Reciva Connect launches
The world’s best Internet Radio stations directory is now available via Reciva Connect a web service that can be easily implemented on any connected device
Cambridge, UK – (June 25th, 2008) – Reciva Limited, the market leader in Internet Radio technology is launching Reciva Connect, a new service, that will provide access to the Reciva Internet radio directory on connected devices.
Reciva manages the world’s leading Internet radio directory. The database is updated daily and indexes more than 11,500 Internet radio stations from across the world. The Reciva Internet radio directory includes terrestrial broadcasters streaming programs on the net, as well as pure-play online webcasters. The directory allows users to easily find content from any location and across a huge range of genres and styles.
Until now, Reciva’s Internet radio directory was only available as part of Reciva’s Gatepass platform which powers more than 50 different WiFi Internet radio products. Reciva is now expanding the availability of its directory service to third party hardware platforms with the launch of Reciva Connect. It is a sign of the rapidly booming market for Internet radio devices that more than 100 new products are expected to be launched in the next 18 months based on the Reciva Gatepass platform. The availability of Reciva Connect is designed to make Internet radio readily available on even more devices. Internet radios based on the Reciva Gatepass platform allow users easy and convenient access to radio and streaming audio content from across the world without the need for a PC. Finding content is as easy as turning the dial on an old transistor set. Except that now, turning the dial doesn’t mean tuning into specific radio frequencies: instead, web addresses for specific online radio stations or archived radio programs are being accessed. Listeners can select stations based on call sign or program name without needing to know the station’s online streaming address.
Reciva Connect is expected to be incorporated into a wide range of devices. Already more than 20 companies are participating in Reciva’s beta program. Commenting on the news, Arthur Taylor - Head of Online at Reciva, says: “We recognise that there are a significant number of products being built that might never utilise Reciva modules. Examples are mobile phones, TV set-top boxes and handheld gaming devices. However, these products may be offered by consumer electronics companies that also utilise Reciva modules either currently or at some point in the future. Therefore we are pleased to announce that we can offer support for the Reciva’s Internet radio directory both as a turn-key proposition in the form of one of Reciva’s modules for use in next generation audio devices, as well as a web service for devices where Internet radio might be integrated as a secondary function.”
The world Internet radio device market has been growing by more than 300% annually and is expected to exceed 3 million devices in 2009, at which point it will overtake the global DAB radio receiver market in annual sales. Already more than 10 million consumers listen to Internet radio on their PC ever week in the United Kingdom according to Rajar and more than 50 million consumers access Internet radio through their PCs in the United States according to JPMorgan. Users experiencing the enormous choice Internet radio has to offer on the PC are the primary buyers of Internet radio devices that allow easy and convenient listening to online radio without the need for a PC.
About Reciva
Reciva is the global market leader in Internet radio technology. Reciva’s GATEPASSTM platform, which is at the heart of all Reciva-Powered Internet radios, provides Internet radio services via the Reciva Gateway. Reciva-Powered Internet radio devices can play back online radio in almost any codec format including MP3, Microsoft®Windows Media Player, RealAudio® Player, AAC (the format of iTunes), Ogg Vorbis and many others. Reciva’s GATEPASS technology is available as software license and is sold incorporated into the Reciva designed “Barracuda”, “Stingray” and “Mako” hardware modules, providing consumer electronics (CE) companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with a turnkey solution. Reciva’s GATEPASS platform also provides fully integrated “out-of-the-box” support for personalized and subscription-based services such as Pandora, Rhapsody and MP3tunes. Reciva’s Gateway servers deliver regularly updated and verified Internet radio station lists to Reciva- Powered Internet radio products and Reciva CONNECT enabled connected devices, allowing listeners to access many thousands of live online radio broadcasts without the need for a PC. The Reciva Radio Portal, www.reciva.com, enables listeners to access the same stations via their PC. Users can build customized station lists and access subscription based music services to play via their Reciva enabled radio. Reciva is a privately held company based in Cambridge, UK.