Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

In today's article, let's talk about a very popular concept this year-"5G new calls".

When Xiao Zaojun first heard about the "5G new call", he thought it was VoNR's "new vest".

Later, after a careful study, I learned that the original "5G new call" is not VoNR, but an enhanced version of VoNR-"VoNR+".

For non-professionals, it's already starting to get a little dizzy-what on earth is VoNR? What's the difference between VoNR + and VoNR?

Don't worry, let's start from the beginning.

█ from circuit switching to packet switching: the rise of VoXX voice calls has always been the basic communication needs of human beings, but also the most commonly used form of communication.

For more than 100 years since Alexander Bell invented the telephone in 1876, human communication networks have been built on the basis of "telephone routes".

In other words, if I want to call you, then the communication network should build a "conversation path" to connect you and me. This way, the industry is also known as "circuit". This kind of network switching is also known as "circuit switching (Circuit Switching)".

In the 1970s and 1980s, when mobile communication began to rise (1G-2G), it was also "circuit switching".

In the 1980s and 1990s, with the rise of Ethernet, TCP / IP and the Internet, human communication needs began to change dramatically. The main development direction of communication technology has shifted from serving traditional voice communication (circuit switching) to serving data message communication (packet switching, Packet Switching).

Mobile communication network also conforms to this development trend. Therefore, starting from 3G, focus on the development of data services, the network from "circuit domain" to "packet domain", gradually IP.

Which leads to a problem--

Voice calls, which have been developed for more than 100 years, are all based on circuit switching. if in the 3G and 4G era, the network has become packet switching. So, how to realize the voice telephone service? We can't give up the phone function, can we?

Therefore, 3GPP proposed IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem,IP Multimedia Subsystem).

To put it simply, IMS is a server based on IP network, which specializes in providing multimedia services. Voice calls, as well as text messages, pictures, audio and video, are actually multimedia services. So, the function of IMS is very powerful.

When it comes to 4G, the communications industry is going to abandon circuit switching equipment completely. In the future, all networks will be packet switching. LTE is also positioned as a pure IP network.

Then, services such as voice calls are handed over to "LTE (packet switching) + IMS" to be implemented. This service is known as VoLTE (Voice over LTE, 4G-based voice calls).

Around 2016, when 4G was just commercial, operators vigorously promoted VoLTE. I don't know if you remember it.

Operator's VoLTE poster (from China Unicom) as time goes by, we usher in 5G again. So, VoLTE, of course, you have to upgrade along with it. As a result, there is VoNR (Voice over New Radio, voice based on the new empty port of 5G).

VoNR is an upgraded version of VoLTE, their technical architecture is very similar, and they still rely on IMS.

From a capability point of view, VoNR has improved slightly.

First of all, the purebred VoNR does not need to fall back to the 2G / 3G / 4G network when making a call, and the connection time is faster. It is said that it can be as low as 2 seconds and as low as 1.6 seconds.

The data comes from the online excellent employment army, and secondly, the quality of audio calls has improved.

VoNR can be encoded and decoded by EVS (Enhance Voice Services), which has stronger anti-frame loss, anti-delay, anti-jitter and high fidelity capabilities, and the sound transmission bandwidth has been extended from 50Hz-7000Hz to 20Hz-14000Hz, reaching the sound quality level of high-fidelity headphones.

Third, the quality of video calls has been improved.

VoNR can support 720p resolution, which is clearer than 480p for VoLTE calls and 540p for Wechat video calls.

The second spring VoNR of █ VoNR+: voice call is the ultimate solution of voice call service in 5G era. But can it do more than make a phone call?

As we all know, after years of construction, our 5G network has begun to take shape. The number of 5G base stations in China has exceeded 2.7 million. The number of 5G users also reached 634 million.

The value of 5G has always been controversial on the public side. Regardless of the situation on the B side of the vertical industry (it remains to be seen), at least on the C side, users do not feel much and do not recognize it.

Therefore, the communications industry, including operators and equipment vendors, has been looking for 5G popular applications, in mining users' pain points and needs.

As a matter of fact, the demand on the C side is food, clothing, accommodation, transportation, eating, drinking and playing, such as chat, games, video, and so on. The only thing that can be expected for the demand for large-bandwidth services is VR / AR and meta-universe. As a result, I did it for several years, but I didn't get it started.

Therefore, the industry will pay attention to the basic business.

What is the basic business? Text messages, phone calls.

Therefore, for SMS, the communications industry put forward the "5G message". Aiming at the call, the "5G new call" is put forward.

5G message I have specifically introduced before (5G message, what is it? ), I won't repeat it today. Let me focus on the "5G new call".

To put it simply, 5G new call is an enhanced voice call service based on 5G network.

