-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technical Committee on Audio for Telecommunications The trend in mobile telecommunications has been toward higher quality audio. As portable communications devices have moved from novelty to mainstream use, expectations on the audio quality and the audio features have increased. On the transducer front electrodynamic receivers have replaced piezoelectric devices used in lower end products. This change provides better sound quality, improved compatibility with assistive hearing devices, and allows for leak tolerant designs that maintain a consistent system response over a wide range of device-to-ear seal conditions. Armature ringers, or buzzers, are being replaced by micro-loudspeakers. These micro-loudspeaker alerts are now being driven by polyphonic MIDI tones that can be downloaded to the device either over a network or via a PC interface. The wider range and polyphony allows these devices to be used for audio in embedded or downloadable games. The gaming capabilities are becoming a more important feature in future portable communications products. In addition to the change in transducers, the trend is toward improvement in audio connectivity. Monaural headsets are being replaced with stereo headsets to allow playback of other source material over the communications devices such as MIDI, FM radio, and MP3 audio. In addition to the connectivity change, the trend is toward improved electronics to support the wide frequency range required by these formats. New legislation regarding communication use in cars has led to the increased desire for hands-free solutions either as add-on devices or built into the communication device. This trend is leading towards the development of better hands-free car kits, improved noise reduction, and improved connectivity. Bluetooth systems are being added to portable telecom devices allowing easy to use wireless connection to automotive sound systems. These telematic systems allow the user to use the automobile's sound system for hands-free speakerphone use. In addition voice recognition has become more prevalent for voice name-dialing using user dependant systems, with the trend leading toward user independent VR, voice digit-dialing, and voice menu-navigation in future products. With the introduction of third generation (3G) technologies the demand on the telecommunication device audio will only increase. The new systems such as the currently implemented I-mode and soon to be implemented WCDMA will allow wider bandwidth MIDI reproduction, two-way video calling, and streaming audio integrated in the device. The convergence of all of these technologies and the globalization of wireless telecommunications has led to myriad standards for telecommunications audio. A key topic that has been brought up at each of the technical committee meetings over the past two years has been the issue of the large number of standards that suppliers are required to design to. Another topic of interest that has come up repeatedly is that of changing headset and handset audio testing. Both of these areas will be covered in AES workshops over the next year. Bob Zurek, Chair w15754@email.mot.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------