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Nokia inductive loop brings mobile communications to hearing aid users
April 02, 1998
Nokia LPS-1 is an easy to use device for smooth interaction between a hearing aid and a digital mobile phone
Nokia today announced the Nokia LPS-1 loopset, an accessory for the Nokia 6100 and Nokia 5100 series mobile phones. The Nokia LPS-1 facilitates a hearing impaired person to use a digital mobile phone. The device consists of a wireloop which goes around the user's neck and connects to the bottom of the mobile phone. The loopset transmits speech from the phone to the hearing aid in the ear. The product has a built-in microphone and therefore provides full hands free operation for the user. The Nokia LPS-1 loopset will be available in volumes in June 1998.
The Nokia LPS-1 is the first product of its kind in the world. Hearing impaired people have previously been unable to use digital mobile phones due to interference caused by the digital signal. Now for the first time there is a solution to overcome this difficulty in an easy way.
All hearing aids have support for the induction loop technology, which has been used for decades in banks, churches, and other public premises to help the hearing impaired to communicate. The hearing aid captures the signal supplied from the loop when it is on the T-mode. This same technology is now utilized in the Nokia LPS-1. Using a vibrating battery further enhances the ease of use of the LPS-1 product. When the phone is set on the auto-answer mode, the user only needs to switch the hearing aid to the T-mode to answer the call.
"Hearing aid users have previously been excluded from digital mobile communications. We are very happy to be able to introduce this simple but yet ingenious innovation, which will provide that user group a practical way to use portable phones", said Mikko Palatsi, Product Marketing Manager, Nokia Mobile Phones.
Approximately 8 million people use hearing aids in Europe today.
Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a broad-scope telecommunications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and PC monitors. With sales in 130 countries, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion) in 1997. Nokia employs more than 36,000 people worldwide.
Further information:
Nokia Mobile Phones, Communications
tel. +358 10 5051
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