IPhone and Internet Radio

Is it possible to have the iPhone and Internet radio all at the same time? Thanks to its easy access to the mobile web and the variety of applications available through the App Store, the answer is a resounding yes. Prepare to be entertained not only by your iTunes collection, but also the never-ending supply of talk and music via the Internet.

While your wireless data plan may be perfectly adequate for Facebook, e-mail, and sports headlines, streaming audio through the iPhone and Internet radio is a different beast altogether. Be aware that using this kind of data over a 3G connection, like that offered by AT&T and Rogers Wireless, can quickly go through your "data bucket" each month.

The amount of data consumed over the cellular connection will vary based on a number of different factors, but you can easily rifle through several megabytes or even gigabytes of data by listening to music online through your iPhone.

For this reason, make sure that the data plan you have for your iPhone is adequate for this kind of application. Alternatively, only use Internet radio applications on your iPhone when you have the device connected to a Wi-Fi network rather than the 3G cellular network.

To get the iPhone and Internet radio to play nicely with one another, you simply have to download the appropriate application for the popular touchscreen handheld. Some of these applications can be found though the iPhone App Store, while others may not be authorized by Apple for some reason or another.

These unauthorized applications will only run on an iPhone that has been "jailbroken." This may void your warranty, so proceed with caution with these kinds of downloads for iPhone. Otherwise, stick with the offerings through the App Store for the simplest and most worry-free experience.

So, what Internet radio applications are out there?

Unlike most other Internet radio applications that only provide you with access to pre-set radio stations, the Last.fm application lets you develop your own station based on your preferences and recommendations. Because of this high level of personalization, Last.fm is one of the most popular iPhone extras available in the App Store.

As another major selling point to this free application, Last.fm can also be used outside of the United States. Most other Internet radio applications for the iPhone are restricted to the United States due to copyright and legal reasons.

Just as people are able to enjoy this experience from the comfort of their laptop computers, it is also possible to mate the iPhone and Internet radio by way of Pandora Radio. Like Last.fm, Pandora Radio is also free, but the iPhone application comes with a series of fun additions.

The user interface for the iPhone Pandora Radio app is very similar to the interface that users get when they run through the default iPod application on the iPhone. Like Last.fm, users can also search for specific artists, song titles, and composers. From there, Pandora works to find tracks that are similar to the song you selected.

Unlike Last.fm, however, Pandora Radio is largely restricted to the United States and, as such, Canadians and Europeans are largely left out in the cold for this Internet radio possibility.

FlyCast is a free application for the iPhone that allows for the streaming of Internet radio on the iPhone. Previously known as FlyTunes, the application offers access to over 500 channels of satellite radio-quality audio. In addition to a wide range of music, FlyCast also offers access to news stations and sports talk radio.

Unlike some other applications that require a 3G or Wi-Fi connection for any sort of usability, FlyCast has been designed to accommodate slower EDGE connections as well. It is also interesting that, since FlyCast buffers the streaming content, it is possible to rewind and fast forward through songs.

With the arrival of stereo Bluetooth on the iPhone 3GS, users can now enjoy music through Bluetooth headsets too and this includes the iPhone and Internet radio. With so many applications to consider, you're bound to find one to suit your musical tastes.

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