Shortly after Apple's clarification that iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models doesn't equipped with FM radio chips or antennas designed to...
Shortly after Apple's clarification that iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models doesn't equipped with FM radio chips or antennas designed to support FM signals, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has expressed some doubt about Apple's statement and has called on the company to add FM functionality to its future iPhones.
In a blog post, the NAB points to a series of iPhone 8 teardowns that indicate the iPhone 8's Broadcom chip with an integrated FM radio core as evidence Apple's devices already have some of the hardware required for FM radio support. While Apple says the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 do not currently have FM radio chips or antennas to support FM signals.
Apple cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that's why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products.
The NAB seems making a case it would be relatively trivial for Apple to make hardware revisions to enable it in future devices considering the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in the iPhone can support it and Apple has proven it can incorporate FM antenna connections in the iPod nano.
Apple has built and offered a wonderful FM app in their iPod Nano for many years. They know how to make FM work, and work well, in their mobile devices. Apple even wrote its own Nano app that allows the user to pause live radio and buffer up to 15 minutes of content.
However, Apple has specifically chosen not to offer this functionality in their iPhone. Indeed, Apple has disabled FM chips despite the capability being available on the communications module within the iPhone. This means other app developers cannot offer FM apps either.
NAB appeals to Apple CEO Tim Cook, highlighting the number of hurricanes experienced in Mobile, Alabama, Cook's hometown, since 1969, and calling on the company to introduce FM support as a way for customers to get news alerts during disasters. At the bottom line, NAB hopes Apple recognize that activating the FM capability would make it even better for all of their customers around the world.
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