Auracast’s Bluetooth technology makes it simple to use hearing aids to listen to public announcements.
Google said on Thursday that it has partnered with Bluetooth SIG to bring Auracast, which is fuelled by the newest Bluetooth LE technology, to Android OS. The first smartphones with Auracast capability will be the Google Pixel 9 series, which runs on the most recent Android 16 beta, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones, which run on Android 15-based OneUI 7. This will allow users to tune into audio broadcasts from public or crowded venues while also using on-phone hearing aids for a customized hearing experience.
To tune into Aurcast-powered broadcasts from sources like public spaces and TV streamers, users only need to pair an Auracast-compatible hearing aid from companies like GN Hearing and Starkey with an approved Samsung or Pixel smartphone. Auracast, a Bluetooth-enabled audio technology that enables users to link their devices directly to public audio broadcasts, is a feature of contemporary hearing aids.
Auracast is not limited to those who have hearing impairments; it can benefit nearly everyone, particularly in public settings where broadcasters may use the earbuds that people are already wearing to deliver their message without disturbing other people. As more and more public spaces, like malls, airports, and public parks, begin implementing Auracast to provide customized audio broadcasts, customers can access the service on certain devices by just scanning a QR code.
The process of locating and joining an Aurcast audio broadcast is comparable to connecting to a Wi-Fi network; some broadcasts require a password to join, while others are open. In a similar manner, scanning a QR code allows one to tune into an Auracast broadcast and utilize it to pay.
