Nokia’s CEO makes the world’s first call with “immersive audio and video” technology.

In a significant technical achievement, Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark made the world’s first phone conversation utilizing a new “immersive audio and video” technology. This device aims to improve the quality of phone calls by adding three-dimensional sound, making interactions more lifelike. “We have demonstrated the future of voice calls,” Lundmark stated, highlighting the revolutionary power of this new technology. Notably, Lundmark was present when the first 2G call was made in 1991, marking another watershed moment in the growth of telecommunications.

A leap forward in audio technology.

Current smartphone calls are monophonic, which compresses audio parts together to produce a flatter, less detailed sound. However, the new immersive audio technology emphasizes 3D sound, allowing callers to enjoy discussions as if they were in the same room as the other person. Nokia Technologies’ President, Jenni Lukander, praised this achievement as “the biggest leap forward in the live voice calling experience since the introduction of monophonic telephony audio used in smartphones and PCs today.”

The Historic Call

Lundmark spoke with Stefan Lindström, Finland’s Ambassador of Digitalization and New Technologies, using a conventional smartphone over a public 5G network. This demonstration focused on the technology’s practical use, highlighting its potential to alter ordinary conversations.

Standardization and Implementation

“This is now becoming standardized,” Lukander said, implying that network providers, chip manufacturers, and phone makers may start incorporating this technology into their devices. Jyri Huopaniemi, head of audio research at Nokia Technologies, stated that this technique may potentially be used in conference calls to segregate people’s voices depending on geographical position, improving clarity and engagement.

The great majority of smartphones now have at least two microphones; thus, the technology may be implemented by conveying the spatial features of a call in real-time. This immersive technology is part of the future 5G Advanced standard, and Nokia intends to use licensing possibilities to make it broadly available in a few years’ time.

Transforming Communication

Nokia’s new immersive audio and visual technology promises to transform the way we interact with voice conversations. By incorporating 3D sound into mobile communications, it substantially improves the richness and quality of conversations, making interactions more engaging and realistic. This breakthrough not only enhances personal communications but also has important corporate and industrial uses, such as in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) settings.

Lundmark stated, “This groundbreaking audio technology takes you to the caller’s environment, creating a spatial and massively improved listening experience for voice and video calls.”

Future Prospects

Nokia’s immersive audio and visual technology marks a significant advancement in telecommunications. As it becomes more standardized and incorporated into consumer products, it has the potential to improve both personal and professional connections. The technology is consistent with Nokia’s aim of pioneering breakthroughs that define the future of connectivity, resulting in a richer, more immersive experience for people globally.

By concentrating on high-quality, immersive experiences, Nokia is at the forefront of technical developments, propelling telecoms into a new era of lifelike interactions. As this technology gains traction, it will surely raise the bar for audio and video quality in mobile communications, cementing Nokia’s position as an industry leader.