 RAIN 6/2: Surging sales of in-car Wi-Fi brings Net radio closer to the dashboard ·Jun 2, 11:37 AM MORE THAN HALF OF NEW CAR BUYERS WANT IN-CAR NET ACCESS, SAYS AUTONETHaving a Wi-Fi router in your car may not put you ahead of the curve anymore, as demand for in-car Internet access increases. CEO Sterling Pratz of Autonet Mobile — which sells in-car Internet routers through Chrysler and Cadillac dealers — told MSNBC (here) that more than half of consumers want in-car Internet access (up from 16% a few years ago), while 90% of those polled by the company said they’d rather have in-car Internet than an in-car DVD player. Pratz also said Autonet’s sales have increased by 50% every month since November.
Chrysler has seen such success with the Wi-Fi routers that “the company is examining the potential benefits of factory-installing the router rather than having it done at the dealer,” according to Jennifer Applebee, senior manager connectivity and infotainment strategy for Chrysler. Auto buyers may expect in-car Internet access as a traditional feature — like safety and fuel economy — by 2016, predicted Thilo Koslowski, vice president of the Automotive Manufacturing Industry Advisory Service at market researcher Gartner, Inc. In-car Wi-Fi access allows devices like the iPod Touch to connect to the Internet and stream Internet radio. The Wi-Fi router from Autonet is currently $499 and is installed at Chrysler and Cadillac dealerships for $35-$50. It connects to the Internet through a 3G mobile connection — similar to a cell phone — for $29 a month. This is different from Ford’s Sync technology (which will include Pandora in its next update), which connects to the Internet through a mobile phone’s voice connection (RAIN coverage here). JACOBS SURVEY FINDS RADIO STREAMING INCREASING, ESPECIALLY ON iPHONESHere’s more from the study that Jacobs Media’s Paul Jacobs presented at the RAIN Las Vegas Summit in April: “As hi-speed Internet connections become commonplace, audio streaming represents broadcast radio’s best bet to successfully participate in the digital revolution,” finds a study from Jacobs Media, which discovered a growing “momentum for listening to traditional radio stations on computers and other devices.”
39% of respondents said they streamed radio weekly (up from 32% last year), while only 34% said they had never streamed a radio station. The most popular devices to listen to radio streams are iPhones and iPod Touches, and 23% of those using these devices listen to radio streams daily. Pandora is the most popular online-only radio station, while local radio stations are the most tuned-in to AM/FM stations. “This finding strongly suggests mobile devices clearly enable accessing audio entertainment and information, and that AM/FM radio can be a primary beneficiary.” Find out more about Jacobs Media’s study here. MICROSOFT ADDS LAST.FM TO XBOX 360Microsoft added Last.fm to the Xbox 360 in a round of updates at E3 yesterday. Last.fm’s streaming and personalized radio services will be available for Xbox users, according to Telegraph.co.uk (here). Other updates to the Xbox 360 included the integration of Facebook and Twitter, and “Project Natal” — a motion-sensing system that picks up the movement of players and eliminates the need for controllers.ALURATEK LAUNCHES HOME THEATER WI-FI RADIOAluratek has launched a new Wi-Fi radio, aimed at integration with existing home theater systems. It’s simple, horizontal design should fit in well with stereos and DVD players in an entertainment system set-up. RCA jacks connect the player with a stereo, while a USB plug allows the radio to play audio files stored on a hard drive, flash media stick or mp3 player.
It also streams music on networked computers. The Home Theater Edition WiFi Internet Radio Tuner connects to over 11,000 Internet radio stations. Find Aluratek’s press release here, and a positive review of the device from CrunchGear 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 |
