Apple: Planning To Add HD Radio In Future iPhones and iPods?

Apple (AAPL) has field a new patent application around HD Radio which suggests that the company could add the digital radio service to future iPhones, iPods or other devices, AppleInsider reports. The post asserts that Apple could allow users to scan and search through live radio content without having to channel flip.

The patent application, “Digital Radio Tagging Using an RF Tuner Accessory,” says users could use a mobile device to scan all stations, or only for those delivery high quality audio content.� The application says that users would be able to tag broadcast tracks for subsequent access or purchase. Note that Apple offers a similar feature for FM radio on the current iPod Nano.

The AppleInsider report notes that the Wall Street Journal reported last November that Apple was in talks with iBiquity, which controls the HD Radio standard, about bringing the service to future iPhones and iPods.