Nokia makes the world's first 'immersive' phone call with 3D spatial sound

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Image: Nokia

 

Nokia has successfully conducted the world’s first immersive voice and audio call. This revolutionary technology, known as the ‘3GPP Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec’, promises to take audio quality to unprecedented heights.

 

The IVAS codec, developed by a consortium of 13 companies, is designed to create a 3D-like spatial sound in real-time. This is a significant departure from the monophonic-sounding calls that users currently experience over traditional cell phone networks. The technology supports stereo and binaural audio, creating a 3D-like sound using two microphones.

 

 

The call was made between Nokia’s CEO and a Finnish ambassador, demonstrating the practical application of this technology.

 

Nokia’s CEO, Pekka Lundmark, expressed his excitement about the development, stating, "This groundbreaking audio technology takes you to the caller’s environment creating a spatial and massively improved listening experience for voice and video calls". He further highlighted the potential benefits of this technology for enterprise and industrial applications.

 

While the technology promises to revolutionize the way we communicate, it is yet to be implemented in any mobile networks. It is expected to arrive as part of the “5G-Advanced” standard, also known as 5.5G, later this year, with the specification set to be finalized by end-2025.

 

This development marks a significant leap forward in the live voice calling experience. It brings us one step closer to a future where digital interactions feel more realistic, potentially transforming not just voice and video calls, but also AR/VR and metaverse programs.

 

How will this immersive technology reshape our communication in the future? Share your thoughts below.

 

 

Read more:

• https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2024/06/10/nokia-makes-worlds-first-immersive-voice-and-audio-call/
• https://www.reuters.com/technology/nokia-ceo-makes-worlds-first-immersive-phone-call-2024-06-10/
• https://www.techradar.com/phones/nokia-just-made-the-worlds-first-immersive-phone-call-heres-what-that-means
• https://www.pcmag.com/news/nokia-makes-worlds-first-phone-call-using-3d-spatial-sound
• https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nokia-world-first-immersive-call