Verizon iPhone 5 Will Not Offer Simultaneous Voice and Data [Update: It Was A Hardware Decision]

Thursday September 13, 2012 3:53 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
NewImageThe Verge has confirmed that the Verizon version of the iPhone 5 will not support simultaneous voice and data.

The AT&T iPhone has supported simultaneous talk and data since the iPhone 3G was released because of the GSM network it uses.

Verizon gave this statement to MacRumors:
iPhone 5 was designed to allow simultaneous voice calling on the Verizon Wireless network while browsing the Internet over WiFi. This is no different from the current iPhone 4S.
Sprint has not yet confirmed whether its iPhone 5 will support simultaneous voice and data, but it uses the same physical hardware as the Verizon iPhone. The Verge assumes that it will be behave the same way.

Update: According to The New York Times, it was Apple's choice to prevent Sprint and Verizon phones from using both LTE data and voice on simultaneously. Because the LTE network only supports data and not voice, Apple would have to add a third antenna to the iPhone 5 to allow both LTE data and CDMA voice together.

An Apple spokeswoman told The Times, "It is not yet possible to do simultaneous voice and data on networks that use CDMA for voice and LTE for data in a single radio design."

From the Times:
So why does Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S III, a 4G LTE phone, juggle calls and data? Samsung added an extra antenna so that it pulls data from the 4G LTE network at the same time that it’s using another antenna to do voice, said Anand Shimpi, editor in chief of AnandTech.

Then why didn’t Apple add another antenna? It actually already has two antennas in an effort to improve reception, and it would have had to add a third antenna just for Verizon and Sprint phones to give them simultaneous data and calls, Mr. Shimpi explained. Leaving that third antenna out allows Apple to simplify its manufacturing process of the iPhone for multiple carriers. Plus, in the next two years the 4G LTE network is supposed to evolve to support voice calls, which would render another antenna unnecessary later.


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Caliber26
97 months ago
That really sucks. It would definitely be a deal-breaker for me if I were considering them as a carrier. People can bash AT&T all they want but I have never had bad customer service, billing problems, or issues with my voice or data failing me. I guess I'm one of the lucky few.
Rating: 38 Votes
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GfPQqmcRKUvP
97 months ago
That statement by their PR department is laughable. Just answer the question in a straight-forward manner. No need to twist it around.
Rating: 23 Votes
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nikhsub1
97 months ago
I will NEVER go with Verizon without simultaneous voice and data - what a JOKE! I feel bad for everyone on that network.
Rating: 19 Votes
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walkejos
97 months ago
Ha!

Seriously??? I was all ready to switch to Verizon, but this is a dealbreaker for me. No voice and data together means no switch for me. I guess I'll have to endure AT&T's **** voice service for another 2 years.
Rating: 19 Votes
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einmusiker
97 months ago
My thunderbolt on VZW is a year and a half old hardware and does simultaneous voice/data. This is a complete joke
Rating: 18 Votes
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WhoDaKat
97 months ago
Thats hilarious. No Verizon for me. I'm on speaker and messing with the net all the time! Weaksauce.
Rating: 14 Votes
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mathcolo
97 months ago
Why is this? On my Verizon Galaxy Nexus, when I have a 4G LTE connection, I can access the internet and be in a call with the CDMA radio at the same time. How does the iPhone 5 not work like that as well?
Rating: 14 Votes
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bidwalj
97 months ago

Ahh I knew there was a reason I was stuck to AT&T besides the unlimited data plan.....

I use this quite often. Hopefully in another 2 years when all the contracts on my family plan are up, Verizon will support this feature.


Not a verizon issue anymore, this time its an apple issue. Only the iphone 5 doesnt support this. Every other LTE phone allows you to do this.
Rating: 13 Votes
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davidbrummy
97 months ago
Well at least in the Bay Area on Verizon you can make and receive calls which is more than you can do on AT&T.
Rating: 9 Votes
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ghostface147
97 months ago

Seriously??? I was all ready to switch to Verizon, but this is a dealbreaker for me. No voice and data together means no switch for me. I guess I'll have to endure AT&T's **** voice service for another 2 years.


Same for me, except I am not unhappy with their network. I was going to jump, but no simultaneous voice and data kills that chance.
Rating: 9 Votes

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