Here at Three we’re always looking for ways to improve our customer’s experience on our network. Whether it’s all-you-can-eat data, one month rolling contracts or 4G technology.
By now some of you may have heard about (and experienced!) High Definition voice calls and we’re really excited that it’s now been rolled out on Three. You have to hear it to believe it, but the difference in call quality is pretty amazing, almost completely eliminating background noise.
We launched HD voice calls onto our network at the end of May and we’ve already had some great feedback.
The technology, which is currently only available on 3G networks, dramatically improves the quality and clarity of voice calls, making it easier to hear the person you’re talking to.
This service is the first step-change in voice quality to hit mobile users since the introduction of digital technology, and it’s free on our network.
Hundreds of thousands of HD calls have already been made on Three since we completed the rollout, and we’re expecting that figure to continue to rise.
The technology works by opening up the phone’s audio range, allowing it to capture and transmit sounds across a wider band of frequencies making HD Voice calls sound clearer and more natural compared to a standard mobile or land line call.
There are three phones on Three that already come with HD voice enabled. So for those of you that have a Nokia C7, E7 or N8 you may have already experienced HD voice calls. Many other phones will support the technology by the end of this autumn, including for example the Nokia X7.
As HD voice calls are still new to us they’re only available between people on the Three network, and both the caller and the receiver need to have an HD Voice equipped phone. We are also looking to roll out cross-operator calls in the future. As soon as we can let you know more on this, we will.
Let us know if any of you have experienced a HD Voice call yet 
79 Responses to HD Voice calls launched on Three.
Moderator: Nicki 27/02/2013
@Simon P – Hi, as the iPhone is unbranded HD voice will indeed work with the iPhone 5.
Simon P 26/02/2013
And what is my answer to the real question re my apple bought iPhone 5?
Moderator: Johanna 26/02/2013
@Simon P – Oops, not sure what happened there! We are indeed still offering HD Voice on a growing number of devices!
Simon P 25/02/2013
Eh? But this blog is about the launch of HD voice?!!!! So are you saying that Three has now stopped doing it all together??!
Ellie 25/02/2013
@Simon – Hi Simon, I have responded to your previous post on HD voice.
Ellie 25/02/2013
@Simon – Hi there, I’m afraid we can’t track this request ID from here. HD voice isn’t something that we’re offering at the present time, we’ll be sure to let our customers know if this changes in future.
Simon 24/02/2013
Further to my question, I asked support (tracking ref A00007407859-00021634562) and I gave up talking to the techy. He knew nothing of HD voice. Three really could make capital of this but it seems to limit it to phones purchased from Three themselves???
Simon 24/02/2013
Your website states that a phone needs to originate from Three (http://www.three.co.uk/Discover/Network/What_is_HD_Voice) so does that mean my iphone 5 bought from apple direct won’t work with HD voice on Three??? Seems bizarre as the phone should be the same. Can you confirm if your website is correct please. Very disappointing if true. Thanks, Simon
Ellie 02/11/2012
@Tom – Yes we do, these devices are:
Nokia Asha 300
Nokia Asha 302
Nokia C3-01
Nokia C7
Nokia E7
Nokia N8
Nokia X7
Tom 01/11/2012
Do you offer any Nokia mobiles that support HD Voice at the moment?
Ros 18/09/2012
@James Body – Indeed it will
James Body 18/09/2012
What about the iPhone 5? Will that support HD Voice on the 3UK network when I get my shiny new iPhone on Friday?
Moderator: Lauren 17/09/2012
@Matthew – in order to use HD voice, you’ll need to have a compatible phone on Three and same with the recipient, which may have been what happened to you previously.
Matthew 14/09/2012
Firstly, thanks for pushing technology forwards! It’s great news about HD Voice. Mobiles have needed better quality for a while. Glad to see you making it happen.
I swear I had an HD Voice call 2 months back as I had a call with unexpectedly high sound quality. Since I wasn’t expecting it, it weirded me out a bit at the time. It was too clear for a phone call.
The thing is I’ve not had an HD Voice call since then (I’ve not called the same person back and it wouldn’t be appropriate) and I don’t know what’s going on.
