Nokia CEO Makes First ‘Immersive’ Call

Nokia claimed Monday that CEO Pekka Lundmark had a conversation using “immersive audio and video” technology, which adds three-dimensional sound to calls, making them more lifelike

According to Nokia, CEO Pekka Lundmark utilized a novel technology, “immersive audio and video,” to conduct a phone conversation.

This technology enhances the quality of a call by providing three-dimensional sound, thereby enhancing the lifelikeness of interactions.

“We have exhibited the future of voice calls,” stated Lundmark, who was also present in the room when the first 2G connection was made in 1991.

The current state of smartphone calls is monophonic, compressing audio elements and resulting in a flatter and less detailed sound. However, the new technology will introduce 3D audio, allowing the receiver to hear everything as if they were present with the other person.

“It represents the most significant advancement in the live voice calling experience since the introduction of monophonic telephony audio, currently utilized in smartphones and PCs,” stated Jenni Lukander, president of Nokia Technologies.

Stefan Lindström, Finland’s Digitalization and New Technologies Ambassador, participated in the call.

“This is now becoming standardized, so network providers, chip manufacturers, and handset manufacturers can begin to implement it in their products,” Lukander stated during a telephone interview.

Nokia used a standard smartphone to converse over a public 5G network.

Jyri Huopaniemi, the director of audio research at Nokia Technologies, claims that this technology applies to immersive person-to-person calls and conference calls where participants’ spatial locations can distinguish their voices.

According to executives, most smartphones are equipped with at least two microphones, which can transmit the spatial characteristics of a call in real-time.

Nokia intends to secure licensing opportunities for the technology, which is part of the forthcoming 5G Advanced standard. The technology is anticipated to be widely available in a few years.