The launch of Motorola’s iRadio mobile music solution, which has been in beta for more than a year, has been delayed while the concept undergoes some major revisions, reports Billboard.Biz. Apparently, U.S. mobile operators had second thoughts when they understood iRadio revolved around mobile phones caching Internet radio streams via a PC connection. Operators wanted it to be a streaming music service that used their networks.
Rafat adds: I am not so sure about Moto’s spin on operators not wanting to adopt this. While that may be partially true, the service was always based on a false-premise: that is a scope for a third-party radio service, which can be vertically integrated with Moto handsets, and then marketed to consumers as a mobile music alternative. The competition, like any other media trying to be the mobile (meaning in the car) is radio, and in recent years satellite radio. That is a huge consumer marketing proposition, something which internally Moto had no patience to support. Also, consider how Nokia failed to make any headway with Visual Radio…and the lessons are clear: handset players should stick to what they do best.
Related:
—Audio Interview: Moto Hopes To Harness User-Created content To Make iRadio Sing
—Motorola Launches iRadio On Mobiles; Drops Itunes For New Rokr Phone
—Motorola’s iRadio Promotes Sales