Summary: Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark has made a historic phone call using innovative “immersive audio and video” technology, promising to revolutionize voice calls with lifelike 3D sound. This breakthrough, demonstrated over a public 5G network, marks a significant leap from current monophonic audio used in smartphones and PCs. The technology, part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard, utilizes multiple smartphone microphones to enhance spatial audio, potentially transforming both person-to-person and conference calls. Nokia aims to secure licensing opportunities for widespread adoption of this groundbreaking innovation.
In a significant milestone for telecommunications, Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark made a groundbreaking phone call using “immersive audio and video” technology. This innovation promises to revolutionize the way we experience voice calls by incorporating three-dimensional sound, enhancing the lifelike quality of interactions.
The call, made on Monday, represents a major advancement from the current monophonic audio used in smartphones and PCs. Monophonic audio compresses sound, making it flatter and less detailed. In contrast, the new technology offers 3D audio, where the caller hears everything as if they were physically present with the other person.
Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “It is the biggest leap forward in the live voice calling experience since the introduction of monophonic telephony audio used in smartphones and PCs today.”
This historic call was made using a regular smartphone over a public 5G network and involved Stefan Lindström, Finland’s Ambassador of Digitalisation and New Technologies. Nokia’s new technology is part of the forthcoming 5G Advanced standard, indicating its potential widespread adoption in the near future.
“We have demonstrated the future of voice calls,” said Lundmark, who was notably present in the room during the first 2G call in 1991.
Nokia’s immersive audio technology is designed to utilize the multiple microphones already present in the majority of smartphones. By transmitting spatial characteristics in real-time, this technology can create a more natural and engaging communication experience. This is not only beneficial for person-to-person calls but also for conference calls, where participants’ voices can be distinguished based on their spatial locations.
Jyri Huopaniemi, head of audio research at Nokia Technologies, highlighted the practical applications, noting that the technology could soon become standard. “This is now becoming standardised … so the network providers, chipset manufacturers, handset manufacturers can begin to implement it in their products,” Lukander added in an interview.
Nokia’s aim is to secure licensing opportunities for this technology, which could become widely available in a few years. This breakthrough promises to set a new benchmark in telecommunication, enhancing the quality and realism of voice calls across the globe.
