Virve and Stop Noise to Launch the Hybrid X Modular Structure for Smartphones and TETRA Radios

The production of the patented Hybrid X modular structure will be launched in Finland at the beginning of 2021. The product enables smooth, secure and versatile communication in the field by parties ensuring the security of supply in society.

Manu Skyttä, CEO of Virve Tuotteet ja Palvelut Oy (VTP), and Markku Nieminen, CEO of Stop Noise Finland Oy Ltd, signed a resale agreement on 19 November 2020 that will kick off the production of the Hybrid X modular structure. Hybrid X's product development, manufacturing and assembly will take place in Finland. With the agreement, VTP and Stop Noise will enhance their cooperation further. Deliveries of the new product will begin in the second quarter of 2021.

Hybrid X has been developed for communication and industrial use by all parties who maintain critical functions in society. The modular structure can be attached to a fourth or fifth generation (4G or 5G) LTE-based smartphone with the phone’s model-specific adapter. A TETRA terminal can also be connected to Hybrid X at the same time. This allows existing TETRA network services and new Virve 2.0 technology-based features to be used on a single device. New and old technologies will initially be used side by side.

"The availability of a smartphone with a mere touchscreen does not meet users' availability requirements in the field. Hybrid X makes it easy to use the phone’s functions in the field with physical buttons, even when wearing gloves. Hybrid X mutes background noise and conveys clear, understandable speech to the recipient. The phone is carried in a Smart Holder shoulder clip, where it charges and is always available even during long operations. Hybrid X's quick buttons can be used to start apps without having to take the phone in hand at all. This make it easy for the user to send, for example, live picture for use as a control aid to the operations centre,” Nieminen says.

VTP and Stop Noise strongly believe in the product's success, as the patented Hybrid X modular structure has been designed to meet the strict availability requirements of user organisations.

Nieminen continued: "We are all facing a new situation, so we will closely monitor the development of the Virve 2.0 networks and discuss with the end customers about the requirements for future products. We listen with a keen ear and work with stakeholders".

“This is a significant development step for VTP towards the technology revolution brought about by Virve 2.0 in communications between authorities. An easy-to-use, durable communication solution that enables not only speech but also video and data to be transmitted securely is part of the near future of many organisations and communications between the authorities. The agreement reached will help us offer even better communication solutions to parties critical in view of security of supply and to promote Finnish technology development,” Skyttä says.