FINLAND, June 14, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nokia has today announced the release of the Nokia Inductive Loopset LPS-3, an accessory for the Nokia 8200 and 8800 series mobile phones, as well as the Nokia 3210. This loopset complements the Nokia LPS-1 loopset, which was launched in 1998 and designed for the Nokia 5100, 6100 and 7100 series. The Nokia LPS-3 is available in markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The Nokia Inductive Loopset LPS-3, weighing only 60 grams, is easy to use and gives people who use a T-coil equipped hearing aid the freedom to talk on a digital mobile phone. It 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. As in the Nokia LPS-1, the product also has a built-in microphone and thus provides full hands free operation for the user. Furthermore, it offers users the optimal audio level and diminishes background noise, making it easier to carry on a conversation in a noisy environment. The Nokia LPS-3 introduces an answer button which provides ultimate ease of use: answering or ending a call can be done easily simply by pressing the Answer button. A vibra functionality in the Nokia 8200 and 8800 series mobile phones further enhances ease of use.
All hearing aids support the induction loop technology, which has been used for decades in banks, churches, and other public premises to assist people who are hard of hearing. The hearing aid captures the signal supplied from the loop when it is on the T or MT-mode. This same technology is used in the Nokia loopsets.
"We are very excited to introduce the new Nokia Inductive Loopset which further enhances the quality of life of people who use hearing aids. The Nokia LPS-1 was the first product of its kind in the world. Prior to the Nokia LPS-1, hearing aid users had been excluded from digital mobile communications due to interference caused by the digital signal. The Nokia LPS-3 provides this user group with further options in using mobile phones," says Harri Leinonen, Director, Accessory Product Marketing, Nokia Mobile Phones.
There are approximately 500 million hearing-impaired people in the world today.
Nokia is paving the way to the Mobile Information Society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 56,000 people.