GN Store Nord
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDanish technology group developing hearing, audio, video-conferencing and gaming solutions through GN Hearing and GN Audio.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
GN Store Nord A/S is a Danish technology group whose origins lie in international telegraphy and whose present business is concentrated on intelligent hearing and professional and consumer audio. The company was established in June 1869 as The Great Northern Telegraph Company, or Det Store Nordiske Telegrafselskab. The venture was assembled around a concession negotiated by Danish industrialist Carl Frederik Tietgen with the Russian tsar. It was intended to build and operate telegraph infrastructure linking Europe with Russia and, ultimately, East Asia. The company became an important operator of telegraph stations and cables, extending activity through Europe, China and Japan. A station opened in Nagasaki in 1897, while a cable route through the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland was established in 1906, although the final transatlantic connection was completed only decades later. Telegraphy became less dependable as a long-term growth engine when wireless communication expanded and the world wars damaged international infrastructure. The company therefore diversified. It invested in Hellesens batteries in 1939, founded the radiotelephone producer Storno in 1947, and subsequently developed or acquired interests in electrical goods, telephony, measurement equipment and hearing technology. These activities created the industrial base from which the modern GN group emerged. In 1985 the company adopted the name GN Store Nord, using GN as a new group identity while reorganizing its subsidiaries. The late twentieth century brought both a major expansion and a severe setback. GN obtained a Danish GSM concession in 1991 and, through its majority interest in Sonofon, helped launch Denmark’s first private mobile telephone network in March 1992. Sonofon was sold to Telenor in 2000 for DKK 14.7 billion. During the same period GN invested heavily in optical-network testing through NetTest and acquired Photonetics for DKK 9.1 billion. The market proved less favorable than expected, contributing to a 2001 net loss reported in reference material as DKK 9.2 billion and a dramatic share-price decline. GN subsequently sold many non-core activities, restructured its finances and moved its headquarters from the historic Kongens Nytorv premises to Ballerup. The group ultimately narrowed its focus to two technology platforms. GN Hearing develops hearing aids and related hearing solutions under brands including ReSound, Beltone, Interton and Danavox. GN Audio develops headsets, speakerphones and video-conferencing products, principally under Jabra, and also includes SteelSeries gaming products. GN retained GN Hearing after a proposed 2006 sale to Sonova was blocked by Germany’s cartel authority. It later rebuilt both businesses through product development and restructuring. Important technology milestones included GN Hearing’s 2.4 GHz wireless hearing aid in 2010 and a Made for iPhone hearing aid in 2014. GN Audio consolidated its product marketing under the Jabra name in 2009, launched sports audio with integrated heart-rate monitoring in 2014, and acquired VXi Corporation in 2016, adding the VXi and BlueParrott headset brands. Today GN Store Nord is a listed Danish group operating across hearing, professional communications, audio, video and gaming. Its principal operating companies are GN Hearing A/S and GN Audio A/S. The group competes through a combination of audiology expertise, wireless connectivity, speech and sound processing, workplace collaboration equipment and branded consumer audio. Its historical identity as a communications infrastructure company remains relevant to its present positioning, but the business is now primarily a specialist electronics and hearing-technology group rather than a telecommunications network operator.
History
GN Store Nord began in 1869 as The Great Northern Telegraph Company, created through a merger initiated by Carl Frederik Tietgen. Its early business was international telegraph infrastructure. A concession from the Russian tsar gave the company rights and responsibilities to establish and operate a line across Russia and toward East Asia. GN expanded through Europe and along the Chinese and Japanese coasts, establishing stations and operating cables. Its Far Eastern activity included a Nagasaki station opened in 1897. A North Atlantic route through Scotland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland was established in 1906, though a complete connection to the United States came much later. Wireless telegraphy and wartime destruction undermined the original business. After the Second World War the company had only a small number of functioning lines, and management began a long diversification program. It invested in batteries, electrical products, radiotelephones, telephony, measurement equipment and hearing aids. Storno, founded in 1947, became an important radiotelephone activity, while Danavox connected the group to hearing technology. In 1985 the company was renamed GN Store Nord. The new identity accompanied a broad reorganization of subsidiaries. GN entered Danish mobile telecommunications through a GSM concession and its majority stake in Sonofon, which launched a private mobile network in 1992. The sale of Sonofon to Telenor in 2000 generated substantial proceeds, but GN simultaneously pursued aggressive expansion in optical-network testing. NetTest acquired Photonetics, and the resulting strategic misjudgment contributed to a severe 2001 loss and a collapse in market confidence. GN responded by selling non-core holdings, restructuring and concentrating on hearing and headset activities. A proposed 2006 sale of GN Hearing and GN Otometrics to Sonova was blocked by Germany’s cartel authority. GN therefore retained the businesses and continued rebuilding them. GN Hearing introduced a 2.4 GHz wireless hearing aid in 2010 and a Made for iPhone hearing aid in 2014. GN Audio adopted Jabra as the global brand for its products in 2009, expanded into sports and workplace audio, and acquired VXi Corporation in 2016. The modern group consists principally of GN Hearing and GN Audio, with brands such as ReSound, Jabra, SteelSeries, Beltone, Interton, Danavox, BlueParrott and FalCom. Its headquarters are in Ballerup, Denmark, and its products are sold internationally.
