Talking of tests of new digital type things, Chrysalis Radio have announced it is embarking on a two month trial of that previously reported service which will enable listeners of digital radio stations to download songs they are listening to at the click of a button.
100 people will take part in the trial, which will use digital radio enabled BT mobile phones. When participants like a track playing on Chrysalis' Heart or Galaxy stations they can press a button and opt to download it. The track will download to their phone, with a second copy sent to a folder on their PC. If the trial, due to take place in June and July, is successful the service could be made available to the wider public as soon as December, with an as yet unspecified subscription and per-download fee charged for using it.
Simon Cole, the boss of UBC, who are actually creating and running the digital radio download service, told reporters: "If you press 'buy' when you're listening to James Blunt on Heart, the file is immediately added to your library in the phone. The server also pushes a 128-kilobyte version of the song to your home account so it's also on your computer waiting to be put on your iPod. We think people will be willing to pay a premium for that level of service."
Chrysalis Radio boss Phil Riley added: "It's a very neat way of allowing people who are time-poor, and not particularly technically-literate, the ability to download the music they like. The Heart type of audience - working women or mums with kids - are absolutely typical time-poor people. Getting the kids to school is much higher up on their list of priorities than downloading music."
This interactive service was one of the things discussed in CMU's recent interview with Riley on the future of digital radio which, should you wish to, you can still check out at http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/interviews