It provides more functions around the traditional voice call service. For example, intelligent translation, interesting calls, intelligent customer service, content sharing, remote assistance and so on.

These functions can not only bring users a more interesting, vivid and diversified call experience, but also help commercial enterprises to better reach users and provide services for users.

Technical principles of █ 5G New calls before we learn more about the functions of 5G new calls, let's take a look at the technical principles of 5G new calls.

As mentioned earlier, VoLTE and VoNR are multimedia services implemented with the help of IMS. Based on the traditional data service (Internet service), a large channel is established between the terminal and the IMS through the 4G / 5G network.

This large channel is also divided into audio channel, video channel and signaling channel and other small channels. The traditional VoLTE / VoNR audio and video call service is realized with these small channels.

On the basis of these existing channels, 5G new call service introduces a new channel, which is called data Channel (Data Channel,DC).

Data Channel data channel source: Huawei this new channel can be used to transfer text, pictures, videos, files, locations, actions, graffiti, menus, VR / AR and many other things, and derived a lot of interesting ways to play.

The network architecture and business processes of IMS DC are relatively complex, so if you talk too much, you must "start from getting started to giving up".

To put it simply from 3GPP TS 23.228, a few new network elements have been added and the existing network elements have been upgraded (traditional IMS is difficult to support 5G high-performance networks in terms of capability). At the same time, the overall move towards 5G micro-services (Service Based Interface,SBA) architecture (links to details).

Anyway, keep in mind that the system framework and protocol foundation of IMS remain unchanged, except that a new data channel has been added. Then the system does not care about the content and format of the channel, as long as the two parties agree on it.

On IMS, a platform capability is built that allows it to be open to third parties. The specific business, developed by a third party, is carried on the IMS DC channel.

Deployment of 5G new calls (from China Radio and Television 5G New calls White Paper) 5G new calls transmit diversified content using technology, in fact, like the Internet, is Web technology.

For example: the page display, using HTML and CSS language; business logic implementation, using JavaScript; to call the underlying functions, using the API interface.

Business categories of █ 5G new calls next, let's take a look at the business categories of 5G new calls.

There are too many ways to play 5G new calls, and the names of various operators and manufacturers are not unified, so it will look a little confusing.

I briefly combed it and roughly included the following categories:

Interesting call this is a typical "funny" business, especially for young people.

To put it simply, during a call, you can build a three-dimensional character model or background in real time, create a digital human image of both sides (cartoon avatars, etc.), and then send emojis (flowers, cakes, bombs) while talking on the phone. to make it more interesting.

The increase of data channels from China Radio and Television also creates the possibility for VR / AR calls. In the future, the two sides can talk together in the meta-universe.

Speech recognition / content translation in the course of a call, based on speech recognition technology, the speech content of the other party is automatically recognized and displayed on the screen in the form of text.

This feature is very useful for people with hearing impairment, and they can make phone calls from now on.

From China Radio and Television for some meeting needs, this function is also very helpful, can generate real-time text meeting minutes.

On the basis of speech recognition as text, based on machine translation technology, 5G new calls can also translate text content to facilitate cross-language social needs. From then on, you and foreigners on the phone, there is no need to panic.

Content sharing / remote Assistance during a call, both parties can share their screen content, share files, share location information, or even watch the same video.

When sharing content, the other party can mark the content. When marking a person or thing in the video, if the person or thing moves, the tag will automatically follow.

Remote screen sharing and marking from China Mobile in a new 5G call, one party can also ask the other for remote assistance.

This function is obviously very suitable for us to guide the mobile phone operation of the elders at home. It can also be used to deal with the problems of remote transportation and peacekeeping in enterprises.

When the calling card makes a call, the caller can push his relevant information to the called user by means of text, picture, video, etc., such as name and identity, purpose of the call, location and importance of the call, etc.

This information from Huawei can be displayed on the mobile phone screen of the called user, making it easy for the called user to determine whether to answer the call.

This is helpful to some government official telephone calls and the fight against telecom fraud.

The diversified service content of smart customer service is obviously also suitable for toB scenarios, such as smart customer service.

Traditional telephone customer service can only be prompted by voice, and then press the number key to choose.

With 5G new calls, first of all, there can be digital human customer service, more visualization.

Secondly, when you make a call, a detailed service menu will be displayed on the screen. Users can make selections (such as ordering, placing orders, booking tickets) as they do in App.

These functions prevent users from falling into long voice waits, greatly improve the efficiency of problem handling, and improve customer satisfaction.

It is worth mentioning that the popular AI models such as chatGPT and Wen Xin Yiyan can also be combined with 5G new calls in the future to make intelligent customer service more like a real person.

Please note that the various applications we mentioned above are natively supported by mobile phones, and there is no need to install their own App.

