National Cellular (NCI) and Starkey Laboratories have signed an agreement for NCI to distribute Starkey's ELI products to the cellular industry. The ELI (Ear Level Instrument) provides Bluetooth connectivity between hearing aids and Bluetooth-enhanced mobile phones.

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Hearing-aid users often experience a buzzing sound that makes conversations over a digital wireless phone difficult or impossible to hear. To combat the problem, the FCC has required cellular handset manufacturers to provide a small selection of wireless handsets that will significantly minimize or eliminate this interference.

The advantage of the ELI device is that the hearing-impaired user can use any Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone. Bluetooth-enabled phones in a cellular carrier's existing inventory become instantly hearing-aid compatible when paired with ELI. In addition, the hearing-aid user can choose from a wider selection of wireless handsets.

ELI comes in two different configurations. For behind-the-ear hearing aids equipped with a Direct Audio Input (DAI), the standard ELI can be used. For hearing aids equipped with a telecoil, ELI can be combined with a specially designed neck loop for proper operation. ELI is FCC, CE and Bluetooth compliant.