diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 05cae9f8bc6dc..4430ea0cc7b4c 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -377,4 +377,17 @@
     <!-- 2 means give warning -->
     <integer name="config_datause_notification_type">2</integer>
 
+    <!-- Flag indicating whether the current device is "voice capable".
+         If true, this means that the device supports circuit-switched
+         (i.e. voice) phone calls over the telephony network, and is
+         allowed to display the in-call UI while a cellular voice call is
+         active.  This can be overridden to false for "data only" devices
+         which can't make voice calls and don't support any in-call UI.
+
+         Note: this flag is subtly different from the
+         PackageManager.FEATURE_TELEPHONY system feature, which is
+         available on *any* device with a telephony radio, even if the
+         device is data-only. -->
+    <bool name="config_voice_capable">true</bool>
+
 </resources>
diff --git a/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java b/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
index aa916e0b70033..92bed8de81eb5 100644
--- a/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
+++ b/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
@@ -912,4 +912,25 @@ public class TelephonyManager {
             return null;
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * @return true if the current device is "voice capable".
+     * <p>
+     * "Voice capable" means that this device supports circuit-switched
+     * (i.e. voice) phone calls over the telephony network, and is allowed
+     * to display the in-call UI while a cellular voice call is active.
+     * This will be false on "data only" devices which can't make voice
+     * calls and don't support any in-call UI.
+     * <p>
+     * Note: the meaning of this flag is subtly different from the
+     * PackageManager.FEATURE_TELEPHONY system feature, which is available
+     * on any device with a telephony radio, even if the device is
+     * data-only.
+     *
+     * @hide pending API review
+     */
+    public boolean isVoiceCapable() {
+        return mContext.getResources().getBoolean(
+                com.android.internal.R.bool.config_voice_capable);
+    }
 }