According the company websiteoffers “optimized sound and video quality in calling applications,” even in times of congestion. That may not sound exciting on its own. But underneath it all, Verizon is using network slicing to improve video calling performance, which is a new technology that's only possible on a standalone 5G network.
Unlike remote banana surgery with robots, network slicing is a real benefit of 5G technology that we can reasonably expect to see in more places in the coming years. Slicing allows network operators to provide adequate resources for certain types of demanding activities where a strong connection is essential. Right now, that means improving video calling performance, but in the future it could mean being able to prioritize the data needed to safely guide an autonomous vehicle through an intersection.
The problem is that you need a separate 5G network to achieve this, and many of the US 5G networks still run on 4G cores. T-Mobile has been able to move faster on this thanks to its acquisition of Sprint and launched its first outage-based feature this fall with a service that give priority to first responders. Verizon has been testing the cut over the last year or sobut this is the first release of a consumer feature based on this technology.
To try Enhanced Video Calling for yourself, you must meet a specific set of requirements. It is available in “more than 150 metropolitan areas” at this timewith more to be added in 2025. But you also have to have Verizon's most expensive plan, Unlimited Ultimate, which costs $90 per month for an auto-pay line. And you will need an iPhone 14 or later with iOS 18.2. Samsung Galaxy S23 and newer phones and Pixel 9 will also be supported, but support for Android video calling apps is coming in 2025.
