To replace QR-codes, beeps will be received

The Lisnr start-up is about to displace the NFC and QR technologies by offering a new, Smart Tone communication protocol for instant money transactions, ticket sales and purchase, authentication, offline messaging, connections between devices and much more.

The technology uses speakers to transfer the Smart Tone signal to a device equipped with a microphone, which then demodulates the sound and recognizes its contents - text message, image, URL or something else. The receiving device can also send the signal back, creating two-way communication.

The Smart Tone itself consists of three parts - a preamble, a header and a payload. The preamble is what notifies the receiver of the presence of Smart Tone. Lisnr uses a range of ~ 18.7 kHz to 19.2 kHz, which 98% of people do not perceive by ear. The remaining 2% will hear something like white noise. To decode the data, the audio signal is sent through the hflat program.

The idea of ​​transmitting data through audio is already being developed by Google's Airline, Apple AirDrop, and Chirp is working in the same direction. However, according to the director and co-founder of the company Rodney Williams, the throughput of Lisnr is 5-10 times higher than that of direct competitors. The startup has already attracted $ 14 million of investment, Smart Tone has already been launched.