Connectivity: Ultra-Responsive ERA™ Chip at the Heart of Infinio
AudiologyOnline: How does the new Phonak ERA chip connect patients to their digital universe?
Michael Preuss, BSc: In today’s world, our social networks are often remote, virtual, and at the touch of a button instead of the touch of a hand. We know that connectivity plays a fundamental role in communication, enables connections, offers entertainment and collaboration, and that connectivity in our ever-evolving world is becoming more and more important.
This highlights the need for seamless, effortless and reliable connectivity in hearing devices, as they must serve as the bridge into one’s digital universe. With Infinio, market-leading connectivity takes a giant leap forward. 
We are introducing our new powerful ERA Chip which builds the foundation for all our wireless Infinio devices for connectivity you and your patients can count on. ERA is a true multi-talent and comes in combination with a patented antenna design, offering unparalleled wireless technology flexibility and stability.
AudiologyOnline: What does universal connectivity look like with ERA?
Michael Preuss, BSc: Connectivity and versatility in the hearing industry are not created equal. Phonak’s universal connectivity continues to set the benchmark, connecting to more than 6,800 smartphones, both Android and iOS. Unlike other solutions that require complicated setups or are limited due to their protocols, such as ASHA or MFi. Our connectivity is simple, comprehensive, and ready for the future.
AudiologyOnline: How does ERA take connectivity to the next level?
Michael Preuss, BSc:
- Future-ready compatibility: ERA chip technology is ready for future compatibility with Auracast, the next evolution in wireless audio transmission. Auracast is poised to replace traditional telecoils/loop systems, allowing users to tap into publicly broadcast audio from TVs, information screens, PA systems, and other sources.
- Seamless device switching: With ERA, users can maintain two active connections, making it effortless to switch between laptops and phones, and can pair with up to eight devices. It supports Bluetooth Low Energy and Bluetooth classic, including Hands Free Profile and Advanced Audio Distribution Profile for high audio quality.
- Comprehensive connectivity: ERA’s universal connectivity doesn’t stop at Bluetooth. It also includes Roger™, Airstream and Binaural Voice Stream Technology – bringing all these capabilities together on a single chip.
AudiologyOnline: How does ERA provide better connections, not just more connections?
Michael Preuss, BSc:
- Patented antenna design– In combination with a new innovative antenna design ERA enhances connection stability and efficiency, ensuring users experience fewer interruptions and even more consistent performance.
- Incredible processing power -With 552 million operations per second and 74% more RAM compared to its predecessor Lumity, ERA delivers exceptionally fast processing speeds. Bluetooth connections are established almost instantly, and the system intelligently reverts back into the previous program when streaming is paused, ensuring no words slip by.
- Extended range – Thanks to up to 6x higher transmission power compared to Lumity, ERA ensures a more stable Bluetooth connection, allowing for uninterrupted hands-free calls and streaming up to double the distance. Whether your patients are cooking or gardening, their connection remains solid.
AudiologyOnline: Are there any improvements with connectivity while outdoors?
Michael Preuss, BSc: We vigorously tested ERA’s performance against two key competitors, focusing on outdoor connection stability with both Android and iOS devices. Infinio’s ERA outperformed the competitors, maintaining a stable connection up to 108 meters with iOS devices and up to 206 meters with Android devices. This translates to more reliable connectivity in real-world conditions, regardless of where the phone is – whether in a pocket, a backpack or even further away.
There is nothing like the new ERA, ushering in a new standard of connectivity for today and tomorrow, ERA introduces the next level of digital signal processing (DSP), including APD 3.0 and AutoSense OS 6.0. And thanks to ERA’s efficient energy use, your patients can enjoy a full day of listening.
Michael Preuss, BSc
Michael moved to Switzerland to join Phonak as an Audiology Manager in 2020. Benefitting from his lecturing background at the Academy of Hearing Acoustics in Lübeck and living with a hearing loss, Michael aims to deliver comprehensive expert training sessions both in English and German. Michael studied Hearing Acoustics at the University of Applied Sciences in Lübeck, Germany.