diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index ddde2f714eb57..6387eb7d34848 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -13798,6 +13798,7 @@ package android.media {
     method public deprecated void setWiredHeadsetOn(boolean);
     method public deprecated boolean shouldVibrate(int);
     method public void startBluetoothSco();
+    method public void startBluetoothScoVirtualCall();
     method public void stopBluetoothSco();
     method public void unloadSoundEffects();
     method public void unregisterMediaButtonEventReceiver(android.content.ComponentName);
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java b/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
index d35225ab66e2b..47b6024c113ef 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/AudioManager.java
@@ -1254,11 +1254,6 @@ 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>
@@ -1274,6 +1269,11 @@ public class AudioManager {
      * it will be ignored. Similarly, if a call is received or sent while an application
      * is using the SCO connection, the connection will be lost for the application and NOT
      * returned automatically when the call ends.
+     * <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.
      * @see #stopBluetoothSco()
      * @see #ACTION_SCO_AUDIO_STATE_UPDATED
      */
@@ -1286,14 +1286,39 @@ public class AudioManager {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Start bluetooth SCO audio connection in virtual call mode.
+     * <p>Requires Permission:
+     *   {@link android.Manifest.permission#MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS}.
+     * <p>Similar to {@link #startBluetoothSco()} with explicit selection of virtual call mode.
+     * Telephony and communication applications (VoIP, Video Chat) should preferably select
+     * virtual call mode.
+     * Applications using voice input for search or commands should first try raw audio connection
+     * with {@link #startBluetoothSco()} and fall back to startBluetoothScoVirtualCall() in case of
+     * failure.
+     * @see #startBluetoothSco()
+     * @see #stopBluetoothSco()
+     * @see #ACTION_SCO_AUDIO_STATE_UPDATED
+     */
+    public void startBluetoothScoVirtualCall() {
+        IAudioService service = getService();
+        try {
+            service.startBluetoothScoVirtualCall(mICallBack);
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Dead object in startBluetoothScoVirtualCall", e);
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Stop bluetooth SCO audio connection.
      * <p>Requires Permission:
      *   {@link android.Manifest.permission#MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS}.
      * <p>This method must be called by applications having requested the use of
-     * bluetooth SCO audio with {@link #startBluetoothSco()}
-     * when finished with the SCO connection or if connection fails.
+     * bluetooth SCO audio with {@link #startBluetoothSco()} or
+     * {@link #startBluetoothScoVirtualCall()} when finished with the SCO connection or
+     * if connection fails.
      * @see #startBluetoothSco()
+     * @see #startBluetoothScoVirtualCall()
      */
     public void stopBluetoothSco(){
         IAudioService service = getService();
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java b/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
index 48479a434415c..6b7d7a9b101e6 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
+++ b/media/java/android/media/AudioService.java
@@ -2056,7 +2056,19 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub {
     }
 
     /** @see AudioManager#startBluetoothSco() */
-    public void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb, int targetSdkVersion){
+    public void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb, int targetSdkVersion) {
+        int scoAudioMode =
+                (targetSdkVersion < Build.VERSION_CODES.JELLY_BEAN_MR2) ?
+                        SCO_MODE_VIRTUAL_CALL : SCO_MODE_RAW;
+        startBluetoothScoInt(cb, scoAudioMode);
+    }
+
+    /** @see AudioManager#startBluetoothScoVirtualCall() */
+    public void startBluetoothScoVirtualCall(IBinder cb) {
+        startBluetoothScoInt(cb, SCO_MODE_VIRTUAL_CALL);
+    }
+
+    void startBluetoothScoInt(IBinder cb, int scoAudioMode){
         if (!checkAudioSettingsPermission("startBluetoothSco()") ||
                 !mSystemReady) {
             return;
@@ -2068,7 +2080,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub {
         // 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(targetSdkVersion);
+        client.incCount(scoAudioMode);
         Binder.restoreCallingIdentity(ident);
     }
 
@@ -2114,9 +2126,9 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub {
             }
         }
 
-        public void incCount(int targetSdkVersion) {
+        public void incCount(int scoAudioMode) {
             synchronized(mScoClients) {
-                requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED, targetSdkVersion);
+                requestScoState(BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED, scoAudioMode);
                 if (mStartcount == 0) {
                     try {
                         mCb.linkToDeath(this, 0);
@@ -2186,7 +2198,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub {
             }
         }
 
-        private void requestScoState(int state, int targetSdkVersion) {
+        private void requestScoState(int state, int scoAudioMode) {
             checkScoAudioState();
             if (totalCount() == 0) {
                 if (state == BluetoothHeadset.STATE_AUDIO_CONNECTED) {
@@ -2201,9 +2213,7 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub {
                                 (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;
+                                mScoAudioMode = scoAudioMode;
                                 if (mBluetoothHeadset != null && mBluetoothHeadsetDevice != null) {
                                     boolean status;
                                     if (mScoAudioMode == SCO_MODE_RAW) {
diff --git a/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl b/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
index 169631e2e63e4..41e691d553031 100644
--- a/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
+++ b/media/java/android/media/IAudioService.aidl
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ interface IAudioService {
     oneway void registerRemoteVolumeObserverForRcc(int rccId, in IRemoteVolumeObserver rvo);
 
     void startBluetoothSco(IBinder cb, int targetSdkVersion);
+    void startBluetoothScoVirtualCall(IBinder cb);
     void stopBluetoothSco(IBinder cb);
 
     void forceVolumeControlStream(int streamType, IBinder cb);