World's first internet car radio, Aussie-style

By Ty Pendlebury on 08 January 2009

German audio manufacturer Blaupunkt has announced the first internet radio for vehicles, which it developed in conjunction with an Australian company.

The single-sized Hamburg internet radio is used in conjunction with a 3G mobile to stream internet stations.
(Credit: Blaupunkt)

The system uses a Bluetooth connection to stream internet radio from a 3G-capable mobile phone, and was developed in conjunction with Melbourne-based company MiRoamer, which specialises in streaming audio.

Blaupunkt currently has two prototypes, which they had running at CES, the single-DIN Hamburg 600i and the double-DIN New Jersey 600i. The products are scheduled to be released locally in the second half of 2009, and are expected to start from €299 (AU$600).

The system will also support AM/FM radio, CD and USB-based music, though iPods wouldn't be able to be controlled via the head unit.

MiRoamer CEO George Parthimos said his company had been developing the system with Blaupunkt for the past 18 months. He said they had been "waiting for the right time" to release the system on the market.

Parthimos said he didn't see much competition from Digital Radio Plus as he said people wouldn't see digital radio as a value proposition versus the tens of thousands of stations available through this system.

Talks to have the system pre-installed on high-end vehicles such as Lexus and BMW are currently underway, said Parthimos. He added that there are also no plans to make a module that can be retrofitted to existing systems.

Ty Pendlebury is attending CES 2009 as a guest of LG.

Topics: 3g, bluetooth, car, internet, radio, streaming, blaupunkt, ces2009

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Comments (4)

  • JB commented on 15/01/2009 16:14

    Internet streamed radio may sound great in principal, but with the continuing onus of cost on the consumer, it cuts out those who can't afford to stream their media access!
    Unlimited data plans or not, in a time when lots of people are struggling financially, how do you justify having to pay for your access to the media? The idea of free to air is still socially quite important so there is equal access (excepting the cost of buying a receiver) for all in the community. Not just those who can afford high consumption internet.

  • Ramil - USA commented on 10/01/2009 17:59

    The quiz guy... The streaming radio on internet via 3G mobile is free if u have unlimited data plan... so if u have the plane u can afford it

  • MP3 for me commented on 08/01/2009 23:01

    Quick quiz!
    The download costs to stream the internet radio stations via your 3g mobile to this device would be:
    (a) prohibitive even if you drive a Lexus
    (b) prohibitive even if you drive a BMW, or
    (c) just high enough to make this a losing proposition
    (d) all of the above.

  • Rolloxan commented on 08/01/2009 17:24

    fantastic for old cars... but seeing as most cars sold these days have unique molded dashboards i hardly see the point

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