NextRadio applauds resolution to activate FM radio in smartphones passed by Indiana Senate
INDIANAPOLIS, April 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indiana State Senate yesterday adopted Senate Resolution 28 "urging wireless carriers to activate the FM radio receivers in smartphones". The Senate Resolution focused on the need for Indiana residents to have direct access from their smartphones to the emergency information broadcasts of local radio stations. Activating the FM receiver in smartphones would provide immediate access to a radio in the device most residents currently carry even in the event that wireless data networks become unavailable or overwhelmed.
The resolution outlines the consumer benefits of an activated FM radio in smartphones including radio's accessibility during an emergency, light battery usage, and non-reliance on internet data to function. Also noted was the fact that smartphones currently sold in the U.S. have this FM radio 'chip' already present and would require minimal effort to activate, allowing owners of these phones to listen to local FM radio stations throughout the United States.
Presently, major wireless carriers in the United States have not taken steps to activate the FM chip in the smartphones they sell, and as they profit from the consumer data usage of streaming media, do not feel compelled to provide a free alternative. The current exception is Sprint, which has provided FM radio access in new Android devices sold since September 2013.
Similar legislative actions are set to take place in other states. They send a message to the wireless industry that the representatives of the people would like to see measures enforced that benefit and help protect their constituents.
TagStation®, a division of Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications, has created the NextRadio® smartphone app which utilizes the activated FM receivers in smartphones to deliver an interactive local radio listening experience.
Click below to read the text of SR28
http://iga.in.gov/static-documents/8/7/3/3/8733492f/SR0028.01.INTR.pdf
About TagStation, LLC and NextRadio®
TagStation, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emmis Communications Corporation. TagStation, LLC has developed the TagStation® service to provide radio stations with artist and title information and unique interactivity with listeners. With partial funding from NAB Labs, TagStation also developed the NextRadio hybrid radio smartphone app that uses TagStation cloud services to provide a rich FM radio listening experience on smartphones and tablets by combining the devices' built-in FM tuner and the internet. Founded in 2013, TagStation, LLC is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with offices in Indianapolis and Chicago, IL. For more information, about TagStation, visit TagStation.com. For more information about NextRadio, visit NextRadioApp.com.
SOURCE NextRadio
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