DICE to Offer Livio Internet Radio for Cars

One of the fastest growing side markets of the automotive industry, Internet radio is slowly moving from being a gadget to becoming an important infotainment tool for drivers in the US. With providers like Pandora or Sirius already enjoying a great deal of success on the market, a new player is getting ready to join the club.

With the help of DICE Electronics (no, not the game developers from Sweden), an American car and home infotainment gadgets supplier, Livio Internet radio will become available in cars, thanks to the Livio Radio Car Internet Radio app for iPhone or Android.

The system, developed together by the two companies, will allow users to listen to any of 45,000 Internet only radio stations. Switching the stations can be done with the help of integrated steering wheel audio controls.

"Working with Livio Radio allows us to offer users more music options with our technology and we're looking forward to showing people how it works in our booth at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas," said Steve Witt, executive vice president of sales and marketing at DICE Electronics.

DICE and Livio plan to tap into a market with huge potential. According to estimates, 48 percent of non-smartphone owners will switch to the likes of iPhone or Blackberry next year, opening the flood gates for the industry to double.

"DICE is the partner who is going to help smartphone users seamlessly enjoy Internet radio in the vehicle while on the road,” added Livo Radio President Massimo Baldini.