diff --git a/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java b/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
index 917a47df52be7..56e98e4a92068 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import android.content.ComponentName;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.os.Binder;
+import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Handler;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.os.Looper;
@@ -1205,6 +1206,11 @@ public class AudioManager {
      * call {@link #stopBluetoothSco()} to clear the request and turn down the bluetooth connection.
      * <p>Even if a SCO connection is established, the following restrictions apply on audio
      * output streams so that they can be routed to SCO headset:
+     * <p>NOTE: up to and including API version
+     * {@link android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES#JELLY_BEAN_MR1}, this method initiates a virtual
+     * voice call to the bluetooth headset.
+     * After API version {@link android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES#JELLY_BEAN_MR2} only a raw SCO audio
+     * connection is established.
      * <ul>
      *   <li> the stream type must be {@link #STREAM_VOICE_CALL} </li>
      *   <li> the format must be mono </li>
@@ -1226,7 +1232,7 @@ public class AudioManager {
     public void startBluetoothSco(){
         IAudioService service = getService();
         try {
-            service.startBluetoothSco(mICallBack);
+            service.startBluetoothSco(mICallBack, mContext.getApplicationInfo().targetSdkVersion);
         } catch (RemoteException e) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Dead object in startBluetoothSco", e);
         }
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java b/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
index 637ac858fa9b0..0df4f822393bc 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import android.database.ContentObserver;
 import android.media.MediaPlayer.OnCompletionListener;
 import android.media.MediaPlayer.OnErrorListener;
 import android.os.Binder;
+import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.os.Environment;
 import android.os.Handler;
@@ -369,6 +370,14 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
     // waiting for headset service to connect
     private static final int SCO_STATE_DEACTIVATE_EXT_REQ = 4;
 
+    // Indicates the mode used for SCO audio connection. The mode is virtual call if the request
+    // originated from an app targeting an API version before JB MR2 and raw audio after that.
+    private int mScoAudioMode;
+    // SCO audio mode is virtual voice call (BluetoothHeadset.startScoUsingVirtualVoiceCall())
+    private static final int SCO_MODE_VIRTUAL_CALL = 0;
+    // SCO audio mode is raw audio (BluetoothHeadset.connectAudio())
+    private static final int SCO_MODE_RAW = 1;
+
     // Current connection state indicated by bluetooth headset
     private int mScoConnectionState;
 
@@ -1910,7 +1919,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
     }
 
     /** @see AudioManager#startBluetoothSco() */
-    public void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb){
+    public void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb, int targetSdkVersion){
         if (!checkAudioSettingsPermission("startBluetoothSco()") ||
                 !mBootCompleted) {
             return;
@@ -1922,7 +1931,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
         // The caller identity must be cleared after getScoClient() because it is needed if a new
         // client is created.
         final long ident = Binder.clearCallingIdentity();
-        client.incCount();
+        client.incCount(targetSdkVersion);
         Binder.restoreCallingIdentity(ident);
     }
 
@@ -1968,9 +1977,9 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
             }
         }
 
-        public void incCount() {
+        public void incCount(int targetSdkVersion) {
             synchronized(mScoClients) {
-                requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED);
+                requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED, targetSdkVersion);
                 if (mStartcount == 0) {
                     try {
                         mCb.linkToDeath(this, 0);
@@ -1996,7 +2005,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
                             Log.w(TAG, "decCount() going to 0 but not registered to binder");
                         }
                     }
-                    requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_DISCONNECTED);
+                    requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_DISCONNECTED, 0);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -2012,7 +2021,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
                 }
                 mStartcount = 0;
                 if (stopSco) {
-                    requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_DISCONNECTED);
+                    requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_DISCONNECTED, 0);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -2040,7 +2049,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
             }
         }
 
-        private void requestScoState(int state) {
+        private void requestScoState(int state, int targetSdkVersion) {
             checkScoAudioState();
             if (totalCount() == 0) {
                 if (state == BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED) {
@@ -2055,8 +2064,18 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
                                 (mScoAudioState == SCO_STATE_INACTIVE ||
                                  mScoAudioState == SCO_STATE_DEACTIVATE_REQ)) {
                             if (mScoAudioState == SCO_STATE_INACTIVE) {
+                                mScoAudioMode =
+                                        (targetSdkVersion < Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR2) ?
+                                                SCO_MODE_VIRTUAL_CALL : SCO_MODE_RAW;
                                 if (mBluetoothHeadset != null && mBluetoothHeadsetDevice != null) {
-                                    if (mBluetoothHeadset.connectAudio()) {
+                                    boolean status;
+                                    if (mScoAudioMode == SCO_MODE_RAW) {
+                                        status = mBluetoothHeadset.connectAudio();
+                                    } else {
+                                        status = mBluetoothHeadset.startScoUsingVirtualVoiceCall(
+                                                                            mBluetoothHeadsetDevice);
+                                    }
+                                    if (status) {
                                         mScoAudioState = SCO_STATE_ACTIVE_INTERNAL;
                                     } else {
                                         broadcastScoConnectionState(
@@ -2078,7 +2097,14 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
                                mScoAudioState == SCO_STATE_ACTIVATE_REQ)) {
                     if (mScoAudioState == SCO_STATE_ACTIVE_INTERNAL) {
                         if (mBluetoothHeadset != null && mBluetoothHeadsetDevice != null) {
-                            if (!mBluetoothHeadset.disconnectAudio()) {
+                            boolean status;
+                            if (mScoAudioMode == SCO_MODE_RAW) {
+                                status = mBluetoothHeadset.disconnectAudio();
+                            } else {
+                                status = mBluetoothHeadset.stopScoUsingVirtualVoiceCall(
+                                                                        mBluetoothHeadsetDevice);
+                            }
+                            if (!status) {
                                 mScoAudioState = SCO_STATE_INACTIVE;
                                 broadcastScoConnectionState(
                                         AudioManager.SCO_AUDIO_STATE_DISCONNECTED);
@@ -2251,10 +2277,20 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub implements OnFinished {
                             switch (mScoAudioState) {
                             case SCO_STATE_ACTIVATE_REQ:
                                 mScoAudioState = SCO_STATE_ACTIVE_INTERNAL;
-                                status = mBluetoothHeadset.connectAudio();
+                                if (mScoAudioMode == SCO_MODE_RAW) {
+                                    status = mBluetoothHeadset.connectAudio();
+                                } else {
+                                    status = mBluetoothHeadset.startScoUsingVirtualVoiceCall(
+                                                                        mBluetoothHeadsetDevice);
+                                }
                                 break;
                             case SCO_STATE_DEACTIVATE_REQ:
-                                status = mBluetoothHeadset.disconnectAudio();
+                                if (mScoAudioMode == SCO_MODE_RAW) {
+                                    status = mBluetoothHeadset.disconnectAudio();
+                                } else {
+                                    status = mBluetoothHeadset.stopScoUsingVirtualVoiceCall(
+                                                                        mBluetoothHeadsetDevice);
+                                }
                                 break;
                             case SCO_STATE_DEACTIVATE_EXT_REQ:
                                 status = mBluetoothHeadset.stopVoiceRecognition(
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl b/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
index 13f6c021cc850..0d285fc171c20 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
+++ b/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ interface IAudioService {
            int  getRemoteStreamVolume();
     oneway void registerRemoteVolumeObserverForRcc(int rccId, in IRemoteVolumeObserver rvo);
 
-    void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb);
+    void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb, int targetSdkVersion);
     void stopBluetoothSco(IBinder cb);
 
     void forceVolumeControlStream(int streamType, IBinder cb);