Nokia CEO Initiates First-Ever ‘Immersive’ Phone Conversation

Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark recently made a phone call using a new technology called “immersive audio and video” that enhances call quality with three-dimensional sound, providing a more lifelike interaction. According to the company, the call demonstrated the future of voice calls, offering a significantly improved experience compared to current monophonic calls that lack detail and depth. Lundmark, who was present in the room when the first 2G call was made in 1991, expressed excitement about the potential of this new technology.

Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies, described the introduction of 3D audio in voice calls as the biggest leap forward in live voice calling experience since the inception of monophonic telephony audio used in smartphones and PCs today. The recent call was made with Finland’s Ambassador of Digitalisation and New Technologies, Stefan Lindström, marking a significant milestone in the development of immersive audio technology.

Nokia aims to standardize this technology, allowing network providers, chipset manufacturers, and handset manufacturers to implement it in their products. The call was made using a regular smartphone over a public 5G network, showcasing the wide applications of this new advancement. Jyri Huopaniemi, head of audio research at Nokia Technologies, highlighted that the technology could also be used in conference calls by separating the voices of participants based on their spatial locations.

With the majority of smartphones equipped with at least two microphones, this technology can be readily implemented to provide real-time spatial characteristics in calls. Nokia plans to pursue licensing opportunities with this technology, which is expected to become part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard. While it may take a few years for the technology to be widely available, the company is optimistic about its potential impact on enhancing voice call experiences globally.