Pekka Lundmark, the CEO of Nokia, became part of history by making the world’s first ever ‘immersive’ phone call. This innovative call leveraged spatial audio technology to create a more lifelike and engaging conversation for both participants. Lundmark even said it felt like he was having a conversation with the other person in the same room!
While immersive calls are still under development, this breakthrough has the potential to completely transform the way we communicate with each other. Let’s dive deeper into the details of this groundbreaking call.
What is an Immersive Phone Call?
Regular phone calls use monophonic audio, which means sound comes from a single source. This can make conversations sound flat and one-dimensional. Immersive calls, on the other hand, use spatial audio. This creates a three-dimensional soundscape, making it seem like you’re in the same space as the person you’re talking to.
How Did Nokia Achieve This Feat?
The secret behind this historic call lies in Nokia’s new Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec. This codec is designed to work on the upcoming 5G Advanced standard. IVAS allows users to experience real-time spatial audio during calls, making them more natural and engaging.
Here’s the kicker: The call was made on a regular smartphone over a public 5G network! This highlights the potential of IVAS to transform our existing devices without requiring extensive upgrades.
Benefits and Future Implications
Imagine a world where conference calls feel like everyone’s in the same room, or video calls where you can pinpoint the location of each speaker. This is the future that immersive calls promise.
Nokia believes IVAS has applications beyond regular calls. They envision a future where this technology enhances extended reality experiences and even plays a role in the development of the metaverse.
While widespread adoption might take some time, Nokia’s successful immersive call marks a significant step towards more realistic and interactive phone conversations. With continued development and the rollout of 5G Advanced, immersive calls could soon become the new standard in communication.