Manx Telecom is already looking to expand its revolutionary ’hearing aid in the sky’ mobile technology to the UK.

MT clearSound was launched at an event at the Nunnery, Douglas.

It has the potential to provide ’life changing benefits’ for thousands of people, as many as 14,000, in the island with varying degrees of hearing loss.

But Manx Telecom has already sets its sights further.

MT’s strategic development director David Smith told Business News it had been a ’truly momentous day’ and said clearSound was a ’world’s first’ in mobile technology.

He said: ’Preparations for a launch over on the adjacent island are well under way. This has been underpinned by our deal with BT [in the UK] to use its EE mobile network.’

It was a historic and emotional event for Matthew Turner, founder and chief executive of Goshawk Communications, and a winner in the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence.

And one of the people who trialled the new system said: ’This man deserves a medal or a knighthood.’

Matthew’s own experiences of having hearing loss inspired him to find a solution to problems he and many others experienced when making mobile phone calls.

He said: ’My frustration was trying to talk to my children, trying to talk to my family, or even in business, using a mobile phone became increasingly frustrating.’

He engaged with one of the world’s leading authorities on auditory perception, Emeritus professor Brian Moore from Cambridge University.

’Thanks to his knowledge and expertise,’ added Mr Turner, ’we were able to generate the first algorithms to measure someone’s hearing loss over the telephone using a mobile network.’

MT clearSound has been researched, trialled and developed in the island by Manx Telecom, working in partnership with Goshawk Communications, which is part of the MT group - and backed by medical professionals.

Manx Telecom chief executive Gary Lamb who arrived at the Nunnery after a dash from London City Airport, said: ’There are up to 14,000 people on the island with hearing loss, and millions around the world.

’Many of those struggle to do something that most of us take for granted - having the confidence to talk to people on the phone knowing they can concentrate on the conversation rather than the frustration.

’Goshawk’s technology can make a vast improvement to the quality of calls not only for the hard of hearing, but also for every mobile user who is seeking greater call clarity.

’This enabling, empowering, aspect of the product is why we chose the ’’now I can’’ theme to spread the word about how we can help people whether they are using the phone for social or work purposes.’

2018 clinical trials of MT clearSound found that 90 per cent of triallists agreed that speech was clearer and easier to hear using the product.

Volunteer Viv Ward said she was enjoying the benefits of using the innovation.

Viv, who is from Laxey said that using the technology has given her more confidence.

She brought smiles to the Nunnery audience by saying: ’You can’t beat a bit of skeet.’

She added: ’I feel that I have been part of progress and it was good to be involved in something positive.’

Geraldine Willman from Ballasalla uses hearing aids.After taking part in several trials of the technology she reported it made a significant difference.

She said: ’It just made it so much clearer, it really did.’

Registration for MR clear Sound only takes a few minutes.

Following a simple hearing test to evaulate how the customer hears different sounds on their mobile phone, MR clear Sound uses software to create a personalised profile tailored to the user’s hearing ability.

Manx Telecom Pay Monthly mobile customers will be the first in the world to use the product which is being initially offered as a added service at no extra cost.

The launch of MT clearSound: Back row, left to right, are Sally Shaw, founder and director of UK based Ideas for Ears; Gary Lamb, chief executive officer, Manx Telecom; Stephen Griffiths, head of audiology services, Department of Health and Social Care; David Smith, strategic development director, Manx Telecom; and Ian Buxton, Manx Deaf Society. Front row, left to right, are Viv Ward, one of the volunteers who took part in clinical trials of the technology behind MT clearSound; Matthew Turner, chief executive officer and founder of Goshawk Communications; Brian Moore, Emeritus Professor of Auditory Perception at the University of Cambridge; and Geraldine Willman, one of the volunteers who took part in clinical trials of the technology behind MT clearSound