot or wifi. Can anyone confirm this? This would let me replace my Comcast internet service with a mobile phone. If you can tether, would you be able to surf on a laptop and talk at the same time?
Hi Skitty, I have the EVO and I LOVE IT! I am able to use the internet while I talk on the phone. Right now the only way you can do that is if you are connected by WIFI. To Answer your question, yes you can use the phone to tether. I do it all the time. You can set the phone to allow 8 people to connect to your internet. You can change the amount of people to as little as you want. You have to pay an extra 29 dollars to do this but I think it is cheaper than what I am paying for my internet through windstream. The internet is as fast as my service with windstream. Also, You can still receive phone calls while you have your phone connected to your computer. It does not have to stay connect to your computer. It is really neat what all this phone does. I wish they would have come out with it a lot quicker than they did. I can't put my phone down! You can also cancel the hotspot any time you would like without it changing your contract or anything. I went online through my account and just selected add or make changes and within 2 minutes I had my phone connected and surfing the web on my computer. Hope this helps… Let me know if you have any questions.
Yes you can, but it cost $30 extra a month.
The comments made by HTC's CEO are obviously taken out of context, he was talking about CDMA, not 4G. The other issue is, how well is his English? Sprint is currently in the testing faze of simultaneous voice/data over their NEW 4G network!
It is not a Sprint network limitation… I have used the HTC Touch Diamond and had simultaneoius voice and data. It depends on the Phone OS.
I use a Samsung Moment with an app called PDAnet. I get online free using my laptop and am able to talk on the phone while online
I could never get that to work Larry. How did you get yours to work?
I thought it was a limitation of the CDMA protocol which is why Verizon and Sprint have the issue. Where as GSM implements data differently which allows both on At&T and T-mobile. When I would tether my laptop to my Sprint BB, my VPN connection would drop each time i received a call because the data connection would die.
It is very important to me and hope Verizon gets the hint of me not using ANY minutes and going VOIP instead for this very reason. If I am on a conference call while on the road (happens often) and want to operate the Google Maps GPS outside of the current route, its a no go on a voice call. When on the road and not driving, I often use PDANET but then get disconnected if I get a voice call.
From Sprints official twitter: "Voice+4G= Still TBD, Still being tested" http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint-clarifies-vo… As I've previously commented!
Well you all have to remember that right now very few markets have decent 4g coverage. So if you live outside of 4g coverage you wont be able to do both even if they do figure it out. Right now if you watch your phone you will notice that from time to time it will drop down to Edge. Assuming they figure this out voice and 4G, if you are on a call and using data on a 4g. If it blips down to 3g or edge your data connection will drop. The best solution is to switch to a GSM provider. I'm currently a GSM user but I'm thinking that will change when the EVO is released this summer.
I am a subcontractor for Brighthouse Networks and any equipment that needs to be installed is done through the internet on my phone. Boy would I love to be able to do this while on a call with my office so I could be more efficient at my job!!! Thanks a lot Sprint!!!
Simultaneous voice and data is very important to me; as I too would like to use the navigation systems while on a voice call. It would be brilliant to surf the web while on a call; personally as a Network Engineer this would benefit me as i could perform certain task while on conference calls from remote sites or while on the road. Sprint stop messing around, and converge your network more up to date technology. I can go on with the possibilities; I wonder if sprint ever thought about building their phones with 2 separate channel identifiers; one for data and the other for voice? With QOS and other forms of traffic engineering; this is possible. I doubt this is purely a CDMA band issue.
MY I PHONE 4 HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS AT ALL."Sprint stop messing around, and converge your network more up to date technology"." let me know when the i phone can multitask then we can talk". LETS TALK!! NO PROBLEMS WITH DEATH GRIPS AT ALL !!!
i just bought EVO 4G last week. i tested this phone throughly, sitting hours and hours at sprint store looking at each and every options and features on this phone and Android 2.2. i'm switching from an iPhone hoping that Andrion will take care some of the issues i was having with iphone. it never came to my mind to check simultanious voice and data capibility. it is such common sense capibility that i would never thought that sprint has restriction on this. as a small business owner it is so shamefull to ask customer to hang-up so i can check my email and reply and will call you back. it is sprint or HTC, whoever it is, it's not working out for me. i'm still under a month and can take the phone back and cancel the service. looks like i have to go back to ATT ro Tmobile.
I hear ya, I didn't think of it either and have just gotten the EVO…I will probably return it for the same reason…I am a Realtor and have to be able to access the internet, maps, GPS, etc and use my blackberry, hate the track ball but might go to the new BB that has a touch button…it sucks that Sprint isn't up to this technology and trying to act like the big boy in town…duh! Sprint! get a clue…not to mention the terrible battery on the EVO…what's up with that…I guess we should all go to Verizon, ATT&T for the Iphones till Sprint figures it out…I am returning my EVO this week…It is nice but it isn't going to work for me…
CDMA can't do voice and data at the same time unless you have wifi enabled. You have to have a GSM phone in order to do this.
4G and voice calls are NOW possible Yippie!!!
I have been using 4g and talking on phone at same time from day one and you don't have to use 4g to email and talk at same time
what phone?
Nice post! It's really informative. Thank you for sharing. Well, for me, I would rather choose voice because of my transactions but if both features are possible, it would be great. usedsprintphones