06.24.09 - 9:30 a.m.
In Chicago, $6.99 won't buy me a large quad iced venti latte and a chocolate chunk cookie. It will, however, buy you the greatest iPhone radio app there is.
As many of you know, I've always recommended WunderRadio as my iPhone radio app of choice.
Yes, there are other music apps out there like Pandora and Pocket Tunes and Slacker and all of them do what they set out to do well, but WunderRadio is different - WunderRadio is about providing a high-tech, old-fashioned radio station experience.
Meaning, when I want to listen to Atlantic City's hottest music at 95.1 WAYV just like I used to do while I was driving to work 19 years ago, I can - even when I'm in Chicago. It's simple to find radio stations and bookmark them as favorites using WunderRadio and it's that simplicity that keeps the app on my first iPhone screen.
Now, I have a whole new reason. And so do you. Starting Thursday. As in tomorrow.
As you know, I've started to transition this blog from here to Twitter. And as you probably also know, I'm a big ol' Twitter geek anyhow. Well, when I was told by the great folks at WunderRadio first about the way they are combining the radio and Twitter experience, well, they had my attention.
Here's how the company describes it in their press release - I find that for as often as I rewrite press releases, I don't think anyone can do it more clearly and concisely - and passionately - as the people working on the project.
Use your iPhone to tweet your favorite DJ
WunderRadio has launched a new Twitter capability that allows radio listeners to follow radio station Twitter feeds while listening to the live broadcast on their iPhone.
Conversely, users can login to their Twitter accounts and send Tweets directly to DJ’s live on air. All of this can be done within WunderRadio so there is no need to open a new browser or shut down the application.
“We believe that adding Twitter to WunderRadio has created a ground-breaking medium for radio listeners to interact directly with on air talent,” said Alan Steremberg, President and co-founder of the application’s developers, Weather Underground. “It will also serve as a valuable tool for radio stations looking to communicate further with their listeners.”
Radio audience figures have received a massive boost from the availability of Internet streaming and the mobile space is certain to play an ever-increasing role in boosting these numbers. Today, 42 million people in the US listen to online radio, up 27% from 2008 according to Arbitron Radio Ratings and Media Research
Commenting on this new trend in radio audience, Steremberg adds “WunderRadio and its Twitter capabilities are certain to play significant roles in the communications strategy of forward thinking radio stations.”
To date, almost a quarter of a million iPhone users have downloaded WunderRadio. The application is also available for Windows Mobile users and will soon be accessible to BlackBerry users as well.
Fans of WunderRadio can also follow the application itself on Twitter -- at @wunderradio -- and keep up to date with new features and content.
So ... as they say in the radio business ... to repeat this hour's top story ...
WunderRadio costs $6.99 in the App Store (iTunes link). I've paid more for only a few apps and none are used as often as WunderRadio. And none are on my first iPhone screen - if you know anything about me, you know that if your icon is on my first screen that you've done something right.
Check it out now.
If you want to comment on Twitter about this story or anything else on the blog - and if you want to be connected live to the most lively and complete iPhone discussion anywhere on Twitter, follow me at @iptib.
Thanks for calling.
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