Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark showcased “immersive audio and video” technology, which enhances call quality with three-dimensional sound for a more realistic experience.
Lundmark highlighted this as a revolutionary step in voice calling since the first 2G call in 1991. Unlike monophonic calls that merge sounds into a single channel, this technology allows for 3D audio, creating the effect of being physically present with the other party.
Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies, described it as the most significant advancement in live voice calling since the onset of monophonic audio in smartphones and PCs.
The demonstration involved a call to Stefan Lindström, Finland’s Digitalisation and New Technologies Ambassador, using a standard smartphone over a public 5G network.
Lukander noted that standardization efforts are underway, allowing network providers and manufacturers to integrate this technology into their products.
Jyri Huopaniemi, head of audio research at Nokia Technologies, explained that immersive calls could also enhance conference calls by spatially separating participants’ voices. He mentioned that most smartphones have dual microphones, enabling the real-time transmission of spatial call characteristics.
This technology, part of the forthcoming 5G Advanced standard, presents licensing opportunities for Nokia and is expected to become widely available in the coming years.
