Why has no one replaced speakerphones yet?

10 points by alienlike ↗ HN
To the budding entrepreneurs of Hacker News, I issue a challenge: develop a technology to replace speakerphones. There is nothing like being on the receiving end of a speakerphone and straining to understand what the guy in the back of the room is trying to say.

I can't say how this should work - that's up to you to work out. One solution might entail everyone synchronizing their smart phones. Another solution might involve a receiver and a room full of bluetooth headsets.

Perhaps I am thinking too narrowly about the problem, and some brand new mode of teleconferencing will render speakerphones obsolete. Regardless, thanks for your consideration! I look forward to never having to talk to a speakerphone again.

5 comments

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What do you mean? Replaced them with what?
Speakerphones are a get-what-you-pay-for kind of thing. Polycom speakerphones are expensive, but they work really well.
I agree. The polycoms with secondary microphones pick up those guys in the background you care about.

Being entrenched in the corporate culture, if you tried to sell my department on a brand new "speakerphone" that required the use of my cell phone, or was enhanced by my cell phone, I'm going to ask why my phone isn't corporate issued then, if I have to use it on all of my work conference calls.

If everyone used their own phone, then you might as well dial into a bridge, and I think that's a solved problem.

Enable G.722/HD Voice and use a set of satellite microphones for the room, problem solved.

I love Polycoms and was sad to see my employeer recently replace them with Cisco units (who designed the button layout of the 7937?).

Ohk, so this idea pops up in my mind.

An application to direct calls from your speakerphones when you're at home (or office) [Can be done via NFC or Same Wifi connection]. Without sacrificing the quality of your conversation.

I'd love to see this feature in Android, quite possible.

Pros:

- You don't have to get up for a call every time

- Great Quality

- Hackable for Developers

Cons:

- You have to built a special hardware for that