WorldDMB and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have announced a major step in achieving a unified digital radio market for Europe with the publication of a set of minimum features and functions for all digital radio receivers, known as the WorldDMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles.

This announcement, which has the backing of Europe’s major broadcasters and manufacturers, effectively creates a single digital radio market for Europe. Receiver manufacturers, broadcasters and most importantly consumers will benefit from this industry-led initiative.

The WorldDMB Digital Radio Receiver Profiles specify a set of minimum requirements and features to be built in to different classes of digital radio receivers, ensuring the interoperability of all new digital radio receivers across European countries whose broadcaster are using either DAB, DAB+ or DMB. Together these are known as the Eureka 147 Family of Standards.

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For more information about Digital Audio Broadcasting and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting, click here.

The radio industry announced that the national switch-on for digital radio will take place on 1 May 2009 following resolution of infrastructure issues relating to the rollout of transmission equipment. Commercial Radio Australia and ABC Radio have consistently taken the position that the successful introduction of digital radio in Australia is dependent on an integrated national industry rollout with both public and commercial broadcasters switching on simultaneously in the 5 mainland capital cities.

Free to air digital radio will allow radio broadcasters to provide additional audio channels, a superior quality sound, a pause and rewind facility, plus a new visual aspect to radio with the introduction of scrolling news, sport and weather text and the ability to transmit a picture of a radio host or band, the cover of a CD or an animated logo on screen.

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Trafficmaster, the UK’s leading provider of real-time traffic information, will launch the first national commercial Digital Audio Broadcasting service in the 4th quarter of 2008. This will enable navigation devices to receive greater levels of quantity, quality and granularity of traffic information for the UK. This national commercial DAB TPEG service will initially be offered free of charge.

Trafficmaster’s digital traffic service is launched in conjunction with Digital One, the world’s largest digital radio network operator, and the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB), a trade body that has been set up to encourage digital radio’s wide accessibility and swift adoption in the UK. Digital One is the UK’s only nationally launched digital radio network.

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Frontier Silicon has announced that its module is at the heart of a new DAB radio just launched by Goodmans and now available on the market. The new GHDAB101 is the world’s smallest stand-alone DAB radio currently available – measuring just 69.5 x 44 x 21.4mm and weighing only 48g complete with earphones – and is already available in retail channels.

The new pocket-size DAB radio from Goodmans is based on Frontier Silicon’s Vega FS4051 personal DAB/FM radio module, which is a miniature high performance DAB/FM-RDS radio printed circuit board module that requires only keymat, case, battery and headphones to produce a complete end-product.

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World leading DAB digital radio manufacturer PURE has determined that the average radio listener listening to a radio with batteries can save both time and money if they listen to a PURE digital radio with a ChargePAK®. ChargePAK is also the greener way to listen on the move as it saves energy and reduces landfill.

A ChargePAK battery pack offers true fit-and-forget portability. The ChargePAK charges while the radio is plugged into the mains so that the user never has to purchase, fit or charge new batteries again.

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ROBERTS Sound 43
The ROBERTS Sound 43 is a DAB/FM RDS radio with MP3, WMA and CD playback. The built in docking station for the iPod enables you to not only charge your iPod, but to also play it back through the incredible stereo speakers dock for the iPod. It is perfect for any room in the house, and the wooden cabinet interior ensures sound quality.

Retailing price for ROBERTS Sound 43 is around £200. For more information, click here.

PURE Evoke Flow
The PURE Evoke Flow brings you the huge variety of audio available on the internet, as well as traditional DAB and FM radio and your own digital music collection. All in a stylish portable radio that you can take with you wherever you go. It also comes with a handy alarm clock, timers and optional rechargeable ChargePAK battery for maximum portability.

Retailing price for PURE Evoke Flow is around £150. For more information, click here.

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