In other words, the new 5G call service integrates all kinds of App into the terminal application list in the way of Mini Program, and is automatically pushed to the terminal by the network side, so as to realize the service. (moreover, all of these services do not take up traffic charges, but only VoLTE / VoNR call hours. )

For users, all they need to do is open the phone's native dial. (at present, many mobile phones are not supported. )

The new 5G call support architecture on the terminal side (from the White Paper on China Mobile's new 5G call technology) reduces the difficulty of using 5G new calls and is conducive to the rapid popularization of business.

Commercial Progress of █ 5G New calls in 2020, the 3GPP SA4 working Group first introduced the concept of Data Channel to IMS in R16.

Since then, the new business has entered a fast track of development.

At the end of 2021, the 3GPP SA2 working group established a project in R18 to study and standardize the architecture, interface and process of IMS Data Channel and the architecture, interface and process of AR communication service based on IMS Data Channel. The project will be concluded in the near future.

In addition to 3GPP, GSMA also has actions. They started the development of the IMS Data Channel Profile specification in early 2022, and the specification (GSMA PRD NG.134) has entered the pre-release approval process.

In the current network project landing, the enthusiasm of operators is relatively high. They tested and verified the new 5G calls early and preheated them in various public places.

In April 2022, China Mobile officially launched a new 5G phone product, becoming the world's first telecom operator to launch the service.

Not long ago, on May 16, China Mobile, together with Qualcomm, announced that it had joined hands with mobile phone manufacturers including vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE to complete the end-to-end business verification of new 5G calls based on IMS Data Channel in the laboratory and outfield environment.

At present, four domestic operators are promoting the pilot of 5G new calls. Chip and terminal manufacturers are also accelerating. We can say that 5G new calls have gradually entered the commercial stage.

The value and significance of █ 5G New call 5G New call is a new service and application of 5G. It is the upgrade of the basic call service, with the high performance of 5G, it provides richer communication content and form, and brings a more interesting experience.

From a big point of view, behind this service, in fact, there is still a hidden operator's ambition.

As we all know, after the rise of the Internet, companies like Tencent, Ali and Baidu have served a large number of users in the form of OTT (Over the TOP) and made a lot of money. And operators, gradually reduced to a pipeline, revenue is greatly affected.

Therefore, all the time, operators want to cut into the business level, even if they only master the traffic entrance, they can participate in the user business and get some cake.

5G new calls and 5G messages are the counterattack opportunities that operators value very much.

We can see that if users really use these services, they can bypass App Ecology and WeChat Mini Programs Ecology and directly establish business service channels with business service providers (airlines, water and electricity companies, e-commerce, hospitals, etc.).

Who will control this new ecology?

Service provider.

Although the idea of the operator is very good, it is hard to say whether things will come true or not. Like 5G messages, 5G new calls face a lot of challenges.

First of all, the user's habits are not easy to change.

People are used to using App and WeChat Mini Programs, but now it is very difficult to change their habits.

Second, if you want to make 5G new calls and 5G messages successful, the most important thing is ecology.

Although you have built a platform, are business service providers willing to move in? Is the development cost of a third-party platform high? In the case of a small number of early users, is this investment worth it? All these are open to question.

If business service providers do not move in, there will be few applications for 5G new calls and 5G messages, and users will not be willing to use them. This is an endless cycle.

Third, in addition to some B-end services (customer service, reporting barriers), as ordinary users, whether they are willing to accept "interesting calls" and "content sharing" is also a question.

In this society, there are both social cattle (social bullying disorder) and social phobia (social phobia). Many people say that with the development of communications, there are fewer calls between people.

Now, every one of us supports video calls on our mobile phones. However, most people seldom use the function of video call, and sometimes they don't even want to make a voice call. They just send a Wechat message, don't they?

So we may have magnified the user's need for an immersive phone experience. The nature of communication, perhaps the simplest way, happens to be the most appropriate way.

█ conclusion: in a word, as a new service, 5G new calls still need to be treated calmly.

With the passage of time, when more and more users use this service, we will know what it will bring and whether it will succeed.

Personally, I am looking forward to it anyway, and I have already signed up for experience. When it is really used, I will report my feelings to you.

All right, that's all for today. Thank you for your patience. If you think the article is good, please forward it more! Thank you very much!

References:

1. "China Radio and Television 5G New call White Paper (2023 Edition)"

2. "China Mobile's New 5G call Technology White Paper 2022"

3. China Institute of Information and Communication: research report on 5G New call Technology and Business Innovation (2022)

4. What is "5G New call"? "talk about 5G terminals

5. "here comes VoNR. What technology is it?" ", net excellent mercenaries

6. What is "5G New call"? ZTE documents.

This article comes from the official account of Wechat: fresh Jujube classroom (ID:xzclasscom), author: Xiaozaojun

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