CES 2009: iBiquity: HD Radio Portables Due In ’09

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, January 10, 2009

 Las Vegas — HD Radio developer iBiquity expects a handful of portable radios and personal navigation devices to be available this year with HD Radio reception.

 The portables will include an MP3 player with embedded HD Radio and an antenna embedded in the headset, said iBiquity COO Jeffrey Jury. Another will be a stand-alone AM/FM headset portable, and a third will be an HD Radio accessory that attaches to MP3 players. They’re on display along with personal navigation devices (PNDs) without visible brand names in iBiquity’s booth.

 With HD Radio receivers built in, PNDs will receive high-speed, frequently updated, live traffic information, currently available through broadcaster Clear Channel on its HD Radio stations. Here at International CES, Dual unveiled the first PND with HD Radio, which also plays back HD Radio audio programming.

 The portables are made possible by new chipsets available from Samsung and Siport. Battery-life targets are four to six hours, Jury said.