HD voice calls use wide-frequency range codecs to compress audio signals and filter background noise, drastically improving VoIP call quality. HD calls are typically made using an internet connection (e.g., over 5G, 4G, or WiFi), but they can also be made via Bluetooth.
While we understand a little about what this implies for us as a user, have you ever wondered how these calls are actually made?
How Does It Work?
Audio frequencies are responsible for producing sound and determining its quality. For instance, a high frequency will produce a high pitch. Your ears can actually pick up sound within a range between 75 Hz to 14 kHz and the HD voice calls cover a significant range of this spectrum – from 50 Hz to 7 kHz. This allows for clearer sounds with less background noise.
During an HD call the process of sampling takes place. This means that analogue voice signals are converted into a digital form, while the rate at which this takes place is referred to as the sampling rate. Traditional telephone systems use a sampling rate of 8,000 times per second which can be adequate for most purposes, but high definition calling samples at 16,000 times per second, drastically elevating the sound quality. The increase in sampling rate allows for more nuances of the voice to be captured, resulting in a more natural-sounding conversation.
What Technology Is Used for HD Voice Calls?
Here’s what you’ll need to get it all set up:
1. HD Voice Codecs
Codecs improve calls by using a higher sampling rate to compress and decompress audio files for transmission, and a modest bitrate to reduce bandwidth requirements. The G.711, G.722, G.729, SILK, EVS, and Opus are common examples of high-definition codecs supported by most VoIP providers.
2. HD Voice Handset Acoustics
Support for active noise-canceling tech is becoming increasingly common amongst newer VoIP hardware devices. This trend is particularly important, since everyone on the call needs a compatible device. Today, most phones support a range of high-definition codecs and when used together with noise-canceling VoIP headphones, produce an even clearer conversation with minimal background noise.
3. Fast Internet Connection
High-definition calling uses more data than normal phone calls and can quickly eat up your bandwidth allowance if you’re on a limited data plan. Having at least 100 kbps of bandwidth per customer service agent or device is important to avoid dropped connections and choppy audio.
Most internet connections can support this bandwidth requirement, but things can start to get iffy when multiple people try to use the same connection for different purposes. Investing in a VoIP router can help prioritize HD voice calls on the connection and improve bandwidth by compressing the data sent over the network, resulting in higher-quality sounds.
Benefits of HD Voice Calling
Here’s why this can be a convenient option for you:
1. Accurate Voicemail Transcriptions
With upgraded codecs that cover a wider frequency range and help to capture the subtleties of speech – makes the current transcription technologies a lot more accurate when dealing with raw voicemails. This is particularly important for large businesses handling a lot of real-time voicemail transcriptions.
2. Optimal Bandwidth Usage
HD voice calling offers optimal quality using minimal resources, automatically upgrading to the highest-quality codec for all devices on a call. This promotes efficiency in bandwidth usage, making the calls more cost-effective.
3. Better Customer Service
HD voice calls are also a game changer for customer service. Crystal clear call quality results in less miscommunication and fewer frustrated customers. Nobody likes to repeat themselves twice. Plus, the conversation all in all becomes more pleasant as the background noise is eliminated almost entirely.
4. No Additional Setup
Most phones and VoIP PBX systems now come preinstalled with a range of high-definition audio codecs and active noise cancellation features, so there’s no need for any extra setup as long as all phones on a call can support HD voice.
Final Words
With the rapid tech developments, it can be easy to divert our attention to fancy, sophisticated tools to improve our call center operations, but the truth is – the devil is in the details. This is why it is crucial to understand the basics of HD calling and how it functions to ensure that the most basic elements of successful customer experience are satisfied. Only then you should layer up with more advanced call management features. For more resources on call quality and VoIP check out VoIP-Security.Net.org.
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