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Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark has made telecommunications history by conducting the world’s first immersive phone call using groundbreaking “immersive audio and video” technology. Announced on Monday, this innovation promises to transform voice calls by incorporating three-dimensional sound, creating a more lifelike interaction.
“We have demonstrated the future of voice calls,” stated Lundmark, reflecting on his presence at the dawn of the 2G era in 1991. Traditional smartphone calls are limited to monophonic sound, which compresses audio and lacks depth. This new technology introduces 3D audio, making callers feel as though they are in the same room.
Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies, emphasized the significance of this development: “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.”
The historic call was made with Stefan Lindström, Finland’s Ambassador of Digitalisation and New Technologies, marking a milestone in Nokia’s innovation journey. Lukander explained that this technology is on the path to standardization, allowing network providers, chipset manufacturers, and handset makers to integrate it into their products.
Using a regular smartphone over a public 5G network, the immersive call demonstrated the practical application of this technology. Jyri Huopaniemi, head of audio research at Nokia Technologies, highlighted its potential beyond person-to-person calls, especially in conference calls where spatial audio can distinctly separate participants’ voices based on their location.
Most modern smartphones, equipped with at least two microphones, are ready for this technology, which transmits the spatial characteristics of a call in real-time. As part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard, Nokia aims to license this technology, though widespread adoption may take a few years.
Nokia’s immersive audio innovation is a significant step forward, making virtual conversations as dynamic and engaging as face-to-face interactions, and paving the way for a new era in telecommunications.
