Streaming radio on your cellphone - in your car

[oldschool92]

If you have an Iphone, 3g network, and the desire to listen to internet radio, you're in luck. CBS, Clear Channel and a host of other providers, including live365.com, have launched cell phone apps that allow this function.

Do you think that this well have an impact on satellite radio and terrestrial radio? Bluetooth, AUX connections, or an FM transmitter will allow you to hear the streams in your car.

Thoughts?
8)

 

[V.Riley]

I like the aspects of Terrestrial Radio and Internet Radio... that is they are FREE. Satellite Radio is not a free service, so already they are behind the 8 ball, and then add in the economy down fall, I'd say that Satellite's days are numbered. If I can get my favorite Internet Radio stations in my car radio, then Terrestrial Radio may be in a bind as well if they are not already streaming on the Internet. I really can't see people abandoning the high quality sound of their FM Stereo system for the tinny sound coming out of their cell phones. Especially if the cell phone company want's to charge us by the minute for that feature. However, if they put that technology in to Car Stereos and Portable Stereos (boom boxes, not cell phones) then I could see that winning out in the long run, especially if the consumer doesn't have to pay a subscription or a monthly usage charge for the service.

I see it as Satellite Radio, unless it comes up with other funding, or makes it's self more desirable, it's going to fall out of the sky. Terrestrial Radio would do well to make sure they have their foot in the door when it comes to Internet Radio. This is opportunity knocking at the door for them, and they should answer it quickly. Internet Radio has yet to get decent revenue stream established, yet when compared with the likes of Satellite and cable, these royalties are taxing Internet Radio to death (especially with SoundExchange). Terrestrial Radio should step in and stick up for Internet Radio, as it looks as if that is their future as well. If they let it become no mans land, then only the record companies will be able to afford to stream on line, and you can bet they won't want Terrestrial Radio to be the middle man standing in the way of their profits.

Of course, those are just my thoughts.

 

[oldschool92]

Thanks for your thoughts –

Although I can’t speak to other phone devices, the BlackBerrys use a 3.5mm stereo headset capable port. This allows you to plug a FM transmitter directly into the phone, without any type of converter. Also if you have a AUX plug in your car stereo, you can bypass the FM transmitter and use a double male connection. Bluetooth is also a solution. Personally, I use an FM transmitter and it really doesn’t sound that bad. I test this by moving to an active frequency. There is a slight volume difference but the quality of music out weighs this downfall

The streaming is transmitted through the data service via the wireless network, so it is HIGHLY recommended that you have an unlimited data plan (approx $30.00. In addition a 3G network at that, which I think most major carries (VZW, AT&T and TMobil) are on.

I’ve been streaming from my cell phone for about a 2 months now, and I can honestly say that I think this will put the nail in terrestrial radio’s coffin. I hardly change frequencies unless it’s to catch a traffic update or news, which are always at the top of the hour.

I like the aspects of Terrestrial Radio and Internet Radio... that is they are FREE. Satellite Radio is not a free service, so already they are behind the 8 ball, and then add in the economy down fall, I'd say that Satellite's days are numbered. If I can get my favorite Internet Radio stations in my car radio, then Terrestrial Radio may be in a bind as well if they are not already streaming on the Internet. I really can't see people abandoning the high quality sound of their FM Stereo system for the tinny sound coming out of their cell phones. Especially if the cell phone company want's to charge us by the minute for that feature. However, if they put that technology in to Car Stereos and Portable Stereos (boom boxes, not cell phones) then I could see that winning out in the long run, especially if the consumer doesn't have to pay a subscription or a monthly usage charge for the service.

I see it as Satellite Radio, unless it comes up with other funding, or makes it's self more desirable, it's going to fall out of the sky. Terrestrial Radio would do well to make sure they have their foot in the door when it comes to Internet Radio. This is opportunity knocking at the door for them, and they should answer it quickly. Internet Radio has yet to get decent revenue stream established, yet when compared with the likes of Satellite and cable, these royalties are taxing Internet Radio to death (especially with SoundExchange). Terrestrial Radio should step in and stick up for Internet Radio, as it looks as if that is their future as well. If they let it become no mans land, then only the record companies will be able to afford to stream on line, and you can bet they won't want Terrestrial Radio to be the middle man standing in the way of their profits.

Of course, those are just my thoughts.

 

[V.Riley]

Well, if I had a more modern cell phone (Verizon's been begging me to upgrade for years now) and a unlimited data plan, I would give it a try. Maybe I should look into taking Verizon up on their offer. I'd say if a Terrestrial station is not streaming on the Internet, they are closing the door on their future.

 

[LowPayDJ]

What bitrate can you actually receive on your phone? There is a limit, isn't there?

