Mobile phone with DAB+

The rather bizarre-looking 'Lobster' mobile phone that was designed for the failed DAB-IP mobile TV service, which is carried on the Digital One national commercial multiplex (but which is due to close next year), now has DAB+ software loaded on it, and it is being demonstrated by Commercial Radio Australia in order to try and get Australian mobile phone networks to carry the handset.

DAB+ in Australia

The Australian government has mandated that DAB+ must have commercially launched in all of the major Australian cities by 1st January 2009, although I would imagine that the broadcasters would want to launch DAB+ by late 2008 to take advantage of Christmas sales, when around 50% of all radio purchases take place. All radio stations that will transmit on digital radio in Australia will be using the DAB+ standard, whereas in other countries where DAB+ will be introduced in 2008/9, such as Switzerland and Germany, DAB+ stations will launch alongside existing DAB stations.