Digital Radio / FM Receiver

Available Mid-September in Japan, this One-Seg digital radio/FM receiver will retail for 150,000 yen to corporate users ($1,288), and less for a consumer model. we're not sure why the device, with its 2.17-inch 240x320 screen, H.264 codec playback, and 3 hour battery life costs over a grand. From what we can make out from the translation, it's capable of receiving digital radio (their version of Sirius?) and regular FM radio. Their digital radio has 5.1 channels and "can offer colorful service it is new broadcast".

Can any Japanese readers shed some light on this? It does look pretty neat, even if there's zero chance of the US having a use for it. – Jason Chen

Pixela [Techjapan]