Chip reduces background noise on cell calls

Audience, a company based in Mountain View, California, has introduced a chip that can reduce noice and echo in calls made from cell phones.  Lloyd Watts, CEO, explains that the chip imitates the human ear's ability to distinguish sounds.  By using two microphones on the phone, one where you would normally talk into it and one on the back of the phone, the chip can distinguish between the foreground (voice) and background noises.  

The chip can be used with GSM  and CDMA phones and is currently available in the Sharp SH705iII handset in Japan and the LG Electronics LG-SH400 in South Korea.  According to the company, it will be available in other handsets soon.