Today, we can get our Radio via satellite, the Internet, through cable, even in our PDAs and cell phones. Oh yeah and even through those old "AM/FM Radio things".
So, where is all this going? My gut tells me your cell phone is vehicle of natural portability - and the heir to the transistor radio which revolutionized Radio’s portability in the 1960’s. The convergence of wireless technology, content and size make the cell phone the perfect host for taking your favorite sounds to the beach, a doctor’s waiting room or the park near your home.
Many higher-end cell phones have already incorporated the ability to receive FM signals. This ability will only continue to increase as new generations of lower-end phones become even less expensive to manufacture and providers strive to offer more options to new users.
FM Radio is a nice feature but I suspect there is more to come. Imagine the market opportunity for XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio if the technology were small enough to allow your cell phone to pick up their services?
Or, imagine the marketing opportunities for cell phone providers if they could offer you streaming Internet Radio on your phone as a bonus for committing to a service plan?
Not only are these scenarios possible, I think they are probable.
I do wonder about one thing, though: how long until the record companies insist on royalty payments for music that is transmitted to cell phones? I see no difference between Internet Radio stations streaming music and cell phone providers doing the same. They probably don't, either.
One thing is for sure: we are all becoming spoiled by the ease at which we can surround ourselves with the things that please us. There’s no going back now.
