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:

Dave will be on the panel titled "Creative Innovation: Programming Music Content for Mobile and Digital" along with:

• David Hyman, CEO, MOG
• Katie McMahon, VP Strategy, Shazam
• Jeremiah Zinn, VP, Wireless, MTV Networks
• Jonathan Schreiber, CEO, Xingtone
• Tim Saarela, CEO, Wap Oneline USA
• Amanda Marks, EVP, Univeral eLabs 
  
• Thomas Ryan, SVP, Digital, EMI Recorded Music
• Ted Cohen, Managing Partner, TAG Strategic
• Frederic Francq, EVP Publishing, Q-Mobile
• Ashley Heather, CEO, Entertainment Media Works
• Ty Roberts, Co Founder and CTO, Gracenote
• Dean Newton, COO, Emotive

LaSean will be on the panel titled "Bringing the Heat to the Screen: Marketing and Sales in the Digital World" along with:

• Stefan Roever, President and CEO, Navio
• Mike Johns, CEO, Urbanworld Wireless
• William Volk, CEO, myNuMo
• Steve Cherry, CEO CommerceTel
• Christina Calio, Director, Music Marketing, Entertainment and Devices Group, Microsoft
• Dominick Tolli, Vice President of Product Management and Development, Virgin Mobile USA
• Luis Samra, CEO, Wilean, Inc.
• Jeremy Welt, VP New Media, Warner Brothers Records
• Rick Carlson, Senior Marketing Manager, Interactive Media and Mobile Marketing, Cingular Wireless
• Peter Sung, Managing Director, FM, Inc.
• Eric Lemasters, Director of Label Relations and New Media, KOCH Entertainment Distribution
• Michael Robertson, Founder MP3.com, CEO, MP3tunes
• Stephen Murray President of Entertainment and CCO, BurnLounge

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!

• Pricing: The price is currently estimated to be around $7-10, up from earlier estimations of $5-7 a year ago.
• Installing iRadio: Users will download iRadio software to a PC with Windows XP.  Can manage separate playlists from music repositories.
• How it Works: Phones will synchronize with music collections via a USB connection, and can then transmit the music via Bluetooth to other Bluetooth-enabled stereosystems.
• Station Count: More than 800 commercial-free radio stations are now available through Motorola iRadio.
• Which Phones?  Currently, iRadio is only on three phone models, though more are coming.
• Next Album Leak of the Week: The weekly album leak started with Monica last week, and will continue with Rod Stewart's album next week.
• Launch Date:  Last but not least, what about the launch date?  Motorola iRadio is currently being tested in several US cities, but could officially roll out early next year, according to Dave Ulmer.

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...

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?)