In a nutshell, Visual Radio combines a data feed (GPRS)
with a standard FM radio receiver. It has essentially evolved out of research
done by Nokia into the popularity of its the FM radio built into many of
its existing handsets. Rather than just listening, why not add in
content that could be viewed in colour via a browser and a live (GPRS) data
connexion? That's what Visual Radio does.
At the moment Visual Radio is proprietary to Nokia,
although the company swears it intends to licence the technology to other
handset vendors.
Reidar Wasenius,
senior project manager with Nokia with responsibility for visual radio, couldn't
name names but could say that Nokia has been approached directly by several
leading handset vendors.
The first handset to boast this new 'visual radio' capability
was the 7700. It has been followed by the Nokia 3230 and 6230i models in
Europe and the Asia Pacific regions. The Nokia N70 and Nokia N91 were announced
in early 2005 and joined in June2005 by the Nokia 6111, 6270 and 6280.
The first live Visual Radio broadcasts begun on March 4th 2005. The Finnish Kiss
FM being the first radio station in the world to enable Visual Radio. The
first operator to offer Visual Radio was TeliaSonera Finland. However, Infinity
Broadcasting (USA), Virgin Radio (UK), FFH Hit Radio (Germany), SBS Sweden with
their stations The Voice, Mix Megapol and Rockklassiker, and SBS Finland with
Radio City have signed agreements to become Visual Radio-enabled.
One advantage to Visual Radio is that you don't have to view the content
constantly (and therefore pay for all the data that is downloading). You can be
just listening to the radio, then fire up visual radio when a track you like
comes on. Furthermore, Visual Radio isn't 'streaming' live video clips – the
graphics are static. So there will be no 'jerkiness' when you are watching the
FM station.
Nokia has
partnered with computer manufacturer, HP, to sell the technology. The advantage
here is that HP numbers both network operators and radio broadcasters among its
existing customerbase – in theory making it relatively simple to add to existing
broadcasting systems. "Visual Radio is a great example of a business model that
enables our customers to capitalise on consumers' rising demand for
content-rich, highly relevant services," commented Vikki Pachera, vp for global
alliances with HP. "By adding a digital content channel to traditional FM radio,
Nokia and HP are bringing a more dynamic and interactive medium to broadcasters
and mobile operators."