 

[V.Riley]

I would hope that it can handle 128kbps audio streams. Otherwise I'll stick with FM in my car for now.

 

[streamer]

Fstream is a great free app on the iPhone and handles Windows Media and AAC+ as well as MP3. A 48k AAC+ stream sounds exceptionally good through my card radio (plugged, not FM modulated) and works well in the DC area. You don't need 128k unless it's MP3.

 

[PhilJSmith67]

I have a Nokia E71 and listen to Internet radio streams to/from work a majority of the time via AT&T Wireless. Most of my drive is EDGE-only, but when I get closer to work it flips to 3G or 3.5G. Only the 128k and above streams area a problem on EDGE, with dropouts for rebuffering. Many of the streams I listen to are between 32 and 64k, which works fine.

There are a couple weak-signal pockets along the way, but I can sometimes drive the entire 18-mile trip without a dropout. The only thing I dislike about being on the EDGE network is that I don't receive "normal" voice calls when I'm transferring that much data (Skype can still get through). On 3G it's great; I still get calls, e-mails, SMS/MMS messages, and the stream is rock-solid at 128k or above.

The only apps I've loaded are Nokia's Internet Radio program (free from the Nokia Store website), and another player called CorePlayer which isn't free, but can also play Windows Media streams / WMA, which is a format that Nokia has ignored so far.

I also listen at home on the Nokia E71, but typically via WiFi instead of AT&T. My next purchase will be a replacement radio with Bluetooth A2DP so I don't have to connect a cable from the phone to the existing car radio's Aux input, which often picks up the GSM/GPRS signal "chatter" on EDGE networks.

 

[PhilJSmith67]

Well, if I had a more modern cell phone (Verizon's been begging me to upgrade for years now) and a unlimited data plan, I would give it a try. Maybe I should look into taking Verizon up on their offer. I'd say if a Terrestrial station is not streaming on the Internet, they are closing the door on their future.

I have a plethora of shortcuts saved for terrestrial stations from all over the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Even though I'm in the Chicago radio market, I often listen to Newsradio 880 WCBS New York or 1070 KNX Los Angeles for a change of pace. In fact, thanks to how IBOC has harmed the analog audio of many AM stations like Newsradio 780 WBBM Chicago, I listen to that station's stream because the audio is much better, even though I can get it right on my radio. I don't have to plug my ears when I go under power lines, either.

I agree that if terrestrial stations are going to remain profitable over the next 10+ years, they must add Internet streaming. Sure, there could still be 25 to 50% of their listeners using AM/FM radios in 2020, but nobody would want to advertise on a station with a 75 to 50% drop in listenership.

 

[RDO]

I agree that if terrestrial stations are going to remain profitable over the next 10+ years, they must add Internet streaming. Sure, there could still be 25 to 50% of their listeners using AM/FM radios in 2020, but nobody would want to advertise on a station with a 75 to 50% drop in listenership.

It's interesting that when the voice talents got greedy and said they wanted to be paid twice for a spot that airs on air and online, their spots got pulled from the online. Now that people are listening online more, those people (and their advertisers) are not getting heard. Shucks.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Curiosity question. What percentage of the population currently subscribes to a level of cellphone service that will handle audio streaming?

Of the people who have such a device, does anyone have an estimate what percentage of the users are getting the phone at the expense of their employer?

A number of corporate IT departments have squelched audio streaming coming into offices because it loads the bandwidth. Does anyone have any indications that corporate departments may put the kibosh on steaming via a company paid cell phone?

 

[PhilJSmith67]

Curiosity question. What percentage of the population currently subscribes to a level of cellphone service that will handle audio streaming?

Of the people who have such a device, does anyone have an estimate what percentage of the users are getting the phone at the expense of their employer?

A number of corporate IT departments have squelched audio streaming coming into offices because it loads the bandwidth. Does anyone have any indications that corporate departments may put the kibosh on steaming via a company paid cell phone?

My phone is all mine -- my phone, my plan. As for my employer, streaming over the in-house network is forbidden, and excessive data usage on the company-assigned Blackberries is supposedly against the "usage policy" but streaming is not blocked.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

My phone is all mine -- my phone, my plan.

I am not asking that you or any one else who participates in this discussion 'fess up and post your personal demographics here for all to see. (and you didn't.)

Radio is reportedly a "mass media". The question I am posing is this: Can the masses afford the kind of wireless service that makes streaming via cell phone practical..... for "The Masses" ?

The current infatuation with wireless streaming is exploring the possibility that eventually the cost of wireless service will follow in the path that the old land line phone industry blazed.

