Conmio Software Backs NPR’s New Mobile Platform

You might call Finland-based Conmio the technical brains behind National Public Radio’s new mobile platform, which launched today. Conmio has provided the software platform, design and audio services.

Both companies say the redesigned and expanded site delivers a much improved user experience, including better audio, navigation and interactive tools. Conmio is the technology partner for a number of media, telecommunication and brand sites, providing turnkey software solutions for mobile services creation and management in the U.S. and abroad.

The Conmio-enabled technology is customized and adaptable for each online service provider’s IT- environments. The software, ManaGate, offers mobile service management and device detection frameworks for optimizing mobile user experience and service usability. For NPR Mobile Web, this feature ensures smooth mobile audio experience for all audio compatible web enabled mobile devices, according to Conmio.

Conmio says the NPR Mobile Web enhancements include:

• New station search feature: Users will be able to search for stations by zip code, call letter or city and state, and can flag multiple “favorite” stations, an improvement on the NPR iPhone app equivalent feature, which provides a zip code search option only.
• Better audio experience: Audio links can now be streamed directly within the device browser, a revolutionary change from the former “click to call” feature, providing superior audio quality as well as availability in a wider range of formats: AAC, MP3, WMA, and RM.
• More station audio: Audio links to station live streams, podcasts, RSS feeds and newscasts are all available on the new service, a feature previously only possible via the NPR iPhone app.
• Station newscasts: All station newscasts listed in StationConnect will be available via the relaunched service. Station newscasts added to StationConnect will propagate immediately and automatically, providing listeners with continuous access to the latest content.

“As consumers rely more and more on their mobile devices for accessing news, information and entertainment, it is critical that the technology delivers the best user experience also with rich media,” said Tero Hamalainen, CEO of Conmio. “Known for its innovative, thought-provoking programming, NPR continues to set the standard for radio. We are pleased they turned to Conmio to extend that same level of technology innovation and quality to their mobile offerings.”