Categories: NewsTelco

Maxis to launch Voice over LTE in 2020

As we’ve covered previously, Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a significant feature that all telcos should enable before we move on to 5G. Not only it offers better voice call quality but it lets you stay connected at 4G at all times even when there’s an incoming call. If you’re a Maxis customer, the green telco has confirmed that they are targeting to launch the HD voice call feature sometime in 2020.

From what we understand from Digi and Celcom, VoLTE is required to enable voice calls and number sharing for the Apple Watch. Since Maxis will be offering the Apple Watch Series 5 with LTE very soon, we’ve reached out to them to find if they are enabling VoLTE for the watch. Maxis has responded with the following statement:

While the Apple Watch supports VoLTE, voice calls can still be enabled without it. Importantly, with our Apple Watch offering, we are providing Always On connectivity where customers can call, text and access mobile data on the Apple Watch even without their iPhones with them. Meanwhile, we are targeting to launch VoLTE sometime next year.

In summary, VoLTE won’t be enabled for the Apple Watch on Maxis at the moment but they assure that you can still make voice calls, send and receive messages, and access data without your iPhone next to you.

The Apple Watch Series 5 LTE will be offered via its Zerolution program on the 13th December 2019. We don’t have their monthly instalment plan details just yet and if you’re interested, you’ll have to sign up at its selected Maxis stores. Apart from the Apple Watch, Maxis will also offer iPad (WiFi + Cellular) models on the Zerolution instalment program.

At the moment, Yes, Digi, U Mobile and Unifi Mobile are currently offering VoLTE to its customers. As we’ve discovered recently, Celcom will be enabling VoLTE on their network very soon but it will be exclusive to customers that sign up for its NumberShare subscription. NumberShare is a feature which allows your Apple Watch cellular edition to share the same mobile number and data as your primary postpaid line. It costs RM15/month and they are offering it for free for the first 6 months.