AT&T To Activate FM Chips

In a major breakthrough for the industry’s NextRadio initiative, AT&T had agreed to activate FM receiver chips on 2016 models of its Android smartphones. The announcement makes AT&T the largest wireless carrier to light up FM radio on smartphones.

AT&T's announcement follows a 2013 announcement from Sprint to activate FM chips on select Android and Windows smartphones.

"Today marks a new beginning in mobile technology with the agreement by a global iconic brand, AT&T, to light up the FM receiver chips in all of its future Android smartphones,” NAB CEO Gordon Smith said in a statement. “With this decision, AT&T's customers become the biggest beneficiaries, giving them access to local radio news, entertainment, weather, and failsafe emergency alert connectivity. With access to apps like NextRadio, AT&T's listeners will also enjoy song tagging and interactivity features that have become increasingly popular with younger listeners.”