World-first in fitness tracking Jabra

WoRLD-fIRST In fITnESS TRackInG

Jabra is a global leader in the development and manufacture of a broad range of communications and sound solutions including wireless and corded headsets for mobile phone users and contact centres. Philip Yorke reports on a company that has strengthened its global market position through its innovative technology and exceptional product functionality.

Jabra Corporation is a subsidiary of GN Netcom and has its roots in the Norcom Electronics Corporation of America, which was founded in 1983 by entrepreneur Elwood Norris. In 2006 GN Netcom consolidated its contact centre and office headset division under the Jabra Brand and this was followed by the restructuring of the company in 2008. This strategic move resulted in a greater focus on global businessto-business and consumer markets.

Today the company continues to focus on innovation and investment in new technology in order to extend its lead in the headset marketplace. Jabra’s head office is located in Copenhagen, Denmark from where it manages its diverse global operations. It employs around 1000 people and in 2016 recorded sales of more than DDK 4 billion Advances in wireless headphones

Recently Jabra announced the launch of its next generation of wireless sports headphones with a unique fitness tracking feature, which is a world first. The company recently unveiled its Jabra Sports Pulse and Jabra Sport Coach special editions with improvements in fit, sound, durability and a range of other smart new sports features. It subsequently introduced the Jabra Sports Pulse and Jabra Sports Coach special editions. Optimised for running, the Jabra Sport Pulse special edition is the world’s first sports headphone to feature automatic and continuous VO2 Max fitness testing.

Just like the company’s existing line-up of Jabra sports headphones, the new editions offer quality calls, music for motivation and intelligent

in-ear coaching to help enhance training effectiveness. In addition, these next generation versions deliver innovation in all areas, with passive noise cancellation, a broader choice of fitting options, improved durability and many unique, intelligent sports features.

Max data generated by the Jabra Sports Pulse Special Edition allows the user to track their fitness development and really get the most from a work-out. The above-mentioned intelligent in-ear coaching provides realtime feedback based upon the athlete’s heart rate and level of fitness.

At the end of a run, the Jabra Sport Life app provides a range of information to help improve future fitness levels, including distance covered, pace, route, calories burned and training effect.

Furthermore, the Jabra Sport Coach Special Edition models are the world’s first headphones to feature automatic repetition counting through the TrackFit® motion sensor. Along with the integrated in-ear coaching, they provide the freedom to plan, track and focus on the day’s workout. Combination stereo headphones

Jabra’s intelligent stereo headphones offer users all-day calls and music in one. Designed for optimal voice quality, Jabra Halo Smart Wireless stereo headphones provide a superior sound experiencewith up to 17 hours battery life for on-the-go lifestyles. This latest advanced product from Jabra fits 80 per cent of users who want one set of headphones for both calls and music, but find the call experience on most music devices inadequate.

Designed for calls first and foremost, Jabra Halo Smart uses a high quality microphone with integrated wind-noise protection for enhanced in-call quality and subtle vibration alert to ensure that calls are never missed.

The intelligence of Jabra Halo Smart lies in its ability to let the user manage calls, music and media from one device. It also allows users to access SiriTM or Google NowTM at the touch of a button and keeps the wearer connected and informed in a number of ways. “We are all doing

more with our smart-phones than ever before, whether it’s making or taking calls, listening to music on-the-move or watching a movie clip during a break. So we wanted to create a set of wireless headphones that deliver amazing sound whatever you are doing, whether taking calls or listening to music,” said Calum Mac-Dougall, SVP at Jabra.

Innovation and acquisition driving growth

In October 2016, GN Audio, the owner of Jabra, announced it had acquired the VXi Corporation, the headset manufacturer of both the VXi and BlueParrott brands. “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with VXi. The acquisition further strengthens our position on the North American market, where we have shown strong progress in recent years. We will build on VXi’s strong presence and reputation in the US and combine it with the international reach and professionalism of GN audio and the Jabra team,” said Paul Hamnet, President for GN Audio in North America.

Jabra is a brand of the global GN Group, which stands out as a world leader in intelligent audio solutions that transform people’s lives through the power of sound. The GN Group is made up of GN Hearing with the flagship hearing-aid brand, ReSound and GN Audio with its flagship brand Jabra, which now also includes the VXi and BlueParrot brands.

The cutting edge headsets and industry leading medical smart hearing-aid technology makes the GN Group unique in the industry. This unrivalled technological mix enables it to be the only company that can transform deep insight from both the hearing aid and the headset customers into world-leading expertise in the human auditory system, sound processing and wireless technologies.

The acquisition of VXi will further strengthen GN Audio’s presence and market share in the important North American market as well as allowing it access to new and attractive market segments. It also gives GN Audio the opportunity to leverage VXi’s best-in-class expertise within ‘High Noise’ communication environments. n

For further details of Jabra’s latest innovative products and services visit: www.jabra.com