Help

What is NPR Mobile and what can I do with it?
NPR Mobile is a beta project between NPR and certain NPR member stations to bring content from both NPR and NPR member stations to users of mobile devices.

What content is on NPR Mobile Web?
NPR Mobile Web contains audio news summaries from NPR and the local station, text and audio of in-depth local station news stories (where available), text and audio stories from NPR, and an interactive quiz from "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!"

Do I need to have mobile service through a specific carrier to use NPR Mobile?
No.

Do I need a specific type of phone or device?
NPR Mobile Web requires a phone or device capable of accessing the Web and a data plan.

How does audio work on NPR Mobile Web
All users of NPR Mobile Web will have the option to hear audio via a click-to-call link that initiates a phone call to a number that plays the story (the number will be from a variety of area codes). If your phone has a built-in streaming audio player AND your carrier permits the transfer of streaming audio files on its network you will also see a link to stream the audio.

How do I know if my phone has a built-in audio player?
Due to the extensive number of mobile devices and operating systems on the market there is no single easy way to determine if your phone has a built-in audio player. The easiest way to tell if you can use the streaming audio option on NPR Mobile Web is to go to one of the mobile web sites and check to see if you are presented with a "stream" link. If not, then your device either does not have the capacity to stream audio, or something about your carrier's platform or policies prevents us from offering you streamed audio. In either case, you will still be able to hear NPR or NPR local station audio via the click-to-call audio link.

How much does the service cost?
Neither NPR nor its participating local stations charge for this service. To use NPR Mobile Web users need to have a subscription to a data plan through their mobile carriers, and charges will depend on the specific terms and conditions of voice and data plan you have. Click-to-call audio uses minutes from your calling plan. If you choose to send a text message (SMS) of a story to a friend from an NPR Mobile site your standard text messaging rates will apply (remember that your friends may also be charged to receive the text, depending on their calling plans).

Why is there an option for station donations?
Local NPR member stations depend financially on donations from listeners for everything they do including local content production, content acquisition (including NPR content), community events, outreach, station operations and administration. We have tried to make it as easy as possible for users to donate directly to their member stations by including an option to make a contribution directly from mobile devices.

The cost of maintaining existing station programming and services and of developing new products like this one is high and we encourage you to support your local station.

What if I have additional questions?
Please use the feedback form on this site or you may visit the help section of NPR.org from your computer: http://www.npr.org/help