Motorola Solutions Investing in Speech Enhancement Developer VocalZoom

Motorola Solutions is investing in speech enhancement developer VocalZoom, Motorola Solutions said Wednesday. It didn’t disclose terms, but said other investors include 3M, Japanese firm FueTrak and OurCrowd. Israeli company VocalZoom has created an optoelectronic microphone that can enhance a speaker’s voice by creating a “virtual cube” so it substantially stands out above background noise. Motorola Solutions said its investment is connected to its plans to enhance public safety and commercial communications. VocalZoom’s technology “is the only technology of its kind that is not affected by any background noise, and has the potential to provide disruptive voice clarity in any condition,” VocalZoom Chairman Yechiel Kurtz said in a Motorola Solutions news release. The technology “has the potential to be the difference of whether a firefighter can communicate at a dangerous fire scene or if a transportation or utility worker can give or receive information in a noisy work environment,” Motorola Solutions Chief Technology Officer Paul Steinberg said in the release.