Interview with John Cariola, AuD, Director of Product Management, Beltone

Carolyn Smaka:  Today I’m speaking with John Cariola from Beltone about the new iPhone® Direct Phone Link 2 and the SmartRemote™ app.  John, let’s start with an overview of the Direct Phone Link 2.

John Cariola: Sure. The Direct Phone Link 2 is the new Beltone wireless accessory for using the cell phones utilizing the industry-leading 2.4 GHz technology.  It works with the Beltone Promise™ and Beltone True™ hearing instrument lines.

We've upgraded this accessory from the prior version.  It now has directional microphones as well as a new algorithm to reduce ambient noise when someone is talking on the phone.  The directional microphones will transmit the voice of the wearer directly to the Phone Link 2 and send it with better signal-to-noise ratio. We've also updated the wind noise cancellation, which is a benefit when talking on the phone outside. In addition, we've improved the antenna design to deliver a more powerful and stable connection.  For convenience, we’ve added an on/off button as well.

The Phone Link 2 also has some basic hearing aid remote control functions, including the ability to change programs, and to increase/decrease the volume.  There's a button to mute the microphones on the hearing aids to just hear the cell phone and no ambient noise. 

There’s a button on the Phone Link 2 that allows you to accept or reject calls and to dial the previous number, depending on the Smartphone that you have.   And, you can have two different phones paired to the Phone Link 2 such as a work cell phone and personal cell phone, which is a new benefit.

Carolyn:  That sounds like a lot of features for one accessory, but from the photos it looks really streamlined and simple to use.

John:  It is really easy and intuitive.

Carolyn:  Who is a candidate for Phone Link 2, assuming they are being fit with a compatible hearing instrument?

John: Well, first of all, you would want to have a conversation about their listening needs – do they have a cell phone, and is it a smartphone?  Are they planning on getting one?  The Phone Link 2 provides a lot of advantages - anyone with a hearing loss using a phone could benefit from the better signal-to-noise ratio.   The hands-free aspect is also a benefit; you don’t need to hold anything in your hands to use this.

I think the most of the older population may have phones now, although they may not all have a SmartPhone, or a cell phone that can connect with Bluetooth. A candidate would be a patient with a SmartPhone who wants a better experience using the phone, because of the better signal-to-noise ratio that we have achieved, and also the fact that they can use it hands-free.

Carolyn:  If they use this device hands-free, the Phone Link 2 must utilize some sort of clothing clip?

John:  Yes, and in fact we’ve improved the clip.  The Phone Link 2 has the microphone that transmits the wearer’s voice.  Now we have a swivel clip that allows the patient to move it in different directions to orient the microphone properly near the mouth.  So it can be clipped on a collar, or on a pocket.  This keeps it aligned to ensure the best possible transmission of the wearer’s voice to the listener on the other end of the call.

Carolyn:  What is the size of the Phone Link 2?

John:  It’s about 2 ½ inches in length, 1 inch in width, and ½ inch thick.  It’s small.

Carolyn:  Now how does the SmartPhone app come in to play?

 John:  We’re really excited about this app.  If you use the Phone Link 2, the SmartPhone app enables you to use your iPhone as a remote control; you need the Phone Link 2 to use this app.  Using your phone, you can turn the volume up or down binaurally or on each ear independently.  It enables you to change the volume if you’re streaming from another device, for example the TV link or myPAL. 

You're also able to change programs as these instruments have up to four programs  and the streaming device.  Within the app you can name the programs or the streaming device, and call them whatever you like.   For example, you may name the programs home, restaurant, office, etc.  and name the streaming device TV Link, myPAL, microphone, and that sort of thing.  It's very flexible and easy-to-use. 

Carolyn:  I downloaded the app on my iPhone from iTunes by searching using the word Beltone.  Since I don’t have hearing instruments I played with it in demonstration mode.  It’s very intuitive – for example, to raise/lower the volume you sweep your finger up or down, and at the same time you see the visual indicator bars going up or down.

John: Exactly, and if you want to change volume only on the left side, you simply swipe over to the left and then you see that you are only adjusting the left side.  The same thing goes for adjusting over to the right, and it’s a simple sweep to go back to binaural. 

When you’re streaming, you’ll see two sections; a white section for the hearing instruments and a green section for the streaming device.  That makes it very easy to adjust the hearing aid discreetly without people maybe knowing you're doing it, because you're using your phone.  This is our first step in a whole process of being able to integrate with an iPhone. 

The app includes a simple tutorial, which gives you a list and brief explanation of the  features/functions on each screen.

It’s also smart.  For example, anytime you do a monaural adjustment and raise or lower the volumes so that there is a mismatch between the ears, and then return to the binaural screen to make an adjustment, it will even them out.  It knows if you are working on the binaural screen that the instruments should be in sync. 

Carolyn:  Ok I see.   If I drop the volume all the way down on the right side only then look at the binaural view I will see the difference between the right and the left side.  But now if I make a change to the volume in the binaural view, they'll automatically match up again.  That makes sense.

The cool thing about apps is that they can always be upgraded to add new features and functions.

John:   Right.  I should also mention that there will be an Android version coming out soon.

Carolyn:  You mentioned that the SmartPhone app is the first step in a process to integrate hearing instruments and phones.  Can you elaborate?

John:  We think it would be great to be able to adjust hearing aids directly from phones, without an intermediary device.

Carolyn:  Sounds exciting!  Thanks for speaking with me today about Phone Link 2 and the SmartPhone app.

John: Thanks, Carolyn.

For more information about the new iPhone® Direct Phone Link 2 and the SmartRemote™ app, visit www.beltone.com or the  Beltone Audiology Expo on AudiologyOnline.