Globe editorial calls FM radio "outdated technology"

[Garrett Wollman]

<<On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:09:12 -0400, A Joseph Ross <joe@attorneyross.com> said:

> Well, I don't understand why I should be required to get an FM radio 
> with my next cellphone.  If I want an FM radio, I'll get one.

Chances are pretty good that you already have an FM radio in your next
cellphone, and the wireless carrier sees more profit in having you
listen to services that you[1] pay them for than in letting you listen
to free radio.  It's already well understood that consumers don't want
to carry around multiple devices -- the standalone digital music
player market will be dead in few years -- and so broadcasters are
worried that you will get all of your auditory entertainment from the
one device you[2] already have, your phone.[3]  There's also a (spurious)
argument about receiving EAS alerts (there's no reason the carriers
could not be required to use their own technology to deliver EAS
messages just as cablecos are).

-GAWollman

[1] Or someone, in any case -- the compensation may be coming from the
audio provider rather than from you, or in the most likely scenario,
in both directions, as the cell companies are an oligopoly and
therefore have both pricing power and control over the platform.

[2] And by "you" here I actually mean "women 25-54".

[3] Particularly given the level of phone integration offered on many
new cars.