MWC 2012: LG demonstrates voice-to-video calls switching technology

The Mobile World Congress event saw some neat products being announced and the most notable one among them was the introduction of quad-core handsets. However, there have been other introductions as well, which could potentially change the way calls are made right now or rather how one can make the most of a call. At the MWC event, LG Electronics successfully demonstrated the world’s first voice-to-video conversion over an LTE network. LG stated that the demonstration, which was based on LG’s proprietary technology, enabled users to switch back and forth between high quality voice and high resolution video call modes during an ongoing telephone conversation. Also demonstrated was a video sharing service, which enables real-time sharing of videos over an LTE network, as they are being recorded.

The future of calling?

Regarding this demonstration, Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, said, “LG will continue to lead in LTE by developing and introducing innovations that consumers can actually experience and benefit from. The LTE sector is advancing at light speed and our voice-to-video conversion technology is in the best position to be adopted industry-wide.”

LG states, “That this LTE voice to video conversion process adheres to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Profile for Conversational Video Service, the industry standard established by the GSMA to govern the delivery of both video and voice data over LTE.” As of now, there are no smartphones from LG’s stable that offer this functionality, but the brand has come forward to state that they will launch these LTE-capable smartphones that are compliant with conversational video service, later this year. LG, however have not specified as to in which quarter of the year, will these handsets be launched.

With the voice-to-video calling capability, one can quickly have the option to switch from a regular voice call to a video call without having the need to cut the call and then having to make a video call. This is a simpler process and one can quickly switch between both calling modes multiple times. 

Let us know your reactions on this neat calling feature that will go mainstream, later on this year.