Since the introduction of the modern smart phone many have been fighting for these platforms to have free FM radio capability. The first phones released under these new guidelines could launch as soon as later this year. We’re sure that manufacturers won’t be happy, since they’ll have to work on FM support just to get handsets on AT&T’s store shelves.
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AT&T is the latest phone carrier to include FM chip activation, agreeing to a no-cost deal with NEXTRADIO for their 2016 ANDROID smartphone device specifications. This was all part of a plan developed years ago and it’s all coming to fruition. “We are thrilled about AT&T coming aboard and now we are approaching other carriers and manufacturers”. It’s possible that AT&T is getting a cut of ads or music sales from NextRadio, an FM radio app that it seems to be supporting.
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Today marks a new beginning in mobile technology with the agreement by a global iconic brand, AT&T, to light up the FM receiver chips in all of its future Android smartphones”,
said the National Association of Broadcasters.
RAB President and CEO Erica Farber said of the deal, “The continued integration and adoption of NextRadio by yet another telecommunication company is proof positive radio’s place continues in next generation smartphones and mobile devices and that is good news for our listeners and our advertisers”.
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I’ve had smartphones with FM radios in them and have always been a fan not only because the radio doesn’t use any expensive data, but it also uses a lot less battery power than keeping a constant internet audio stream going.
