Digital Radio a threat to Satellite?

[Garrett]

I know this isn't directly related to San Diego radio, but since Chris from SDRadio.net talks about this a lot, I thought everyone might like a link to this article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/27/sirius-xm-survives-but-digital-radio-is-gaining/

Thoughts?

(BTW: I have looked into getting an iPhone to listen to radio, but I am still finding the monthly plan prohibitive, but still considering it)

 

[SDRadio]

(BTW: I have looked into getting an iPhone to listen to radio, but I am still finding the monthly plan prohibitive, but still considering it)

Monthly plan: $50. Refurbished 3G iPhone: $99.

It just doesn't get much better than that. I had to send my iPhone into Apple, and received a step-by-step update on shipping, problem, and finally they replaced the phone. I had to call them at their request and received customer serviced based in California.

My phone arrives today; and believe me, with this level of service, I'm endorsing them.

 

[Garrett]

(BTW: I have looked into getting an iPhone to listen to radio, but I am still finding the monthly plan prohibitive, but still considering it)

Monthly plan: $50. Refurbished 3G iPhone: $99.

It just doesn't get much better than that. I had to send my iPhone into Apple, and received a step-by-step update on shipping, problem, and finally they replaced the phone. I had to call them at their request and received customer serviced based in California.

My phone arrives today; and believe me, with this level of service, I'm endorsing them.

If I can get a plan like that, I'm in!
Did you call AT&T directly for that? AT&T doesn't show that plan on their webiste. The cheapest I found was a $69/mo unlimited web plan... But if I find what your talking about... Yeah, I'm in!

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Unlimited data service on my Palm Treo phone with Sprint is $30 a month: I was Sprint and Treos to listen Internet radio in the car long before anyone heard of the iPhone: Sprint's high speed network is much more widespread than ATT's. In about June Sprint and Palm will be introducing the Pre, a new generation Palm "smartphone" that will use a brand new operating system. It might be worth waiting to see what that is like. Right now with a Treo on the Sprint network I can simply connect my laptop to my Treo and use it as a highspeed modem to go online from pretty much anywhere, even in a car driving down the freeway (actually with someone else driving). It's called tethering and ATT does not allow it with the iPhone and speculation is that they will offer at some point for an additional $30 a month. I've been a Mac user since 1980's but the iPhone and ATT is not the greatest combination.

 

[SDRadio]

I enjoy the San Diego stations on the iPhone. The FM 94/9 application is killer. One push of the red icon, and I have Hilary, Halloran, and the rest of the crew via my headphones. It's nice. Plus, my music education continues. I find myself there; especially with Hanson and Tommy getting blitzed on Friday; and making poor Hilary mop up (musically) after them.

I also listen to Walrus FM via "Tuner" application.

The best app is ... brace .... I heart radio, from the CCU folks. Not only can I find KOGO, Rock 105.3, 101.5 KGB, I also have KOA, KFI, and KHOW available.

I only wish that the apps worked in the background like the iTunes function do.

Garrett, make your own decision; for me the iPhone and a recent experience with sending it in for repair (and receiving a NEW iPhone in return) was a very positive experience for me. I had to call and operators were standing by in Northern California. Not 'northern overseas province'.

while I agree with Bob about the individual pairing of Apple and (then) Cingular (Now ATT), it was a marketing coup for the then-number one mobile carrier. (Earlier this year Verizon swallowed AllTel and leaped into first.)

The San Diego tier price is $50 for phone and all you can eat internet. outside of this area, your prices may vary and objects may become applications.

 

[Bob_Hudson]

I only wish that the apps worked in the background like the iTunes function do.

The Palm phones will let the Internet radio run in the back ground and mute them automatically when you get a phone call.

 

[BecTero]

People actually pay money to upgrade the i-phone to receive free San Diego radio stations? Hey CDMA and GSM companies why don't you include FM tuners in all mobile phones, like they did in Thailand 5 years ago!!

 

[Bob_Hudson]

People actually pay money to upgrade the i-phone to receive free San Diego radio stations? Hey CDMA and GSM companies why don't you include FM tuners in all mobile phones, like they did in Thailand 5 years ago!!

There is no demand for FM tuners: it would add to the cost and bulk of handheld devices and only let you receive a realative handful of local stations, where as Internet radio lets you have access to thousand of stations, most of which don't even have FM transmitters. You really don't have to upgrade to receive Internet radio if your phone already has internet access. My Palm phone came with free software - Pocket Tunes - that let's me listen to internet radio and mp3 files. I paid $19 to get a better version of Pocket Tunes (which was about four years ago) so that was not a big expense.

I never listen to local stations on my phone - why listen to their mostly poor programming when I choose from stations all over the world? And when I'm driving from Oceanside to Escondido internet radio never fades out, whereas FM stations keep dropping in and out.

 

[Garrett]

I enjoy the San Diego stations on the iPhone. The FM 94/9 application is killer. One push of the red icon, and I have Hilary, Halloran, and the rest of the crew via my headphones. It's nice. Plus, my music education continues. I find myself there; especially with Hanson and Tommy getting blitzed on Friday; and making poor Hilary mop up (musically) after them.

I also listen to Walrus FM via "Tuner" application.

The best app is ... brace .... I heart radio, from the CCU folks. Not only can I find KOGO, Rock 105.3, 101.5 KGB, I also have KOA, KFI, and KHOW available.

I only wish that the apps worked in the background like the iTunes function do.

Garrett, make your own decision; for me the iPhone and a recent experience with sending it in for repair (and receiving a NEW iPhone in return) was a very positive experience for me. I had to call and operators were standing by in Northern California. Not 'northern overseas province'.

while I agree with Bob about the individual pairing of Apple and (then) Cingular (Now ATT), it was a marketing coup for the then-number one mobile carrier. (Earlier this year Verizon swallowed AllTel and leaped into first.)

The San Diego tier price is $50 for phone and all you can eat internet. outside of this area, your prices may vary and objects may become applications.

I checked with the good folks at Walmart. They told me that in addition to the $50 plan, I am also required to buy $39 a month voice service. That seems rather steep for me right now. That is too bad, it is a good invention that iPhone!

 

[SDRadio]

I checked with the good folks at Walmart. They told me that in addition to the $50 plan, I am also required to buy $39 a month voice service. That seems rather steep for me right now. That is too bad, it is a good invention that iPhone!

Best to shop for an AT&T phone at the AT&T company phone store. Wal*Mart doesn't know squat about phone plans; only the company store does. Your discount for being a student/family/et al can be applied.

As I wrote earlier, your service costs depend on the area you live in. San Diego is highly competitive and your results may vary.

 

[SDRadio]

San Diego iPhone plan:

450 minutes plus data plan: $61.59. http://att.com/wireless New plan with 3g phone.

 

[Garrett]

I checked with the good folks at Walmart. They told me that in addition to the $50 plan, I am also required to buy $39 a month voice service. That seems rather steep for me right now. That is too bad, it is a good invention that iPhone!

Best to shop for an AT&T phone at the AT&T company phone store. Wal*Mart doesn't know squat about phone plans; only the company store does. Your discount for being a student/family/et al can be applied.

As I wrote earlier, your service costs depend on the area you live in. San Diego is highly competitive and your results may vary.

That's good advice!
Living in San Diego does have its advantages. Nice weather, cheap phones!