Why you need HD voice and video calling

Love it or hate it, we’re in a thrilling time for tech right now. Voice and video calling is no exception. Things like AR, AI, and 5G are taking previously impossible concepts out of sci-fi novels and putting them into the palm of your hand.

But in order for those buzzword-laden new tech pitches to work out, there needs to be some foundational technology in place. One of the biggest is HD voice and video calling.

We’re here to explain what that means, how it works, and why you need it to reach new technological heights. We’ll also talk about where you can find the best HD voice and video calling tools for your needs.

Let’s start with the obvious.

What is HD voice and video calling?

HD voice and video calling refers to high-definition audio and visual communication, offering a significant upgrade over traditional calling methods.

Remember HD TV a few years ago, when suddenly we had better cameras making movies and TV shows look so real they seemed to jump off the screen? HD calling is very similar, but has more auditory elements in addition to the visual ones.

With HD calling, users experience clearer, crisper sound and sharper, more detailed video. These enhancements improve the overall communication experience and make for better, more lifelike calls and video chats.

Benefits of HD voice and video calling

HD voice and video calling has a range of perks that make it into an overall better experience than your default voice and video calls.

Superior audio quality

HD voice calling uses wideband audio technology, which captures a broader range of frequencies compared to standard voice calls. Leveraging wideband tech results in more natural-sounding conversations, reducing misunderstandings and improving the clarity of speech. It’s especially fantastic for improving accessibility for those who may be on the Deaf and hard of hearing spectrum, so more people can send and receive calls.

Enhanced video clarity

HD video calling employs high-resolution cameras and efficient video compression technologies to deliver clear, sharp images. This improvement allows participants to see facial expressions and body language more clearly, making virtual meetings more effective and engaging. Again, this is a huge win for accessibility for anyone with low vision.

Reduced background noise

Advanced noise-cancellation features in HD voice technology minimize background noise, ensuring that voices come through clearly even in noisy environments. This improvement makes conversations more pleasant and reduces the strain on users trying to hear each other. Who hasn’t had an experience of repeating themselves several times on a call? Wouldn’t it be nice to skip that entirely?

How HD voice and video calling works

Let’s get a little bit technical. We’ve tracked down the exact specs of most HD calling options out there, so you can understand exactly what you need access to in order to make it work.

Wideband audio technology

HD voice calling uses wideband audio codecs, such as G.722, AMR-WB, and Opus.

These codecs transmit audio signals over a wider frequency range (typically 50 Hz to 7 kHz or higher), compared to narrowband codecs used in traditional calls (300 Hz to 3.4 kHz). This broader range captures more nuances of the human voice, providing a richer audio experience.

High-resolution video codecs

HD video calling relies on advanced video codecs like H.264, H.265 (HEVC, and VP9. These codecs compress video data efficiently, allowing for high-resolution video transmission over the internet without excessive bandwidth usage. They support resolutions such as 720p, 1080p, and even 4K, depending on the network capacity and device capabilities.

Network requirements

To achieve optimal performance in HD voice and video calls, a robust and stable internet connection is a complete non-negotiable. Broadband connections with sufficient bandwidth (at least 1 Mbps for HD video) and low latency (ideally under 100 ms) are recommended.

Additionally, Quality of Service (QoS) settings on routers can prioritize voice and video traffic, reducing the chances of dropped calls and poor quality.

How can you use HD voice and video calling?

There are potentially dozens of applications of HD calling—who doesn’t want to make better phone and video calls—but we’ve highlighted some of the especially notable ones.

Business communication

With more remote and distributed global teams in business now than ever before, HD voice and video calling have become essential tools for businesses. High quality calls enable more productive meetings, clearer presentations, and effective collaboration, regardless of participants' locations. Knowing that you can absolutely trust a call to go through and be understood is a business must for any stakeholder on any project.

Telemedicine

It’s hard to have a telehealth session where your doctor can’t understand what you’re trying to show them. In healthcare, HD video calling facilitates telemedicine services, allowing doctors to conduct virtual consultations with patients. The high-quality video ensures accurate visual assessments, while HD voice enables clear communication, enhancing the overall quality of care.

