A Web Radio Boom Box?

Tuning into Web radio stations used to take a PC and a lot of surfing. Now, an Internet start-up is taking Net radio back to the future--to the golden age of clock radios and stereo receivers.

Kerbango is developing an Internet radio appliance that connects you to thousands of Internet stations without even booting up your PC. The radio is roughly the same size as a conventional boom box and as uncomplicated, say Kerbango representatives. It will come with an old-fashioned cord, connecting not to an electrical outlet but to a high-speed or dial-up Net connection. The yet-to-be-named radio device is scheduled to ship next year; a wireless version may follow.

On Wednesday, Kerbango relaunched its Web site, an Internet audio directory for use with the radio. Now, you can sift its directory of thousands of Web radio stations through keyword searches, or by format or location. Unique to Kerbango's index is the signal strength rating, giving a hint of the station's reception, says Jim Gable, president of the year-old firm.

The site and eventually the radios will monitor signal quality and reliability of Internet broadcasts to avoid Internet buffers that have a nasty habit of fizzing out radio streams, Kerbango representatives say.

Kerbango supports both Real Audio and Windows Media streaming technologies. The company teamed with RealNetworks to offer the RealSystem G2 streaming media technology on Web radio devices.

Streaming quality has improved significantly in a short time, says Jonathan Fitch, Kerbango chief executive officer. "With the Real Player G2 or the new Windows Media Player, plus on a wide Internet connection, you can get better-than-FM broadcast quality," he says.