Visual Radio

Visual radio is a generic term for adding visuals to normal audio radio broadcasts. Visual Radio is also a trademark for a Nokia solution for interactive radio with FM radio over a data connection.

Visual Radio is a technology developed by Nokia to make it easier for audiences to interact with radio programs. Visual Radio is built-in functionality available in an increasing number of phones that are already equipped with analog FM radio.

Nokia's Visual Radio is not radio streaming – the audio is received via a regular analog FM radio embedded in the phone. A presentation of graphics and text, synchronized to the audio programming, is being streamed to the phone over a data connection; the FM transmission chain is unaffected by the addition of Visual Radio.

On phones with built-in Wi-Fi (tested on Nokia E51, E63, E66, E71, and N95 8GB), the Nokia application does not allow a Wi-Fi access point to be used for the data connection, only GPRS access points are allowed, allowing the possibility of revenue sharing between Nokia, the Radio stations and GPRS network operators.

The platform is composed of three parts:

The Visual Radio concept was created by Nokia and the platform was originally offered to radio stations and operators globally by HP. However, since October 2007, Nokia has been collaborating instead with RCS Inc., of New York, whose Selector music scheduling system is used by thousands of radio stations around the world. RCS produces the second-generation version of the Visual Radio platform and also markets a similar product for Internet (and most other digital platforms) under the RCS RadioShow brand.

The interactive visual channel is produced by the radio station. Interactivity options include quizzes, messaging, content download, commerce, etc.

Kiss FM (Finland) (now defunct) was the first radio station that started using Visual Radio. Other stations supporting Visual Radio included the UK's GWR Bristol, GWR Bath, Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio), The Voice in Helsinki, Mediacorp stations in Singapore, Radio Mirchi station in New Delhi India, and Los 40 Principales in Spain. RAI has done test transmissions with Visual radio in some selected areas. In Belgium Radio Contact (as Radio Contact Vision) and Q-music support Visual Radio as a TV-station, others also transmit Visual Radio on the internet.

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