• Mediaweek, Wednesday, January 4, 2006 10:45 AM

Motorola, a laggard in the worldwide mobile-phone market until a year or so ago when it began offering a series of more appealing handsets, has announced a subscription radio service that it describes as "revolutionary." The company's iRadio, which will cost consumers just $7 a month, will "break the mold of competing radio services," according to a company statement. Unlike the more expensive satellite radio services (XM, Sirius), iRadio can be heard only on mobile phones, and it is dependent on the rapidly developing Bluetooth technology. That requires users to wirelessly download programming, which may be perceived as less convenient, albeit more costly, than the satellite-delivery model. Based on information released by Motorola, consumers can expect that most of iRadio's commercial-free channels--435 at the launch--will feature music. Clear Channel, the country's largest radio group, has agreed to be a content provider to iRadio. A number of artists, including the actor Billy Bob Thornton, have signed on as well to produce programming. It's not clear when iRadio will be introduced to the general public.

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