LTE Cat 1 modules feature voice support via CSFB

Both cellular modules operate on LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 12. In addition to VoLTE, they also feature voice support via Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) for legacy 2G and/or 3G networks in areas where LTE is not available. TOBY-R202 provides fallback on 3G bands 2 and 5, while TOBY-R200 provides global 2G and 3G fallback.

Voice is key to IoT applications that require command, control and alert functionality. VoLTE provides voice capability on LTE modules, enabling devices of the IoT and their users to easily communicate verbally over the LTE network.

“u-blox is a global leader in developing cellular modules designed for IoT and M2M applications," said Drazen Drinic, Product Manager Cellular, u-blox. “We are pleased to extend our long-time relationship with AT&T to supply LTE Cat 1 modules with VoLTE capability to the AT&T network.”

“Voice is an important feature to many use cases in IoT,” said Chris Penrose, President, IoT Solutions, AT&T. “The u-blox Cat 1 LTE modules with VoLTE support will offer robust connectivity to many of our customers requiring voice support capability in the alarm and security industry, automotive and connected health markets.”

According to Andrew Brown, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics: "Voice has a pivotal role to play in the Industrial IoT segments where automation, robotics and mobility will factor in, as well as in the consumer segment for consumer healthcare, smart home and smart building applications. We project that voice could capture up to 12% of Industrial and 18% of Consumer IoT applications by 2022."

The two u-blox TOBY-R2 LTE Cat 1 modules support a myriad of IoT and M2M applications requiring voice over the LTE Cat 1 network, such as smart home and buildings (alarm panels, security systems and video surveillance), connected health (patient monitoring and stay-in-place solutions), automotive emergency handling and roadside assistance, smart payments (POS systems, connected vending machines, ATMs, etc.), wearables (action cams), and smart metering (electricity and smart meter gateways).

The u-blox TOBY-R202 and TOBY-R200 modules come in a compact 24.8x35.6mm form factor. Thanks to u-blox nested design, migration between the TOBY-R2 modules and other u-blox 2G, 3G and 4G modules is easy, while enabling future-proof, seamless mechanical scalability across technologies.