Nokia intros streaming radio app

In a bid to expand its direct-to-consumer content offerings, Nokia Corp. announced the release of a free-to-download, Internet-based radio service for its cellphones.
The application, available to Nokia phone owners, allows users to browse hundreds of online radio stations worldwide based on station name, genre, country or language. Mobile music lovers can access hourly updates of the most popular stations, and Nokia said the audio will be optimized by selecting the appropriate streaming servers for each user’s network connection.
The service is available for the Nokia N82, N91 and N95, and the firm said the application will be embedded in “selected upcoming” Series 60 devices. Series 60 is Nokia’s user interface for the Symbian operating system.
The move is Nokia’s latest step in expanding beyond hardware manufacturing into direct-to-consumer mobile content. The world’s No. 1 handset producer earlier this year unveiled Ovi, an umbrella brand that will include music, mapping, games and social networking offerings.