BT whistles up Golden Ears team to test VoIP

By Steve Malone

Posted on 20 Dec 2005 at 10:21

When it comes to the serious business of listening out for subtle changes in voice communications, technology is just not good enough. This is when BT calls in the team of 'golden ears' who can detect the slightest differences in call quality. Once the differences are identified BT's boffins can make the necessary adjustments.

Despite the huge advances made over the last few years, VoIP technology often still sounds like the call is coming from the other side of the moon. Before IP based telephony can begin its rollout across the whole UK telephone network the clarity has to be able to match the clarity of the PSTN it is replacing. The switchover is planned to begin in Cardiff in late 2006.

Based at the company's development headquarters at AdAstral Park, near Ipswich, BT says the voice quality specialists have over 50 years worth of experience between them. Once they are satisfied, further tests are then carried out using ordinary members of the public to ensure that the quality is universally acceptable. Once again technology is not enough here as a Dalek will sound perfectly acceptable to another Dalek.

To join the elite 'golden ears' team a person must have a natural aptitude along with special training to listen out for the tell tale differences. Although BT is not giving details, the likelihood is that the team will be mainly made up of women as they have more sensitive hearing, which is why men are more likely to put their heads in the speaker cones at a Motorhead concert.