If you're a t-moblie fan, definitely, definitely, check these cell phones out! If you're lucky, and you're looking for a new plan as well, you will be privy to some incredible deals on t-moblie phones. Lots of accessories are available as well. Happy hunting! (testing... :) )
]]>Apparently, the beta test didn't do too well. US wireless network providers weren't too keen on iRadio's "sideloading" technology, which required users to dock cell phones to their PCs to refresh the music (much like iPods). They preferred taht the music be delivered across their networks in the form of a streaming music service.
It's a major change that will take some time. With VCast, Amp'd, XM, Sirius, Orb, the iPhone, and many other integrated mobile devices already in market or launching soon, it's going to be quite a challenge.
(Worst case scenario, I'll need to find some other use for the "iRadioWaves" URL... In the meantime, while the dust settles, feel free to check out GarageSpin.com. Did I mention I write music? )
Just check out Engadget's minute-by-minute breakdown of the iPhone introduction. Honestly, it's a little too cool... Be sure to check out what other iPhone extras are rounding the corner.
iRadio won the same award last year at the same event, beating out AOL, Yahoo, LAUNCHcast, and XM Satellite Radio. Worth noting, iRadio was also named the Best Mobile Music Service at the 2006 Digital Music Conference in November. VCast must be kicking itself, HARD. Not too shabby for a product that has yet to launch nationally. ...Hey, how did Mike Gaumond get to be on those judge panels? :)
And hey, Sandra Bernhart performed -- here are a couple pics, thanks to an anonymous attendee:
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Dave will be on the panel titled "Creative Innovation: Programming Music Content for Mobile and Digital" along with:
LaSean will be on the panel titled "Bringing the Heat to the Screen: Marketing and Sales in the Digital World" along with:
Geez, those panels are ginormous; at 90 minutes per, that gives every speaker roughly 6 minutes to brag about their company. Go get 'em, guys!
]]>Jeff Stinson, Senior Director of Business Development at Motorola Digital Media Services, said:
Motorola iRadio shares the public radio system's mission to offer Americans high quality audio content that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. We are pleased to build on listeners' enjoyment of their local public radio stations by bringing this strong slate of content to their mobile phones.
Motorola iRadio has really amassed quite a repository of content over the last year, including music from five major record labels, several indie labels, and news and talk shows from The Associated Press, AccuWeather, and Taldia local news and national paper programs.
I'm impressed. I'm also very pleased -- my wife and I love NPR, especially All Songs Considered and All Things Considered. Way to go, Moto.
]]>Our consumer and carrier trials have been expanding gradually and are no longer limited to just 4 US cities - they stretch nationwide and globally across geographies and demographics as our trials continue to grow. So, for now, our consumer and carrier participants will be in for a treat each week as a new pre-release album is leaked. ... We're continually adding trial participants as we head to a broader launch - within the US and other geographic regions.
Interesting...it sounds like iRadio trials are actually taking place outside the US as well. Here's to hoping they visit Westchester County soon...
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Motorola kicked off a "Leak of the Week" program (that's my name, not theirs) by making several songs from J/Arista Records artist Monica's upcoming album available for listening through iRadio. Listeners will be able to play "Everytime Tha I Beat Drop" on an iRadio-enabled mobile phone, along with several other songs, from the album Making of Me, through the SonyBMG iRadio music channel.Album leaks can be a great way to generate buzz about an artist or a new music service. In this case, the music is only being released a day ahead of the album release date (which is tomorrow). By the time most people will find out about it, the album will already be in stores, and the effect is somewhat anti-climatic. Still, there is PR and buzz to be gained all around, and it's a good move. And for listeners, it's an easy way to check out a new album before shelling out the change.
"How do I get in on the leak" you ask? It's my understanding that only iRadio customers have access to the deal, so unless there's an iRadio trial in your town, you'll have to wait. I'm looking to confirm that now...
]]>"Clear Channel is already providing white label programming for Motorola's iRadio service, but that is more of a time-shifted radio model rather than a live..."
Or, in the "About" section of every Clear Channel press release:
...The company's content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, on the Internet, via iPods, through Motorola's iRadio cell-phone service, and via mobile-navigation devices from Cobra, Garmin, Kenwood and others.
That's not a terrible thing, since the last few launch dates announced never quite materialized beyond the four test market cities. One can only hope... (Though it's September, and still no buzz about a Christmas launch. Hey, there's always Playstation 3, right?)