O2 Tunes in to Mobile Radio Service

Spanish-owned Irish mobile operator, O2 Ireland, has begun a trial of Spodtronic Radio which enables its 3G customers to listen in live to over 200 FM, AM and online radio stations on their mobile phones. O2 believes the trial is the first of its kind in Europe and said that its users will have access to 50,000 audio podcasts as well as being able to create song-lists and match radio stations to their current mood.

O2 will trial the service from German company Spodtronic for ten weeks allowing customers access to some of the most popular radio stations. The Irish company intends to enlist foreign nationals living in Ireland as part of the trial and offer them access to radio broadcasts from their home territories. As part of the trial they will use the Nokia N73 handset, and will give feedback on the service to O2 Ireland.