DAB RIP?

DAB-ready cars are widespread but is the technology already obsolete?

The end of the analogue car radio is nigh according to Halfords, which has said it will stop selling them in its shops by 2015, despite there being no set date yet for analogue switch-off. But there's a strong chance that its successor, digital radio, will be equally obsolete by then.

Woohoo, yeah, lifestyle - here comes the future

It's estimated that half of all new cars sold now are fitted with digital radio, giving you access to almost all stations instead of the six strong, seven fuzzy average on analogue right now. But there's also a massive growth in the number of new cars offering smartphone connectivity, and that can deliver internet radio with the choice of up to 70,000 stations.

A few examples. Ford is getting ready to roll out its Sync with AppLink, starting with next year's EcoSport SUV. That comes with an app called RadioPlayer that gives you access to UK radio stations. It's all smartphone-delivered through to the basic dash screen and controlled by voice or buttons on the steering wheel. Ford reckons AppLink will be available across its new car range by autumn next year.

Vauxhall has something similar with its IntelliLink screen for its newer cars. Included is the Stitcher radio and podcast app offering thousands of stations. Not expensive either - IntelliLink costs £275 for the Adam.

Ford's Applink will stream internet radio

You're probably thinking who actually needs 70,000 stations? But internet music goes way beyond the stuff offered on digital radio. The Aupeo radio app for Mercedes' excellent Drive Style app system for the new A-Class (and related B-Class, CLA and GLA) is so diverse you can listen to stations playing music 'related' to an artist or select music based on your mood, including 'aggressive' or 'stressful'. You can even skip songs you don't like.

This leaves poor old digital radio in a bind. Reception has always been patchy and now it's quickly being overtaken. We spoke to analysts IHS Automotive's infotainment expert, Jack Bergquist, who told us he expected most major manufacturers to offer 3G/4G phone connectivity in cars as standard or as an option by 2015. That app-based services such as internet radio.

Internet radio can even be retrofitted, as Volvo has with its Spotify-streaming service into cars with the Connected Touch screen on board.

The problem of course is the patchy 3G reception. It's generally agreed that radio reception via your phone is fine via 3G if the signal is strong enough, but it's a big if. A couple of days ago the government said it was going to inject £21m into boosting digital reception, but given that 20 percent of radio is listened to in cars and given the unstoppable march of internet radio, wouldn't a great big chunk of that be better spent putting more 3G/4G masts along major roads?

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