Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Radio Spreads On Smartphones - Are Cell Phones Next?

With Sirius XM Radio announcing its launching of a free Android app for its subscribers and Clear Channel offering premium ad-free content on its newest edition of iheartradio mobile streaming, will we now see some headway made in the drive to get radio on cell phones? According to Inside Radio, "Radio industry leaders are lobbying for FM receivers to be installed on cell phones and they're making progress but key hurdles remain." Cost for the service is one of those hurdles. Availability of FM-capable units and services is already widely available through Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile. The radio industry is working on getting Apple to come aboard. And there are plenty of cell phone units containing FM-capable chips. Nokia has sold more than 700 million devices with built-in FM radio receivers worldwide...
Both the National Association of Broadcasters and Radio Advertising Bureau are leading the lobbying efforts to get FM receivers included in cell phones and their efforts have been more effective with lawmakers and regulators than with the mobile industry. If you'd like to offer your thoughts on this initiative, visit www.radioheardhere.com/fmchip ...
The Smartphone explosion may be reaching record-setting proportions with over 45.5 million consumers in the U.S. but there are 49.3 billion reasons for getting FM radio capability in cell phones. That's the number of cell phones in the United States...

10 Timeline Memories:
1.1813] Making a motto: The Navy gets its motto when mortally wounded Chesapeake commander Capt. James Lawrence says "Don't give up the ship" during a losing battle with a British frigate...
2.1925] They call it the streak: Lou Gehrig pinch-hits for Yankees shortstop Pee Wee Wanninger and singles in the first of his record 2,130 consecutive games played... The next day he replaces Wally Pipp, who sits because of a headache and Gehrig’s record will stand until 1995…
3.1958] Vive le France: Charles de Gaulle becomes premier of France...
4.1961] Both sides now: New York, California and Illinois radio stations debut FM multiplex stereo. One year later the FCC makes FM standard…
5.1968] ‘Happy Trails’: Helen Keller, who earned a college degree despite being blind and deaf most of her life, dies in her sleep in Westport (CT) at the age of 87…1991] David Ruffin, lead singer of the Temptations dies from a cocaine overdose in Philadelphia at 50…1997] Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X is critically burned in a fire set by her 12-year old grandson in her Yonkers apartment. Shabazz will die from her burns on June 23 at 61…
6.1980] This is CNN: Ted Turner starts the Cable News Network (CNN)…
7.1994] Reg-gie, Reg-gie, Reg-gie: Reggie Miller puts on one of the greatest scoring displays in NBA history when he scores 25 of his 39 points in the 4th quarter to help Indiana beat the Knicks in game 5 of their East Conference Playoffs. The Knicks will come back to win the series in seven games…
8.2001] Suicide bomber: 21 are killed in a Tel Aviv nightclub when a suicide bomber blows himself up...
9.2007] Pass on Chinese toothpaste: The FDA warns consumers to avoid using toothpaste made in China because it might contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze. Not only that, but right after using the toothpaste, it makes you feel like brushing your teeth again...
10.2007] Dr. Death walks: Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian walks out of a Michigan prison, where he'd spent eight years for ending the life of a man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease...

Commentary:
In the aftermath of the unexpected death of Gary Coleman, his estranged parents, Sue and Willie Coleman want to know more about the manner of their son's death. "We're not angry. We're just concerned. Did our son fall down the stairs? Did he fall in the bathtub? We need to have some closure on our son's life." Coleman died Friday after suffering a brain hemorrhage in a fall at his home at the age of 42...Dennis Hopper's death has reverberated in a rash of Tweets from Hollywood friends of the legendary actor and director, as well as prepared statements from Hopper's co-stars, including Peter Fonda ('Easy Rider'), Isabella Rossellini ('Blue Velvet'), Gene Hackman ('Hoosiers'). Hopper died Saturday from complications of prostate cancer. The renegade Hollywood figure was 74...

Music Memories:
1964] Hello Dolly: Dolly Parton moves to Nashville, one day after her high school graduation...
1964] JFK stoned: The Rolling Stones arrive at JFK for their 1st U.S. tour...
1967] Released on this date: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" LP - The Beatles...
1971] Tupelo money: A two-room shack in Tupelo (MS) opens as a tourist attraction. It was the house Elvis Presley was born in...
1975] Rock & Roll replacement: On his 28th birthday, Ron Wood replaces Mick Taylor as Rolling Stone guitarist...
1985] Just a Gigolo: David Lee Roth crosses over from AOR to Pop with his hit "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody"...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Alanis Morissette (36), Heidi Klum (37), Lisa Hartman Black (54), Ronnie (Brooks & Dunn) Dunn (57), David Berkowitz (aka Son of Sam) (57), Ron Wood (63), Morgan Freeman (73), Pat Boone (76) and Andy Griffith (84)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until the Belmont Stakes, 19 days until Father's

Day and 20 days until summer...