Cingular Offers Mobile Radio Service

Technology News reports on Cingular's plan to team with MobiTV to offer MobiRadio, a 44 channel radio streaming service avaialble to Cingular customers for $6.99 a month plus data use fees. The stations, programmed by Music Choice, will be commercial free and avaialble to subscribers with radio-ready handsets.

Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch said, "This is a nascent market, but there's definitely consumer interest. Streaming music overcomes the drawbacks of mobile music -- you don't have to sync anything up, there's no need for expensive satellite systems, no wires and no navigation on a device, because it's radio content. Services like this definitely make sense as conduits for this type of audio content."

Capable handsets are the Nokia 6620 as well as the Sony Ericsson S710 and Z500a. Cingular promised additional handset options in the future.

Gartenberg commenting on the ability to generate mass appeal for the service said, "It depends on how well it's evangelized and the pricing. There's definitely a chance for this to become much larger in the future, as people get these handsets with these options, but it's going to take some time. Strategically marketing to consumers will be difficult."