Motorola's new iRadio system — a combination of a high-end cell phone, Bluetooth, PC software, and podcasting technologies — sounds awfully cumbersome for a packaged music service. It even sounds similar to, but more unwieldy than, the "system" of Apple iTunes, iPod and cheap Sony cassette adapter that we've been using for car audio, lo these past two years.
iRadio employs a Bluetooth-enabled cellphone, onto which subscribers can upload music and talk radio channels from a PC. In the car, the phone connects with a stereo interface unit via Bluetooth, and audio is streamed directly through the speakers — manipulated using the stereo controls. It's an interesting solution, to be sure, but one that would require a bunch of gadgets we don't have, and have no intention to invest in. But take note: According to the report, Motorola and Apple are working toward integrating the upcoming iTunes phone into iRadio. That, our friends, is the story.
Motorola Launches In-Car Music Service [PC Magazine]
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