Audience dials up $15M to suppress noise on cell phones

Audience, maker of mobile chips that can dampen background noise when people speak on their cell phones, just brought in $15 million in a fourth round of funding. This brings the Mountain View, Calif. company’s total capital to $60 million since its inception in 2004.

Audience claims that it modeled its product on the normal functioning of the human ear — allowing it to block out some sounds while focusing others. This allows users to have clear conversations even if they are in a loud club or walking along a noisy street. The chips are already being used in cell phones made by LG Group, Pantech Group and Sharp.

Audience competes with Ditech, which makes software to enhance call quality, and Aliph, maker of the ubiquitous Jawbone Bluetooth headset that is said to drastically limit background noise.

The recent round came from New Enterprise Associates, Tallwood Venture Capital, Vulcan Capital and VentureTech Alliance.

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