Yes, we are serious!  First, before we go into the details, we want to let you know that if you are experienced at live streaming on your cell phone and want to skip the instructions, you can go directly to our streaming link.  Please know that it doesn't work for all cell phones yet, although we are working on that.  Right now if you have a Smartphone or PDA/mobile phone that can stream Windows Media, and if you have the appropriate digital package from your cell provider, you can listen to us on your cell phone.

In the upper left corner of most of our pages on our web site (including this one), just below our logo, you will see the word Mobile.  Select that and it will take you directly to the page where you can choose your listening preference.

Now for the whole story.  For years we have been asked by people how they can listen to us. If you weren’t fortunate enough to live in an area where we have an affiliate radio station, if you didn’t have access to our satellite feed, or weren’t near a computer where you could hear us online, you just couldn’t listen.

Today, that has changed. Cell, or wireless, or mobile, technology is rapidly progressing to the point where, through broadband access, you can surf the internet on your cell phone. That means you can listen to us through your cell phone wherever cell phone broadband technology is available. And listen to this: you can also connect your cell phone to your vehicle radio and listen through its speakers!

This is wonderful news for truckers, RVers, travelers, as well as anyone who just wants to listen while they drive to work, the store, or even when at home. Below is more information and links to instructions and other pertinent information. Please read everything on this web site, and as much as you can elsewhere, before you contact your cell phone provider. That way you are as knowledgeable as possible.

Keep in mind that this is a living document. That means it will grow as we get more information and as situations change. We encourage you to check back often for updates that may help improve your ability to listen to us on your cell phone.

If you are knowledgeable about this trend and have ideas that are not included here, please email them to us using the appropriate link at the end of this article. We will post the most helpful suggestions so everyone can read them. 

Here are the Basics
This is an emerging technology and we are just learning about it ourselves. The information we have is for America, but much of it probably applies to many countries world-wide. If you live outside the U.S. please confirm everything you read here with your wireless carrier. This is the information we have at the moment and as we get more, we will update this site.

To be able to access the internet with a cell phone you will need a cell phone that is designed for internet access, have a plan with a cell phone service provider (for example, Verizon, AT&T, etc.), and have a special plan through your wireless provider giving you unlimited data access to the internet. Keep in mind that the technologies and policies of each cell phone service provider may vary greatly.

The easiest, but most expensive way, is to get a Smartphone or a PDA/cell phone (Palm Treo, for example.). They are cell phones that, among other things, are also a small computer. Through one you can surf the internet and use it pretty much like you would your home computer or laptop, in addition to making phone calls. A Smartphone’s cost usually starts around $250, give or take a little. In most cases, with a Smartphone you can go directly to the 3ABN Radio web site and start listening. Unlimited data plans with most carriers can vary from $15 to $45 a month, in addition to the monthly charge you are already paying for cell phone service and talk time. These are estimates; check with your carrier for their prices and policies.

For now, this is our recommendation: Use a Smartphone or PDA/cell phone. If that is too expensive for you, hold on for a little while. We are working on ways for you to be able to listen to us through less expensive cell phones. We are unsure of how long it will be, however, until that can happen. We are actively working on it.

Right now there are certain web sites that offer some radio stations for the so-called web-ready phones, but they are special sites where the radio stations are streaming in a special format. We are not participating in that yet, but we have inquired at several sites. We are also testing different possible methods of allowing access to our signal directly without having to go to the special web site. Keep checking back here for updates.

If you don’t have a current contract with a wireless provider, we suggest you contact as many as you can in your area and get their prices. If you travel you may consider one of the major carriers rather than a smaller local one; they may have a better national listening plan. We have found that the costs involved with getting on the internet through cell phones vary greatly from carrier to carrier. But here is an important warning: Not all carriers cover your area equally, so one of the things you must determine is who gives you the best cell coverage for where you are going to be listening. One more important warning: Know your coverage area and what is considered to be roaming. Roaming charges (traveling into different cell companies’ territories) can get expensive. We don’t want you to get a costly surprise in your cell phone bill.

Remember, you can listen to us right now if you have a Smartphone or PDA/cell phone that can receive our current Windows Media audio stream.  Just choose Mobile below our logo in the upper left corner of most of our web pages.  We will add a connection for regular internet-ready cell phones when it becomes available.

For further information about listening to us by cell phone, click on the links below.

1. How Do I Listen to 3ABN Radio on My Cell Phone?
2. How Can I Connect My Cell Phone to My Car Speakers?
3. Connect with a Wire
4. Mini-radio Transmitter