Advanced Bionics to connect cochlear implants to cell phones, TVs using Sonova’s chip tech

Advanced Bionics said today that it plans to integrate Sonova‘s Sword chip and wireless radio tech into its sound processors.

Sonova’s technology can connect hearing devices to almost any kind of cell phone, the company explained, without the need for an extra streaming device.

“By offering a solution to the entire market – including the more than 80% of the world’s smartphone owners who purchased Android devices – Sonova becomes the first and only major hearing solutions company to unlock the enormous potential of universal direct connectivity,” Sonova CEO Lukas Braunschweiler said in prepared remarks. “Our chip will be the foundation for a wide variety of unique and innovative solutions in the coming years.”

Sonova’s chip has the lowest power consumption of any hearing aid using Bluetooth, the company touted.

By integrating its hearing-loss devices with Sonova’s Sword tech, Advanced Bionic users can answer or deny a phone call by pushing a button on their hearing device. The user will hear the phone ringing through the device, according to Advanced Bionics, and the conversation begins streaming as soon as the call is accepted.

Sonova’s technology also gives users the opportunity to turn their devices into wireless TV headphones.

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