- 2016
VXi Corporation acquired
[1]GN Audio acquired VXi, including the VXi and BlueParrott headset brands.
- 2014
Made for iPhone hearing aid introduced
[1]GN Hearing launched a hearing aid capable of directly streaming sound from an iPhone.
- 2010
First GN Hearing 2.4 GHz hearing aid
[1]GN Hearing introduced a hearing aid using 2.4 GHz wireless technology.
- 2009
GN Audio consolidates products under Jabra
[1]GN Netcom decided to market its products globally under the Jabra brand.
- 2000
Sonofon sold to Telenor and Jabra acquired
[1]GN completed two strategically important transactions: selling Sonofon and acquiring Jabra Corporation.
- 1992
Sonofon launches mobile network
[1]GN’s majority-owned Sonofon opened Denmark’s first private mobile telephone network.
- 1985
Renamed GN Store Nord
[1]The company introduced its modern group identity and reorganized subsidiaries under GN branding.
- 1947
Storno is founded
[1]GN founded the Storno radiotelephone production company as part of its postwar diversification.
- 1906
North Atlantic cable route established
[1]A cable route through the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland was established, initially without a completed United States connection.
- 1897
Telegraph station opens in Nagasaki
[1]GN’s international telegraph network reached Japan with the opening of a Nagasaki station.
Products and positioning
Specialist hearing, professional communications and intelligent audio technology group
Hearing aids and hearing solutions
GN Hearing
GN Hearing develops hearing aids and related hearing technologies. Its brand portfolio includes ReSound, Beltone, Interton and Danavox. The business is associated with wireless hearing innovation, including 2.4 GHz connectivity and direct streaming from compatible Apple devices. Products are distributed through hearing-care professionals and international markets.
Headsets, speakerphones and video collaboration · 2000
Jabra
Jabra is GN Audio’s principal audio and communications brand. Its portfolio spans consumer wireless earbuds and headphones, professional headsets, speakerphones and video-conferencing products. The brand targets mobile listening, unified communications, hybrid work and meeting-room collaboration.
Gaming peripherals and audio
SteelSeries
SteelSeries is part of GN’s gaming-oriented portfolio. It develops gaming headsets and related peripherals for PC and console users, extending GN Audio’s reach beyond workplace communications and conventional consumer audio.
Professional and industrial headsets · 2016
BlueParrott
BlueParrott is a headset brand acquired through GN Audio’s purchase of VXi Corporation. It is associated with high-noise environments and professional users, including transport and field-work applications.
Radiotelephones · 1947
Storno
Storno was a radiotelephone production company founded by GN in the postwar period. It represents an earlier stage in GN’s evolution from wired telecommunications infrastructure toward electronic communications equipment.
Brand decisions
2016
Acquire VXi CorporationM&ABackground
GN Audio sought to expand its professional headset portfolio and presence in specialized communications markets.
Action taken
GN Audio acquired VXi Corporation, including the VXi and BlueParrott brands.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened GN Audio’s portfolio, particularly in professional and high-noise-use cases.
2009
Unify GN Audio products under JabraStrategyBackground
GN Audio wanted a clearer global identity and a stronger position in the headset market.
Action taken
GN Netcom chose to market all of its products worldwide under the Jabra brand.
Aftermath
The decision established Jabra as GN Audio’s primary international brand.
2006
Attempted divestment of GN Hearing and GN OtometricsM&ABackground
GN sought to sell two businesses to Sonova during a period of financial and operational pressure.
Action taken
The proposed transaction was blocked by Germany’s cartel authority and subsequently annulled; GN decided to retain the businesses and appealed the ruling.
Aftermath
GN continued restructuring and rebuilding its hearing operations rather than completing the sale.
2000
Acquire Jabra CorporationM&ABackground
GN was expanding its communications-equipment activities and sought a stronger international headset presence.
Action taken
GN acquired Jabra Corporation and later used Jabra as the unified global brand for GN Audio products.
Aftermath
Jabra became the central brand for GN Audio’s headset and collaboration portfolio.
Recent events
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