When I was a kid, to call Grandma on the phone required that we drive 10 miles into town, use the small room sized booth at the phone company office, and the price of that one phone call would pay for dinner at the restaurant for the family..... if we had been a family that felt we could afford dinner at the restaurant.

Today the cost of traditional phone service long distance is so cheap that I ignore the unused minutes on my cell phone and dial the land line when I call out of state family members. Quality! Why eat at the White Castle when for pennies you can eat a chef cooked meal.

My point is: The masses today cannot afford the level of wireless service that accommodates streaming. Tomorrow? Anybody's guess.

 

[V.Riley]

I really don't want all the features of the phone that it would take to play a streaming radio station. I just want a radio I can take with me (or is already part of my car) so I can continue to listen to the music I want to hear where ever I go. Would be nice if I could disable all the features that I won't use, and just pay for the feature I want.

 

[talkback13]

If you like radio, it is worth picking up a Smartphone and data plan. I don't leave home without my phone so the radio is always with me. Just a few simple clicks and I'm listening to my favorite talk show or music station. The streams are from 35kbs for talk or news to 128kbs for stereo music.

Here is a typical M-F listening day:

I walk the dog early in the morning with Bill Bennett
Drive to work with Laura Ingraham
Lunch with Tammy Bruce
Drive home with Radio Paradise or Planet Rock (AD2P Bluethooth connects to my slam dunk aftermarket car stereo system)
Walk the dog with Michael Savage
Fall asleep to Paranormal Radio or Overnight AM

All of this radio and more on TalkStreamLive.mobi on a Windows Mobile Smartphone with the Core Player or on www.TalkStreamLive.com

Yes I need a life ;-)

 

[PhilJSmith67]

My point is: The masses today cannot afford the level of wireless service that accommodates streaming. Tomorrow? Anybody's guess.

My cell bill was around $64/mo without data, now with my plan upgraded to include unlimited data (which I use for browsing, access to home and work e-mail, etc., not just streaming) it's $79/mo. That's not a huge jump. I cut out SMS texting because I have unlimited MMS texting and e-mail under the plan, which is why it wasn't much more.

I think the point is, if you are already paying for unlimited data, you might as well listen to online streaming for an additional zero dollars/month.

 

[amos]

best deal i know of for unlimited data is the old no-longer-available sprint SERO plan.

you can take over a plan though, if you can find one available. howard forums is a great place to look. http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=417

$30 a month for 500 min / unlimited text and data / nights and weekends after 7pm.

i plug my HTC touch into my car stereo and tune to my net station whenever i'm not listening to my HD radio. i'm streaming at 128k, and rarely have drops.

(by the way, there is a new sero plan. it's the simply everything plan at a discount, not nearly as good of a deal as the old sero plan. most people that have one they want out of are trying to sell it, but if you keep looking you'll find one for free. do a transfer of liability and all you need is a smartphone. some of the guys with plans also have their phone for sale, or you can pick one up on somewhere else like ebay. for the new sero plan, if you're interested, it's www.sprint.com/sero)

 

[Nate Wesley]

I had a question but got it answered from further reading...ignore!

 

[sangreazul]

Hey guys, complete newbie question here, so apologies for it being so lame. I have been interested in being able to stream internet radio for a long time using a mobile device so as to not having to be connected to a laptop. Looks like cell phones now are able to do so. Being that I am in the market for a new phone, what technical specifications should I be looking for to ensure that I will be able to stream. Most of my internet streaming come from international radio stations.

My concern is that even though phones now have WiFi and 3G capability and everything, that I will be stuck with internet radio being limited to satellite or subscription on-line radio.

Should that be a worry? Just want to know what specs I should specifically ask for to make sure I would be able to stream international radio.

I was thinking about geting one of the new Blackberry's (At&t), but on one review I read, they mentioned that one of its shortcomings was that it could only capture subscription based intetnet radio.

I am glad I found this message board as many of you have been able to stream from your cell phones to your car so it looks like you may have some tips for a newbie like myself.

Thanks!

 

[amos]

i'm not sure if this will help, but i'll try. i don't know about blackberries, but i don't understand how that could be the case.

if the station does not require logging in, all you'd need is a phone with a fast enough connection and a player. i have a windows mobile 6.1 phone (HTC Touch) and the windows media player works for some stations. i downloaded a free mp3 player (GSPlayer) http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA032810/ for shoutcast streams.

Live365 has an app for windows mobile, palm, and coming soon for iPhone, but you have to have a VIP subscription to live365 to listen to all stations on their network.

the easiest answer to your question is if you'll give me a list of the stations you want to tune to, i'll check on my phone and see how it works. there are a lot of 3G windows mobile phones.

you can post here or PM, either one. also, don't forget to get an unlimited data plan!

-amos