Name that tune on the hop
A small Swiss firm has solved the problem of identifying songs on the radio for people on the move, particularly youngsters.
A small Swiss firm has solved the problem of identifying songs on the radio for people on the move, particularly youngsters.
The Minick company, based near Zurich, has devised a system called “mobileSound” which uses the mobile telephone to relay short messages (SMS) to and from radio stations. You can even order music this way.
The project is currently being tested by seven local radio stations, in conjunction with Switzerland’s largest CD retailer on the Internet and the Ericsson technology group. On average 2,000 enquiries a day are being made.
“If you want to find out what is playing, you write an SMS, a short message, on your mobile phone, with the name of the radio station,” explains Thomas Brändle, chief financial officer of Minick. “You send it to the number 266 and after a few moments, you receive an SMS which tells you what song is currently being played.”
The new technology does not only promote the radio station and performing artist but cuts out the middleman because mobileSound also functions as an online CD shop.
“It makes ordering CDs more spontaneous and I think it will change the CD market, but people will still go to shops, I’m sure,” Brändle adds.
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