The Channel Wire

June 16, 2008

The iPhone Web application arms race is on. A variety of companies are getting involved in developing applications that will bring their services to Apple devotees. While the platform is bringing competitors onto the same stage, everyone is trying to take a bite out of that Apple. Detente is nowhere in sight.

Recently, AOL threw its hat into the iPhone Web application ring and is offering CBS streaming radio to users. The AOL Radio powered by CBS Radio Web app was highlighted last week at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference and won the award for "Best Entertainment Application."

"We're thrilled to be recognized by Apple for the work that has gone into AOL Radio for the iPhone," said Kevin Conroy, executive vice president at AOL. "The APIs available in the iPhone SDK provided us with all the tools necessary to quickly create a terrific version of AOL Radio for the iPhone OS, and we're looking forward to adding streaming radio to the many great experiences available to iPhone users."

AOL Radio uses the iPhones Core Location Framework to detect the location of a user and patch into local CBS radio stations. The application also automatically detects the type of network a user is on—Wi-Fi or cell network—and adjusts the stream between low and high bandwidth.

The award brings weight to AOL's self-professed goal to "Get back to the Mac." Other AOL efforts include AOL Mobile Search, a new portal, and a Desktop for Mac.

Bringing streaming audio to the iPhone isn't a new concept. NPR mobile already offers an application that allows users to get their news.

But streaming music has been more difficult for frustrated users of services like Last.FM and Pandora.

Last.FM is a social community where users can stream music to their machine and rate the music they listen to on iTunes. By rating music, Last.FM can learn preferences and stream music tailored to individual tastes.

According to the Web site, Last.FM uses an Audioscrobbler engine that allows "users to 'scrobble' their tracks to our servers, helping to collectively build the world's largest social music platform." Currently, MobileScrobbler is the only iPhone application that users can use in order to stream Last.FM to their device.

But MobileScrobbler comes with a catch: it can only be used on unlocked iPhones, meaning users run the risk of voiding their warranty and carrying an expensive piece of silicon and plastic around if something goes wrong.

Pandora has at least one intriguing scenario already in place for bringing streaming music to the iPhone. Writing on the Pandora blog in May 2007, Tom Conrad, CTO of Pandora, talked about getting Pandora on a mobile device.

"One of the most interesting startups in the Bay area right now is a company called Zing. They're building a really cool platform that enables Wi-Fi-connected media players. They're the company behind the new Wi-Fi-connected Sansa Connect media player," wrote Conrad.

Conrad got in touch with Zing and worked with the company to take the Pandora Everywhere Platform and get it running on a Wi-Fi device. While Conrad demoed the product, he specifically noted that it wasn't a product announcement and that there are no plans for a Pandora-specific mobile device.

And now, by clicking on the mobile tab on Pandora's Web site, users are presented with the option of embedding Pandora on their mobile phone—so long as it is a device that supports the application and exists on the Sprint or AT&T network.

AT&T currently has an exclusive contract with Apple to provide services for the iPhone.

A quick search of Apple's iPhone Web application page shows more than 25 pages of existing applications. A streaming music provider that creates an application that allows users to stream music to their iPhone would be in an advantageous position to capture part of the market.