Mandatory FM radio on Smart Phones.

[mannyworks00]

A new coalition of music company's and broadcasters are pushing congress to require FM receivers on all smart phones. The question is why are they doing it? Are they doing it to avoid the same Sound Exchange rate as webcasters? What do you guys think?
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-dumb-idea-for-smart-phones-2010-10

 

[RadioMan203]

As a consumer, I resent the fact they are trying to push radio into my cell phone. I know I wouldn't use it and I know the added cost will just be passed on to the consumer. This isn't even addressing the fact that more than likely this will diminish the battery life further on such phones.

This would actually drive me back to using a basic "dumb" phone if it were to pass. I bought a phone to use as a phone, not as a coffee maker, radio, video game or anything else they want to shove down my throat!

 

[12 In a Row]

Seems the same folks screaming they don't BIG government, now wants BIG government to step in and mandate. Besides, who would listen?

 

[TheBigA]

Seems the same folks screaming they don't BIG government, now wants BIG government to step in and mandate.

Which "same folks" are that? The NAB isn't against big government. And it really isn't a "big government" issue. If the cell phone industry didn't have its head up its butt, they'd do it without any prompting.

 

[TheBigA]

As a consumer, I resent the fact they are trying to push radio into my cell phone.

In most cases, it's already there. They're just making it functional. You already paid for it.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I like the idea of having a built in FM tuner in smart phones, and I don't see how that would increase the cost. Even a lot of the cheapest MP3 players have an FM tuner. As far as the government requiring it, I agree that wouldn't be necessary if the cell phone industry would see the demand and start including it.

 

[BRNout]

I like the idea of having an FM tuner in my cell phone too - but I loathe the idea of having BIG government mandate that it is so. The marketplace should determine such things. That it hasn't happened yet means that the demand is insufficient to drive it.

Not to mention that an increasing number of smartphones enable you to stream thousands of radio stations via apps that facilitate listening on-line. So, a lot of folks can already get their favorite station that way. I realize that it is not the same thing, but it may well blunt some of the outcry as many of those who love radio have already opted for smartphones with apps.

One moderate flaw to this: limited live sports coverage via internet streams. Tried to stream the Patriots/Chargers game via WBZ-FM yesterday and instead of Gino Cappelletti and Gil Santos, I ended up hearing a canned/generic (and boring) Fox Sports Radio show instead. WAQY (another Pats affiliate) had music online rather than the game.

An FM radio wouldn't solve that problem from my location in Chicago - but it certainly would if you were in Framingham or Hartford.

 

[TheBigA]

I like the idea of having an FM tuner in my cell phone too - but I loathe the idea of having BIG government mandate that it is so. The marketplace should determine such things. That it hasn't happened yet means that the demand is insufficient to drive it.

People don't know they want something unless they can try it. The cell industry is opposed to even giving them that choice.

 

[mannyworks00]

Hey BigA— Most FM's already stream...why don't they just stream to the phone like everyone else. Why should FM get "pre-set" priority on cell phones?? Isn't it one thing to ask a company like APPLE to include a FM receiver and another to lobby congress and shove it down their throats?

I like the idea of having an FM tuner in my cell phone too - but I loathe the idea of having BIG government mandate that it is so. The marketplace should determine such things. That it hasn't happened yet means that the demand is insufficient to drive it.

People don't know they want something unless they can try it. The cell industry is opposed to even giving them that choice.

 

[TheBigA]

Hey BigA— Most FM's already stream...why don't they just stream to the phone like everyone else. Why should FM get "pre-set" priority on cell phones?? Isn't it one thing to ask a company like APPLE to include a FM receiver and another to lobby congress and shove it down their throats?

Radio isn't a brand. Radio is a general device. One of the reasons I'm not a supporter of HD Radio is that it is a brand. Congress should not support a specific brand. The cell phone industry has made it clear they don't want to give people the choice of hearing free content on their phone.

I agree with the streaming thing, and lots of bigger stations with budgets are doing it. But broadcast radio is regulated by Congress, using the people's airwaves. The people should be able to receive radio in their phone for free, not subject to line charges or anything else.

 

[LCJohn]

Usually I don't favor governemnt meddling, but in this case I think it should be mandated that all cellphones should be capable of receiving AM/FM broadcasts for the reason stated toward the end of the article.

If there were a local, or national, emergency the cell towers and mobile web would be quickly overwhelmed. History has shown us that when disasters happen, people can't even make calls with their phones much less use the internet or send/receive SMS.

As the population has become mobile and such a large percentage of people carry phones, it just makes sense that the fastest and cheapest way to get information to the masses is over-the-air. Relying on text messages when the towers are clogged with people trying to call each other and family members is not a good solution.

