For iOS users there was much excitement when the BBC released a mobile version of its popular catchup service iPlayer as an app for mobile devices. After something of a delay, and a three month beta testing period, there is now a similar app available to take care of the radio side of things. BBC iPlayer Radio is another free app, this time enabling users to listen to live radio broadcasts from the corporation’s network of stations as well as accessing archived material.

The app is not entirely dissimilar to the existing BBC iPlayer app which is concerned solely with BBC television output, but there are a few differences here and there.  The BBC has a huge number of radio stations, and after using the intriguing dial navigation system you can listen to any of them live over a 3G or wifi connection. If you’re not the kind of person who listens to just one radio station throughout the day, you can browse through the other programming that’s available by heading to the schedule.

BBC iPlayer Radio

Here you can view what’s coming up on any of the BBC’s stations and set reminders for shows you are interested in listening to. The alarm function has something of a dual purpose – it can be used to wake you up in the morning to your preferred station, but you can also use it to switch on your ‘radio’ when a particular show you’re interested in is due to start. Just like the TV version of iPlayer access to the last seven days’ worth of broadcasts are also available so you can catch up on anything you have missed throughout the week,

Although this is an app for accessing radio shows, many stations also provide extra content such as playlists, session videos and more, and the app is a great platform for accessing all of this from one place. For the time being the app is only available for iOS, and it is not available outside of the UK – and there is not, as yet a dedicated iPad version – but there are also plans for an Android version in the near future.

You can find out more and download a free copy of the app by paying a visit to the BBC iPlayer Radio review page.