Here are the highlights:
1. Advanced digital services are here! HD Radio officially moves beyong music broadcasts with a spate of service announcements and demos being announced at CES:
-- iTunes tagging is here. Actual devices that consumers can buy now for home/office and car are being announced from Alpine, Sony, Polk, et al (the list is in the alert). We have photos of many of them if you'd like that.
-- Location-based services are imminent! Microsoft (the MSN Direct HD service) and Clear Channel Radio are showing a demo of location-based services in their private suites and at the iBiquity booth. (Happy to set up a time for you to see them.) The services will immediately include things like location-based directories, program guides, movie information, gas prices, restaurants, et al.
-- Watch for HD Radio to go mobile in 2008. The technology pieces are being announced at CES from Samsung, iBiquity and others next week that will let makers of MP3/media players, cell phones and personal navigation devices to integrate HD Radio reception into their mobile devices... once that happens, you'll be able to listen to radio on your cell phone without using expensive minutes; your personal navigation device will get cool services like those mentioned above from MSN Direct HD/Clear Channel; and all other kinds of nifty things.
2. The crucial $99 price point has officially been reached. Sony is announcing a $99 home/office HD Radio -- there have been "specials" at this price point before; the Sony price is list. This is especially key since Sony is in the volume business, not focused on audiophile niches. This also plays to retailers who have ramped up in 2007 like Wal-Mart.
3. The infrastructure in now fully in place for volume sales. HD Radio is more accessible than ever. There have been dramatic gains in retailers carrying HD Radios in 2007 (last year, there was Radio Shack; now HD Radios are sold by Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, others as well). Those gains were matched by equally important new automakers (Ford, Volvo and Hyundai are most recent to sign on -- the full list includes BMW, mini, others.)
