iHeartRadio is one of the most popular music services in the world, boasting content from live radio and various artists, and an announcement from iHeartMedia at CES indicates that the famous service is about to hit a lot more hardware platforms. The popular service is already on iOS and Android, among other mobile platforms, and is also available in PC and web client flavors, along with devices like smart TVs and game consoles. Even smartwatches are in on the fun, with the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear S2, and Android Wear all being able to access iHeartRadio. Now, Google Home users can get their hands on iHeartRadio, as well as Samsung Gear S3 owners. The service is also getting integration with Samsung’s Gear S3 smartwatch, along with the Samsung Family Hub, DISH Music, and the new Speak Music Melody service.
The Google Home integration couldn’t be simpler; just ask Google Home for your favorite radio station or artist, and iHeartRadio will be available as a listening option. The Gear S3 will get iHeartRadio as a watch app, in much the same way that the Gear S2 did. Samsung Family Hub integration will also come in the form of an app, since the refrigerators that are currently the only devices to feature Samsung’s Family Hub software have a touch screen. DISH Music is an app in itself, and will simply add iHeartRadio to its list of in-home music provision options. Speak Music Melody, meanwhile, is a brand new, voice-activated solution developed exclusively for iOS through collaboration between iHeartMedia and Speak Music.
While the above are slated for commercial release soon, iHeartMedia demoed a couple of concept integrations with their service and automotive platforms. They tested it on a Qualcomm infotainment platform embedded in a Maserati. Through Amazon’s Alexa, which already boasts iHeartRadio integration, Ford Sync also got a taste of the service. iHeartRadio will remain free in its current form, but Plus and All Access, two new paid on demand services, also debuted today. The latter is powered by Napster, providing a much more vast library than iHeartRadio would normally be able to provide on its own.