The growth of the iPhone is truly amazing, especially since Apple opened up its wildly popular App Store to outside developers. The range of cool, useful, and whimsical applications makes owning one of these devices a real adventure. iPhone owners regularly check to discover new apps that are free or require a small fee.
In the process, the iPhone has become America's most popular mobile device, passing the veteran BlackBerry in the process, mirroring Google usurping Yahoo! despite the latter's early entry into the search field. (So much for the Ries & Trout rule about being the first in.)
Back in February, RAB CEO Jeff Haley made it clear that if broadcast radio is to be competitive as an entertainment medium of the future, it must go beyond traditional AM/FM radio sets, and become accessible in new hi-tech places – on computers and mobile devices, in particular.
To that end, we have studied our own Tech Polls very carefully, and developed a wonderful app for broadcast radio, allowing stations to have a personalized (or "stationalized") icon on iPhone desktops. In this way, basic on-air promos will direct listeners to the App Store where they can easily download your logo icon, and let the streaming begin. (Stations can include up to five different streams with the same logo icon.)
Now we realize that many station streams are already available on iPhones underneath larger "umbrella icons" – such as AOL Radio and FlyCast. These are great apps, but they require the iPhone user to scroll through hundreds of stations to find their favorite. Our personalized icon allows individual stations to have their own icons, thus making it easy and simple to stream their audio in just seconds.
WRIF here in Detroit provided the beta test, and the results look and sound great. Try it for yourself on an iPhone or by visiting iTunes and typing "WRIF" in the search box. The one-time cost is $900 for Jacobs’ clients, and $1,000 for everyone else.
Check out how the App works
We're excited about helping broadcast radio gain an attractive and user-friendly presence in the most buzz-worthy mobile device – the iPhone. This is the just the beginning for our business, and an important step in spreading our great content across exciting digital platforms and devices.
For more information on obtaining your "stationalized" iPhone app, contact Paul Jacobs.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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