Haebora to release an earbud that “talks through the ear” in the U.S. next month

Published : Feb 3, 2016 - 13:18 Updated : Feb 4, 2016 - 14:33

This month will see the release of a new earbud that “talks through the ear.”

Haebora Co., Ltd., a corporation affiliated with the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, announced on January 29 that it will be officially releasing its latest product, RippleBuds, through Kickstarter (a U.S.-based crowdfunding platform for creative products) on February 23.

Available in wired and wireless versions, RippleBuds is an earbud that features small speakers to transmit sound to the ears as well as a built-in, completely in-ear microphone designed to pick up the user’s voice directly from the ear, effectively eliminating any background noise and allowing both the caller and receiver to focus on one another’s voices without distraction.

Haebora’s RippleBuds. The product on the left is the mono, single-ear version, and the product on the right is the stereo, double-ear earbud. (photo source: Haebora)

Currently, Haebora holds a total of 113 patents in nine countries and has been granted numerous awards in recognition of its advanced technology and creative business ideas, including the New Radio & Broadcasting Technology Award, the Prime Minister’s Award, and the Grand Prize at the Korea International Invention Awards.

On the heels of the release of its wired and wireless earbuds, Haebora will expand its earbud business by adding more product types, including hearing aids, smart earbuds, earbuds designed for helmets, and earbuds for use by interpreters.

Having established a U.S. subsidiary in Silicon Valley in May 2015, Haebora is actively engaged in pioneering overseas markets.

This January, it set up offices in Hong Kong and China and successfully received investment promises from local partner companies, securing its debut and expansion in the Chinese market.

Starting with the release of its RippleBuds through Kickstarter on February 23, Haebora will be releasing the product in China and other countries around the world.

The Kickstarter campaign will come to an end on March 27, with the first week featuring discounts of up to 50 percent on the RippleBuds earbud.

By Hwang Jeong-seop (jshwang@heraldcorp.com)