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Nokia launches DAB headset

by Sarah Griffiths on 18 October 2010, 16:11

Tags: BBC, Nokia (NYSE:NOK)

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Hear ye, hear ye!

Nokia has launched its Digital Radio Headset, bringing digital stations to users of its Symbian 3 powered smartphones via a headset.

The headset promises to bring the UK's 24 national digital radio stations and over 50 local offerings to its Symbian 3 N8, C7 and E7 phones using their ‘USB On the Go' feature.

When hooked up to a phone, the headset turns it into a DAB receiver and displays the channel on the phone's screen, while the headset can be used to change channels and volume.

The headset will be available this quarter for £44.99 and has in-ear stereo headphones and a 3.5mm jack.  It also has an integrated microphone for phone calls, with the dongle used to open and close calls, and can control music and video playback.

The headset also allows Nokia N8 users to listen to DAB radio in their car as it can be plugged into existing in-car audio systems, which could be handy as Ofcom estimates almost 20 percent of radio listening is done in the car, but just 1 percent of cars come with DAB installed.

Mark Selby, VP of industry collaborations at Nokia said: "Over 90 percent of UK adults listen to the radio weekly and 24.6 percent listen via a digital platform. The Nokia Digital Headset now makes DAB listening possible on your mobile.  Pedestrians and drivers can use the free navigation on their N8 and listen to their favourite DAB station."

 Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, said: "There is now real momentum in the transition to digital radio and the launch of the Nokia Digital Radio Headset is a real consumer milestone, delivering full DAB digital radio services and functionality in a mobile phone for the first time."

Here's an image of the headset.