 RAIN 12/13: Mobile web radio may benefit most from 4G, predicts report ·Dec 13, 10:03 AM MUSIC SERVICES, NOT MOBILE VIDEO, WILL BE THE “KILLER 4G APP”Many predict 2011 will be the year of 4G in the mobile market and a new report argues Internet radio stands to gain — perhaps even more so than other markets like mobile video.
New research from Yankee Group indicates that “mobile video won’t be the killer 4G app everyone expects; instead, consumers will spend more time with music services like Pandora and Slacker.” Additionally, the report expects users to spend twice as much time using 4G mobile web as they did with 3G. “Once 4G takes hold, its impact will be swift and profound, and 2011 is the year to prepare,” said Jason Armitage, senior analyst at Yankee Group. However, Yankee Group predicts a slow start for 4G in 2011 with very little overall penetration. Plus, “competition in the U.S. will create a 4G marketing mess.” And don’t expect any flat-rate pricing. You can read more of Yankee Group’s predictions here. Find previous RAIN coverage about wireless 4G from Verizon here. BMW LAUNCHES iPHONE APP FOR IN-CAR WEB RADIOBMW Connected is a new free iPhone app from the German automaker which streams hundreds of Internet radio stations. The app will work with certain BMW vehicles to be released in March.
But BMW Connected also serves as an excellent Internet radio aggregator whether or not you own a BMW. You can find stations based on location, genre or search. The app even suggests similar stations to the one you’re listening to. It also reads your tweets and Facebook info out loud. The web radio portion of BMW’s app was built in cooperation with RadioTime’s TuneIn Radio. Like Ford, GM and others, BMW is relying on drivers’ mobile devices to stream Internet radio into car dashboards. But BMW has created its own web radio app while other car manufactures require web radio developers to create compatible versions of their apps. Sandbox.fm has more coverage here. TOWNSQUARE MEDIA TO RELAUNCH LOCAL RADIO ONLINE, DEBUTS NATIONAL COUNTRY BRANDTownsquare Media announced today it would relaunch all of its local radio stations’ digital properties by the end of Q1 2011. The company has already relaunched 30 digital properties.
Additionally, Townsquare Media announced the launch of Taste of Country, a national country music service. The site (here) offers news, videos, songs and other country music entertainment. You can find Townsquare Media’s press release here. MAJORITY OF GOOGLE’S TOP DEVICES OF 2010 NET RADIO-FRIENDLYGoogle has rounded up 2010 by ranking its top searches. As it turns out, 6 out of 10 of the “Fastest Rising in Consumer Electronics” searches are devices capable of streaming Internet radio. That includes the iPad, iPhone 4, HTC Evo 4G and other mobile gadgets. You can check out Google’s Zeitgest 2010 page here.share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
