Archive for November 5, 2008
What’s driving Internet radio?
This week’s announcement by Delphi that they will partner with Autonet to build Internet devices for cars is huge news for Internet radio. Delphi has produced more than 283 million mobile radios. In the last 25 years, Delphi has been at the forefront in the introduction of multi-speaker premium audio, CD playbacks, DVD rear seat video, MP3 playbacks, and satellite radio into the automotive market.
Autonet’s technology turns your car into a wifi spot with technology that is designed to stay connected while driving. Clearly this partnership is intended to create in-car devices to stream audio and video. Earlier in the year Chrysler introduced the Mopar Hot Spot – which repackaged Autonet’s product 
with a Chrysler branded name for sale as an option in Chrysler cars.
Delphi also produces units for satellite radio – and something tells me they may be looking for a new growth area. The automotive industry has been the mainstay of satellite radio’s existence – it’s the way they acquire new subscribers. Why would anyone opt to install a device that can access one dedicated satellite radio company rather than a device that can tune in thousands of Internet radio stations as well as browse the Internet for endless other reasons?
Can you say game changer? The devices produced by Delphi and Autonet could be just that for Internet radio and the radio industry…
