Apple is working on bringing FM and AM (and satellite) radio to its mobile operating system, according to a patent published in the States.
Early drawings suggest the future built-in iPhone app will provide a map showing local radio stations along with transmitter power and offer five presets.
Whilst Apple is by no means the first company to offer a mobile phone with a built-in radio, it will be welcomed by the radio industry and the 120 million users of iOS. All recent iPhones and iPod Touch devices have radio hardware but has never been activated by Apple.
It's not sure when such functionality will appear, if at all, but the in-depth plans could be ready in time for the release of iPhone 5 in the summer of 2011.
Read more on the [link=http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/the-iphone-to-gain-radio-interactive-radio-map-functionality.html]patentlyapple.com[/link] website.