Education

It’s not just full-time employees who work from home. Students make up a large population of those who operate remotely. HD calling can be a massive benefit, no matter the grade level. Educational institutions leverage HD video calling for virtual classrooms, webinars, and online courses. The improved audio and video quality make remote learning more interactive and engaging, helping students and teachers connect better.

Social interactions

Finally, wouldn’t it just be nice to never have to stress about hearing and seeing everything properly on your next video call? HD voice and video calling enhance personal communication by making virtual interactions feel more like face-to-face conversations. Whether it's staying in touch with family or catching up with friends, the enhanced clarity makes interactions more enjoyable.

Choosing the right HD voice and video calling service

With great tech power comes great infrastructure demands. Unfortunately, not every system can hold up the demands of HD calling. Here’s what, at base, those systems need to function.

Compatibility

If you’re looking for an HD calling service, you’ll first want to ensure that the service supports a wide range of devices. This includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Compatibility with different operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS) is also crucial for seamless connectivity.

Features

Look for services that offer essential features such as call recording, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and integration with other tools (e.g., calendar apps, CRM systems). Advanced features like AI-based noise cancellation and real-time transcription can further enhance the experience.

Security

Security is paramount when choosing an HD calling service. End-to-end encryption, secure data transmission, and compliance with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) are critical factors to consider. Don’t make your calls a security failpoint!

Cost

Finally, evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the service by comparing pricing plans, including any additional fees for premium features. Many providers offer free trials or freemium models, allowing users to test the service before committing.

Popular HD voice and video calling services

So which tools can meet those needs? We’ve pulled together five options - many of which you probably already know - to show you the best choices on the market today.

Telnyx

Telnyx is a tool built specifically for HD calling, and our biggest differentiator is our HD voices codecs.

Remember above, when we mentioned that the most effective way to make HD calls is wideband streaming? While most other calling services only offer up to 8kHZ, Telnyx offers double that: 16kHz. This is the amount you need to be able to enable media streaming for AI. So if you’re interested in using or offering cutting-edge calling tech, you’ll need something this robust.

Zoom

A household name post-pandemic, Zoom is renowned for its high-quality video and audio, making it a top choice for businesses and educational institutions. It offers a range of features, including virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and robust security measures.

Microsoft Teams

If you’re using Microsoft product lines as your default, you’ll likely find that you need to work within that ecosystem for calling, too. Microsoft Teams integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office applications, providing a comprehensive solution for business communication. It supports HD voice and video calling, file sharing, and collaboration tools.

Google Meet

Google Meet is a reliable option for HD video calling, particularly for users within the Google ecosystem. It offers easy integration with Google Calendar and Gmail, along with features like screen sharing and real-time captions.

Skype

Though no longer the wide-use default it was ten years ago, Skype remains a popular choice for personal and business use, offering HD voice and video calling, instant messaging, and file sharing. It supports various devices and provides end-to-end encryption for secure communication.

Future trends in HD voice and video calling

Remember when we said that HD calling is the basis for many of the biggest upcoming things in tech? We meant it. Here are just three of the biggest technical revolutions that HD calling supports.

Artificial intelligence

The buzziest of buzz terms, AI is truly everywhere right now—and for good reason. It offers ways to revolutionize all elements of tech. In this arena, AI-powered features such as real-time language translation, virtual meeting assistants, and advanced noise cancellation are set to revolutionize HD calling. These innovations will enhance user experience and make communication more accessible and efficient.

5G technology

The rollout of 5G networks promises faster, more reliable internet connections, which will significantly improve the quality of HD voice and video calls. The increased bandwidth and reduced latency of 5G will enable smoother, higher-resolution video communication.

Virtual and augmented reality

More than just a walking phone game these days, AR and VR are hugely dependent on HD calling and video capabilities. Integrating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into HD video calling can create immersive communication experiences. Users will be able to interact in virtual environments, making remote meetings and social interactions more engaging.

Are you making your next voice or video call HD?

HD voice and video calling represent a significant leap forward in communication technology, offering clearer, more natural conversations and sharper video quality. As these technologies continue to evolve, they’ill play an increasingly vital role in various sectors, from business and healthcare to education and personal communication.

If you’re looking for the support you need to offer the best video and audio calls available today, you’ll need Telnyx. Only Telnyx offers the wideband streaming support that cutting-edge advancements demand.