This is something I’ve decided I really want, but I’ve no way of testing it, measuring it or even showing it to other people.
HD Voice is like some strange mystery thing that when the planets are in alignment, and you’re calling someone on the right network, in the right area, with the right phone, who has the right blood group, it works.
Any advice, tips or help on this? I wouldn’t even be sure my phone was capable of it if it wasn’t for the fact I have heard it do it once. (I’ve since found AMR-WB listed in the phones specs)
A test line for HD Voice that anyone could ring would be really cool. They’d be able to show off their HD Voice phones to their friends and family that way, who might then want one.
Love your network, can’t wait for LTE.
Moderator: Kaz 13/08/2012
@Jon C – We do have a list of handsets that are HD compatible on our network. Unfortunately I can’t distribute the list, but can check a particular phone for you.
Jon C 13/08/2012
I have to add to the comments about 3 store staff having no knowledge of HD voice. I tried several stores and none new anything about handset support, most hadn’t even heard of it. In the end I bought unlocked second hand Orange phones (E5) which work fine in HD on 3, however the 3 Galaxy Ace is NOT HD compatible, despite the Orange version being the case. As a result it’s impossible to recommend any three phone as the compatibility is unknown. In addition, I have never called another 3 subscriber (I know quite a few) and got an HD connection, so I’m suspecting most 3 branded handsets are NOT HD. Is there an official list? Would it not be possible to put a little logo on the website next to HD models?
Also, I notice that T-Mobile and Orange customers can now make HD calls between each other. Any news when us mere 3 users will be able to call them in HD?
Bill 11/07/2012
BT tried this on their short-lived Broadband Talk service. It never caught on.
Moderator: Johanna 09/07/2012
@Richard – Thanks for highlighting the lack of knowledge about HD Voice, we will share your feedback with the relevant teams.
Moderator: Johanna 09/07/2012
@Richard – We haven’t abandoned HD Voice. Is there a particular handset you’re interested in and I’ll check it for you?
Richard 07/07/2012
This is sheer hypeware from Three as NOBODY and I mean nobody at their shops or call centres know anything about HD voice and claim this service has never been and certainly now is no longer available on Three…so any pure Three fantasy.
Richard 07/07/2012
None of the staff working at Three seems to know about HD voice. I rang on 4 occasions to find out the latest handsets using HD voice and they said they do not have such a service. I get without any announcement Three has now abandoned HD voice and this is only a year after which they launch it with such aplomb.
Moderator: Lauren 19/06/2012
@Tim – are the phone’s you’re using Three branded or unlocked?
Tim 19/06/2012
I’m using HD-Voice compatible phones that work in HD-Voice with Orange SIMs when I call from one phone to the other.
When I insert ‘Three’ SIMs (All you can eat 300 minutes PAYG £15) and I dial from one phone to another, all In get is standard GSM quality. Can you help?
Moderator: Nicki 18/06/2012
@Sandy York – Hi there, if you’re having issues with your coverage then please advise us of your full postcode (we won’t publish it) and we can check for any faults, work being carried out or forthcoming improvements in your area.
Sandy York 18/06/2012
As usual three are making a complete hash of everything.The signal everywhere is crap.The phones especially the Samsung are rubbish and to make matters worse if you do need technical help you get put through to someone in India who hasntgot the first clue what the xxxx you are talking about.Utter rubbish
Moderator: Lauren 30/05/2012
@pauled – Sensation, One S, One X, One V, Sensation XE, Desire HD, Sensation XL, Desire S, Desire C, Optimus 3D, 300, 302, C3-01, C7, E7, N8, X7 ,Galaxy Mini II, Cetus, Galaxy S II Mini, Galaxy S II, Arc, Arc S, Live ,Xperia S, Xperia U. Some of these may only work subject to a software update.
pauled 29/05/2012
Hi, do you have an up to date list of supported handsets. Thanks
Moderator: Johanna 30/04/2012
@Scott – It should just be making the sound on your calls far clearer with no background noise. What issue are you having?
Scott 27/04/2012
I called three today to ask if hd voice can be turned off and they didn’t know what I was talking about !? Am I the only one who don’t like it ?