Lawrence Finch wrote:
ChitlinsCC wrote:
I think these points answer the question as to why, don't you? Partnerships, strategic alliances, profit
No, I think THAT'S the red herring. The answer to the question is that no one making phones thought it would be a selling feature. You (and NPR) are overthinking this. FM reception at its best would be terrible. You would hate it.
Again, with all due respect, NPR reported on the issue (disclaiming the fact that they had a vested interest) and the main sources for comments were National Association of Broadcasters, FEMA and CTIA-The Wireless Association
Key among these is FEMA... you know the EMERGENCY folk? who cares if the quality is good if the cell towers have no power? A wind-up charger and Weather Radio bands would be cool then.
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has also argued that radio is critical in a crisis. "As more and more people use their smartphones as streaming devices to get news, get radio, get a lot of things like that over their networks, I don't think people realize how vulnerable they get," he says in a video for FreeRadioOnMyPhone.org, a collection of radio organizations that includes NPR.
There are many reasons folks WOULD want it IF it were there. Big Brothers don't always think about all the possible scenarios.
Let's just say, that the CITA guy is the final word on the matter... if enough customers want it, then....