Vodafone on Friday launched Call+, which adds a host of new features to the humble voice call.
"As part of our commitment to bring you the best possible calling experience, we introduced WiFi calling on select devices last month, and now Vodafone Call+ is the next step in helping you to do more with your phone," said Vodafone UK, in a blog post.
Based on the GSMA’s Rich Communications Services (RCS), customers can use it to share images, maps, and contact details with one another during a call. Even before a Call+ call has started, the caller can give it a subject line and set its level of importance – much like an email – as well as attach an image or share their location.
If the recipient doesn’t answer, you can add a text note that will appear alongside the missed call alert. What’s more, if the recipient doesn’t have Call+, it behaves like an ordinary voice call and any pictures or messages are sent as a text or chat message, depending on the recipient’s handset model.
It does have some limitations.
For now, Call+ only works on Android smartphones. The Sony Xperia Z3 and Z5, which go on sale from Vodafone next Monday, will have native Call+ support. Otherwise it is available as an app to download from Google Play.
Without native handset support, customers may persist with what they already know, with services like Facebook and WhatsApp offering video and voice calling respectively, for instance.
Meanwhile, there is still no sign of Vodafone’s voice over LTE (VoLTE) service, despite the telco saying it planned to launch it this summer.
3UK beat its rivals to the title of U.K.’s first VoLTE provider, launching its ‘4G Super-Voice’ service in mid-September.
