Music to our ears?
Internet radio service we7 has launched a mobile radio app that lets users create a personal radio station that can work without an internet connection.
The firm reckons the free app, available for Android devices, can be used as a user's main device for radio and music consumption as it has overcome the problems of unreliable connections and limited data allowances.
"we7 Radio delivers music to PAYG and PAYM tariff users who can now listen to music anywhere, without fear of eating into their data allowances, running up expensive data bills or having to stay in one place to have a reliable Wi-Fi connection," said the company.
It said it uses ‘Innovative buffering and caching mechanisms' so stations stay available to people regardless of connectivity.
Steve Purdham, CEO of we7, said: "Mobile signals are unreliable for radio streaming but with the new we7 App you can still 'use it if you lose it' continuing to listen to your favourite music radio stations, regardless of connection."
He added: "we7 radio lets you 'charge' up your mobile with great music and will transform radio listening across Europe as smartphones become the primary connected mobile device in the next few years."
We7 already exists as a cloud-based music website that lets users create radio stations by entering the artists and genres of music they like from a pool of around 7 million songs.
The free Android app is being launched in Beta form and is funded by adverts. Users who want to take advantage of the full service and select their own songs, albums and playlists will have to shell out £9.99 a month to upgrade to an ‘on-demand' subscription.
A ‘Premium' unlimited on-demand and radio streaming service is also available on PCs for £4.99 a month.
Versions of the app will launch on iOS devices in April, with WP7 and BlackBerry apps in the pipeline and set to launch later this year.
In November 2010, the service enjoyed 3 million monthly UK users and claimed to be the most accessed UK music website by page views, according to Hitwise.
we7 was born in May 2007 and launched its streaming service in November 2008. It has Peter Gabriel as an investor as well as support from Eden Venture and Spark Ventures.
