GN ReSound Announces the First Rechargeable Hearing Instrument

GN ReSound is about to launch the first workable rechargeable hearing aid in the hearing instrument industry, the ReSound Pulse, as the company continues its string of new product launches, consolidating its market position in all price segments.

In a world where consumers have cell phones, electric toothbrushes and MP3 players that are rechargeable as a matter of course, it has not yet been feasible for manufacturers to develop rechargeable devices due to the relatively small size of a hearing instrument.

“For quite some time, we’ve been pursuing the goal of launching a rechargeable hearing instrument that would be so easy to use and comfortable to wear that people would consider it a major improvement. With the ReSound Pulse, users will no longer have to worry about changing batteries all the time. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 24 hours after five hours of charging,” says GN ReSound CEO Jesper Mailind.

According to Senior Vice President Henrik Wiboltt, GN ReSound’s market data documents that having a rechargeable hearing instrument is essential for users in the target group. Unusual for a hearing instrument, the ReSound Pulse has a target group of consumers aged 45 to 64.

This is a relatively young age group in hearing instrument terms, but it is also attractive for the industry in its dedicated efforts to launch products that will be accepted by younger target groups. Extra sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars await the manufacturer that successfully addresses the younger target groups. Only 13% of people aged 45 to 64 who need a hearing aid actually have one.

Part of the explanation for this situation is the fact that to many people, using a hearing aid is bothersome. Using a hearing aid makes many people feel old. That’s why younger age groups want a hearing aid that looks good, in addition to providing excellent sound quality, of course.

The ReSound Pulse was created to meet these demands and it is based on the most award-winning design in the industry. It also offers several technical innovations such as preventing high pitched squeals, and it suppresses wind noise. Earlier in the year, GN ReSound launched a number of important products, e.g. the ReSound Pixel, the ReSound Plus 5, the Beltone One and the Beltone LinQ. GN ReSound has launched a total of 11 new products this year.

The high demand for technology innovation and, with it, R&D results is one of the main reasons why Swiss manufacturer Phonak will be able to make its recent acquisition of GN ReSound a value-creating investment. Once these two companies, currently third and fourth largest in the industry, are combined, they will constitute the world’s largest manufacturer of hearing instruments. Together, they will be able to develop new products previously unseen in the industry.

For more information, please contact:

Jesper Mailind, CEO, GN ReSound, tel.: +45 4575 1000, cell: +45 2092 1260
Henrik Wiboltt, Senior Vice President, GN ReSound, tel. +45 4575 1200, cell: +45 4054 3170

www.resoundpulse.com