Palo Alto, Calif. & Minneapolis, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2006--Pursuing their mission to bring personalized sound to mainstream consumers, Sound ID, the leader in personalized sound technology, is partnering with Amplifon USA and the company's designated Miracle-Ear, Sonus, and National Hearing Centers hearing health care professionals to include the Sound ID Personal Sound System™ in its product line-up. Amplifon USA is the nation's leading provider of customized hearing solutions.
The multi-functional PSS is the first system designed for consumers who will benefit from improved sound quality in noisy environments, including mobile phone conversations. Delivering personalized sound, the PSS brings enhanced clarity and intelligibility to everyday communications that is "personalized" to the users listening preferences.
Sound ID has combined proprietary noise management and personalization algorithm technologies with Bluetooth® wireless and state-of-the-art audio technologies in a compact and sleek looking ear module. With the PSS, users will enjoy an improved listening experience -- at restaurants, using a mobile phone, participating in a business meeting, socializing at a party, listening to TV or conversing in any other noisy environment.
The market trial allows consumers in Orange County, California and Phoenix, Arizona to receive a free listening profile and purchase the PSS at designated Miracle-Ear, Sonus and National Hearing Centers. By offering the PSS at these locations, consumers will benefit from the knowledge, training and equipment of hearing professionals -- ensuring that each system is programmed to suit a user's individual sound needs and preferences.
"The versatile PSS provides the benefits of improved sound quality in several situations -- enabling users to enjoy listening and communication with greater ease, efficiency and effectiveness," said Rick Darnaby, President and CEO, Sound ID. "Amplifon is a great partner for Sound ID. With broad geographic coverage and excellent customer service, millions of consumers will have access to an innovative communication system -- personalized by experienced professionals."
"The Sound ID PSS is an excellent addition to our product portfolio, offering our customers a unique and stylish solution for improved hearing," said Christopher Toal, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Amplifon USA. "We're excited to see the results of the California and Arizona trials and hope to introduce the PSS into additional markets in the future."
About the PSS
The PSS is comprised of a high-tech, ergonomic Bluetooth-enabled Ear Module and Bluetooth-enabled remote microphone known as CompanionLink(TM). The Ear Module connects with CompanionLink(TM) and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones -- leveraging wireless technology to improve face-to-face and on-the-go communications.
Following a one-time set up process conducted by a Hearing Care Professional, the PSS becomes a personalized sound system delivering unmatched sound clarity in a wide variety of difficult listening situations.
Pricing and Availability
As part of the market trial, the Sound ID PSS is being sold through designated Miracle-Ear and National Hearing Centers locations in Phoenix, Arizona and Sonus and Miracle-Ear in Orange County, California. The PSS is also available nationally through Professional Hearing Care Providers.
The suggested retail price of the PSS system is $1499.00.
For more product, pricing and distribution details, please visit www.soundid.com or call 1-866-Sound ID.
About Sound ID
Sound ID™ was founded with the mission to bring personalized sound to mainstream consumers. The Sound ID Personal Sound System™ is designed for mainstream consumers who would benefit from improved sound quality in noisy environments. We combine Bluetooth and noise compensation technologies, sound processing algorithms, techniques that improve signal-to-noise ratio and other audio science to deliver state-of-the-art personal sound. The cutting edge technology in the PSS combined with the personalization services of our Hearing Care Provider partners provide enhanced listening and communication clarity in noisy restaurants, automobiles, mobile phone conversations, public settings, meeting rooms, parties, even listening to television with family and friends.
About Amplifon USA and Miracle-Ear, Sonus, and National Hearing Centers.
Amplifon USA is the nation's leader in delivering quality patient care and hearing solutions to individuals affected by hearing loss. The company's Miracle-Ear, National Hearing Centers and Sonus hearing health care providers deliver the highest level of patient care, convenient locations and widest hearing device selection in the industry. Formed in 1999, Amplifon USA is a subsidiary of Amplifon S.p.A., a Milan-based Italian multinational company, with more than 900 corporate employees in the United States.
Miracle-Ear, a division of Amplifon USA, is the most experienced and recognized hearing health care provider in the United States. Since 1948, Miracle-Ear has been a pioneer in offering state-of-the-art hearing solutions for its customers, including the first all-digital product line in the industry. Miracle-Ear has more than 1,100 franchised and company-owned Miracle-Ear Centers and Sears Hearing Aid Centers nationwide, providing customers convenience in location, a wide selection of innovative hearing devices and a well-trained team of hearing professionals dedicated to delivering the highest level of patient care.
Sonus is the largest professional hearing care network in the United States and Canada with more than 250 company-owned clinics and 1,400 independent hearing health care providers who are licensed Sonus Network affiliates. Sonus' patient-centered approach to hearing solutions ensures each patient's unique lifestyle needs are put first, giving them a broad spectrum of hearing care services and innovative hearing devices delivered by licensed hearing health care professionals.
National Hearing Centers, a division of Amplifon USA, provide patients with convenient locations primarily within Wal-Mart Super Centers, superior service and quality hearing devices at an affordable price. With more than 100 franchised and company-owned hearing centers nationwide, National Hearing Centers deliver a total hearing solution to match each customer's needs.