So I favor requiring FM/AM receivers in all phones simply to allow people to quickly tune in for emergency information without any dependence on internet connectivity (4G/3G/Edge) or cell tower concurrency capacity.

 

[mannyworks00]

That's a good point LCJohn--but Emergency broadcast systems are in place everywhere! Sirens, TV, Car stereo. I don't buy it but thanks for the feedback.

 

[TheBigA]

And yet with all that, people still get stuck in their homes when tornadoes hit or when floods come through.

 

[LCJohn]

That's a good point LCJohn--but Emergency broadcast systems are in place everywhere! Sirens, TV, Car stereo. I don't buy it but thanks for the feedback.

I hear ya - But in a true emergency/disaster, chances are that power is out (no TV), Internet is out (No WiFi/3G), Cell towers are overwhelmed (No SMS/Voice) and sirens don't tell you what to do, only to panic

Katrina tought us that everything breaks down in an emergency - even local law enforcement.

I'm betting few people today have a battery-operated transistor radio at home but almost everyone has a cellphone. Most cellphones have the FM chip already built in, according to RAIN. So why not activate it?

I know the main debate is really about pushing music to phones, but the public safety aspect is a real and legitimate argument. An informed population in times of crisis is crucial and there are plenty of people who don't own a car. I do, but I still don't want to have to go sit in it to get information about an emergency.

If my phone had an FM chip enabled, I still wouldn't listen to local stations - Unless it was my only way of doing so in an emergency. Then I'd be really thankful it had that capability.

 

[spunker88]

It shouldn't be mandatory, it would be nice but I think it should be up to the cellphone makers.

Its not really practical to use a cellphone as a radio in an emergency situation. You'd want to save its battery power since you could be without power for sometime, and without a way to charge it, and it could be your only way to place phone calls.

Its much more practical to keep a battery powered radio around. I have a couple around, they are cheap and if you keep alkaline batteries around you'll always have power as they usually have a shelf life of several years. These units usually get better reception since they dont have cellphone electronics interfering with them, and many have an external antenna. Its also impossible to put an AM radio in a cellphone since one the interference would be too high, and also there is no room for a ferrite rod antenna. AM radio could be useful if something like a hurricane or extended power outage forces local FM stations off the air, you could still get AM radio via skywave.

 

[radiorob2.0]

Add me to the list of those who chuckle when the NAB demands radio receivers be included in cell phones and other devices. They want freedom to do as they damn well please but want a government subsidized delivery system in the name of "serving the community". Perhaps if more broadcasters created something more than wall paper programming then you might see a demand for radio receivers inside portable devices.

 

[TheBigA]

Perhaps if more broadcasters created something more than wall paper programming then you might see a demand for radio receivers inside portable devices.

BS. The cell phone industry doesn't care if there's demand for it, or if there's great programming. They're opposed to it, because it's "old technology." But this "old technology" just happens to be the property of the American public. The government needs to step up to the plate and make the airwaves worth owning. They've done everything they can do over the last 25 years to devalue what used to be a great system. It's about time they did something positive.

 

[mannyworks00]

Perhaps if more broadcasters created something more than wall paper programming then you might see a demand for radio receivers inside portable devices.

Excellent point! If there was a consumer demand, then they wouldn't be lobbying congress for it. Additionally, and I'm not a scientist but would an FM receiver that close to the body cause physical harm?

 

[Tom Wells]

A cellphone needs a radio like a blender needs a toaster.

OK, so let's say I've got this cellphone that's gonna have an FM tuner in it.....
I'm not about to start wearing headphones or earbuds.
Headphones are for audio production work, earbuds are unacceptable for various reasons.
So, since I'm not going to use the tiny little cellphone speaker, I need to PLUG it into something else with an audio
amplifier and reasonable sized speaker. Or buy some specialized blue tooth speaker box...
That's pretty cloddy but I guess you could use it as a radio.
If we call this function an "emergency FM receiver", I like that better.
The earbud thing just kills it for me.

Is there some way to put a toaster in a cell phone?
Or the other way around?

 

[Jay Peninger]

A cellphone needs a radio like a blender needs a toaster.

OK, so let's say I've got this cellphone that's gonna have an FM tuner in it.....
I'm not about to start wearing headphones or earbuds.
Headphones are for audio production work, earbuds are unacceptable for various reasons.
So, since I'm not going to use the tiny little cellphone speaker, I need to PLUG it into something else with an audio
amplifier and reasonable sized speaker. Or buy some specialized blue tooth speaker box...
That's pretty cloddy but I guess you could use it as a radio.
If we call this function an "emergency FM receiver", I like that better.
The earbud thing just kills it for me.

Is there some way to put a toaster in a cell phone?
Or the other way around?

So very true... Was reading where the Cell MFG's are dead set against the mandatory FM chips in phones and they will fight it all the way...