iPhone and iPod touch users could be dancing to a different tune with a new application from Apple. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company is reportedly working on bringing FM radio to the devices.
The application is rumored to operate in the background and will have the same functionality as the FM radio found in the new fifth-generation iPod nano, a source told 9to5Mac. The application will also reportedly integrate mobile iTunes Store purchases. So if a user likes a song on the radio and the station supports tagging, the user will be able to get information on the song.
Both the iPhone and iPod touch are able to receive FM radio signals through transmitters already installed in the devices, but the signals are only activated in the Nike + iPod application.
“It’ll cater to those looking for FM radio on their mobile phones, but I don’t see this as a broad application that will turn people more toward the iPhone in droves,” said Ramon Llamas, IDC’s mobile analyst. “This will appeal to niche-market segments.”
Having mobile access to FM radio may not be interesting to mobile-phone users who have other music options, Llamas said.
“The iPod touch and iPhone are music-centric, allowing users to listen to their own music as much as they want,” he said. “Users have also been treated to a sweet application from Pandora which streams music to a user’s device at low cost.”
Mobile-phone users blogging about the news echo Llamas’ thoughts on other means of music, but say having the option for FM radio is great.
“Much of my listening behavior has been circumvented by Pandora, Stitcher and NPR apps, but I’d still like the option of using good old frequency modulation, especially if it could run as a background app,” Michael73 posted on the MacRumors forum.
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