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"The development of the Open Mobile Radio Interface is a real step forward and allows broadcasters to adapt their apps and to facilitate the use of the DAB + tuner in the smartphone. This will allow some real innovation in the use of digital radio services that provide real benefits to consumers due to their free availability. " Simon Fell, Technology Director at the EBU.

A group of broadcasting operators and technology companies have developed an open and universal interface that will make it easier for app developers to create radio app that supports DAB +. The new interface has been named Open Mobile Radio Interface (OMRI).

If small and portable top your radio wishlist, the Sony V1BTD ticks both boxes. Standing just 17cm tall, there aren’t many places this radio won’t squeeze into, especially when its rechargeable battery lets it go wire free for up to 25 hours. As well as DAB, the V1BTD packs Bluetooth and NFC, with an aux in for connecting laptops, smartphones or tablets, and a headphone out for private listening.

The GfK radio ratings surveys are released eight times per year for the metropolitan markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.The total DAB+ cumulative audience is 3, 603 000.

The numbers are in on the sales and coverage of DAB digital radio in Europe and Asia Pacific as of the second quarter 2016 with WorldDAB releasing a full report. Road and overall population coverage statistics, receiver sales, household penetration and number of national DAB/BAB+ stations are included in the report.

The commercial radio industry has launched a new marketing campaign to encourage Australians to upgrade their old radio sets to a new DAB+ digital radio. The campaign likens the switch to DAB+ to the transition of TV from analogue to digital.

WorldDAB has released its latest collection of sales and coverage figures for key markets in Europe and Asia Pacific to the end of Q2 2016. Available to download in an infographic here, the statistics include road and overall population coverage.

The first DAB+ has begun operating in Slovenia and the four stations from the national broadcaster are now available via DAB+. The DAB+ network will reach 60 percent of the Slovenian population in the current stage of development.

A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system includes DAB+ digital radio and there’s Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming, voice control for phone and dual USB and Aux input and two 12V outlets.

“Digital radio continues to go from strength to strength with all markets making significant progress in the last six months,” said Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDAB. “The leading markets in Europe and Asia Pacific have almost 50 million DAB receivers on the market, offering an impressive selection of national stations compared to FM/analogue broadcasts.