[Seth Gecko]

Visual Radio comes to the UK

FM has been dying a slow death the world over despite efforts to add some digital audio broadcast features to your FM stream. Visual Radio has potential to take it one step further bringing interactivity to your FM listening experience. We’ll soon see if audiences in the UK have any interest.

O2 and Virgin plan to launch Visual Radio services as early as next month. For nations like Finland and Thailand Visual Radio is nothing new, but its launch in the UK has been a long time coming. Bringing new life to tired old FM radio, Visual Radio will overlay digital information on the FM stream. Compatible cell phones will now show visual images directly from your local pop station. Depending on the availability of your mobile network you could even be granted a level of interactivity. Virgin promises audience participation in the way of polls, multiple choice questions, and even a chance to IM your music provider. The interactive element will also allow you to receive artist information, bios and possibly even music downloads.

Wayde
www.gizmocafe.com