iRadio Brings Hundreds Of Music Channels To Your Cell…Just Not Quite Yet

It’s long been predicted that the cell phone could morph into the media player of choice since almost everybody’s got one and because we’d all appreciate one less thing to lug around.  In addition to downloads, streaming audio via the cell certainly has to be a part of the mix and so we are hopeful when Motorola unveiled their iRadio service a few months back.

This week at the Consumer Electronics Show they went in to greater detail touting 435 commercial free channels including a bunch programmed by Clear Channel (smart move for CC, but a blow to consumer choice), optional Bluetooth accessories to extend iRadio, including stereo headphones  an adapter for a home stereo, and a wireless car kit.

The platform offers a virtually unlimited number of channels and Motorola is encouraging independent and major artists to create and monetize their own stream.  Graham Nash is contributing to an all Crosby Still & Nash channel and Bill Bob Thorton is hosting an indie music stream.

Independent artists, radio personalities and talk show hosts to create their own iRadio channels via their Get Heard Network and establish a more personal connection between artists and fans. "Labels now have a new, low-cost forum for introducing music or reviving long forgotten songs from the back catalog," states Motorola.

It all sounds too good to be true… and for the moment it is as Motorola has not announced any cell carriers willing to sell the phones and make the content available. But when they do – and they will – watch out satellite radio.  Other manufacturers and carriers are also touting their own streaming content now and in the near future, and you have to ask why a consumer would pay $10-$15 a month plus $50-$250 for a receiver for 100 channels when you can have hundreds or even thousands of streams on your cell your cell for less. Motorola keeps talking up it’s iRadio.

Read the Motorola press release here and visit Iradio.com.com here.

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