Infusion: World’s first portable Internet radio

analysis
Mar 21, 20072 mins

Australian company Torian is now shipping its Infusion, which it claims is the world's first mobile Internet radio, or Wi-Fi radio. The radio, which also doubles as an MP3 player, debuted at the CeBIT conference in Germany this week. [Video: Internet radio goes mobile] If you're a real sports fan or someone who likes to listen to music from around the globe, Infusion kind of makes sense. I say kind of because wh

Australian company Torian is now shipping its Infusion, which it claims is the world’s first mobile Internet radio, or Wi-Fi radio.

The radio, which also doubles as an MP3 player, debuted at the CeBIT conference in Germany this week.

[Video: Internet radio goes mobile]

If you’re a real sports fan or someone who likes to listen to music from around the globe, Infusion kind of makes sense. I say kind of because while it will give you access to just about every Web radio station or Web sports broadcasts, it requires you to be in range of a Wi-Fi hot spot.

If, however, you’re a listener who is satisfied with the pop radio stations, then buy yourself a $10 portable radio or continue using your iPod.

The company is also producing what it calls an Internet radio module that third party manufacturers can adapt to other devices like a car radio — perhaps another nail in the coffin of satellite radio — or your home hi-fi system.

Other features of Infusion include 16 presets of your choice, MP3 player with five hours of playback, and 4GB of expandable memory plus an SD card slot, FM radio receiver, and headphones.

The price is expected to be about $230.