HD offers higher quality presentations. While it has been adopted in areas, such as TV, it is not yet widely available with cellular connections. ABI Research thinks that scenario to change dramatically: the market research firm expects close to 500 million mobile subscribers to have HD connections in 2015.To date, carriers have not deployed any mobile HD connections, largely because of lack of bandwidth as well as availability of handsets that support the function. Yet ABI outlined a few reasons why HD voice may soon make its way to mobile device. First, it is an inexpensive upgrade for certain 3G networks. In addition, carriers, such as Orange, have begun trials in Europe. Last, businesses will expect it; the quality of Voice over IP services has been steadily improving so they now anticipate that any voice service will sound good.

However, there are a few hurdles that carriers will have to clear. Their existing networks may not be well suited to carrying HD traffic. Networks rolled out in the last few years can carry this traffic, but older networks will need to be upgraded. In addition, handsets will need to be enhanced to support HD voice connections.

Smartphone are rapidly making their way into many small and medium businesses because they offer employees needed flexibility. While cell phones are convenient, they have shortcomings, such as lackluster performance. The emergence of HD voice features would make these products better suited to businesses. This change is taking place, but it could be a few years before small and medium businesses reap the benefits.