Pekka Lundmark, the CEO of Nokia, made headlines in the technology sector by introducing the world's first 'immersive' phone call.

This innovation, called "immersive audio and video," significantly enhances call quality, even on traditional 5G smartphones. "This is the most significant advancement in live voice calling since the introduction of monophonic telephony audio used in today's smartphones and PCs," commented Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies.

This advanced technology is expected to be particularly beneficial in conference calls, where it can distinctly separate and amplify the voices of participants, creating a more realistic audio experience. Conventional phone calls, which use monophonic audio, compress audio components, resulting in a flat and detail-lacking sound. In contrast, immersive calls have the potential to revolutionize our communication methods, making interactions more dynamic and captivating.

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An immersive phone call, as the name suggests, aims to create a more authentic and interactive communication experience. This is achieved using various sophisticated technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and haptic feedback. Nokia's approach utilizes spatial audio, a technology designed to replicate the way we perceive sound in real life.

For those unfamiliar with spatial audio, it enhances the auditory experience by creating a sense of presence and directionality, giving the impression that the sound is coming from a specific location. This is especially beneficial in group calls or meetings, where it can simulate the experience of being in an actual conference room.

Implementing Immersive Calls in Modern Smartphones

Most modern smartphones, equipped with at least two microphones, can support this technology. Nokia claims that immersive calls can be facilitated by "transmitting the spatial characteristics of a call in real-time." This means that the technology captures and reproduces the spatial attributes of sound, thereby improving the overall audio quality.

This immersive call technology is part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard, and Nokia is exploring licensing opportunities for its broader application. By integrating spatial audio into regular phone calls, Nokia is paving the way for a new era in communication, where every call is more engaging and natural.

Nokia's breakthrough in immersive phone call technology represents a major advancement in how we experience voice communication. By improving audio quality and creating a more realistic sound environment, this technology has the potential to transform not only personal calls but also professional and conference calls, making interactions more convincing and efficient. As this technology gains wider acceptance, it could change our expectations for phone call quality and communication.

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