Frequently Asked Questions

How is Rocketron different from news radio?
Radio is one-sided. You can listen to it, but it can't listen to you. Rocketron listens to you and gives you only the news you want to hear. If you don't like a story, you can say next article to skip it. And if you missed anything, you can back up with the repeat command, or return to an earlier story with the previous article command. Plus with Rocketron, you can comment on stories you hear and listen to what other people have to say.

With Rocketron, you can personalize your news, share your news, share your thoughts, and find out what other people are saying!
How do I use Rocketron?
Simple: Just call 408-907-2323 from any mobile phone and within seconds you'll be offered current top news stories. As you use Rocketron more, it gets better at automatically picking news that reflects your specific interests. (In a few weeks, you'll be able to jump start this process using the Rocketron web site.)
What's really amazing is that Rocketron literally listens to you; just speak and it'll respond. For example, say main menu to get a list of available news categories. As you listen to Rocketron, it'll periodically give you a hint about commands you can use so there is no need to read any manuals. Just call the number and you're off. Of course, for those inquiring minds, you can see a complete list of commands in How to Use Rocketron.
Do I need to download anything to my phone or computer to use Rocketron?
Nope. Rocketron is self-contained, all you need to do is dial 408-907-2323 from any phone. That is it. Nothing to download or configure on your phone.
What kind of phone will work best when calling Rocketron?
Rocketron works best with mobile phones — also known as “cell phones” because of the way they send your voice to Rocketron. With mobile phones, Rocketron can understand you very clearly. Land lines and VoIP services such as Skype™ and Vonage™ by comparison won't work as well with Rocketron at this time.
Can I use a speakerphone, a BlueTooth™ headset, or a hands-free kit with my phone when calling Rocketron?
Yes! Noise-canceling headsets with mobile phones work quite well. In our experience, noise-canceling BlueTooth™ headsets such as those from BlueAnt® work very well. Unfortunately speakerphones, especially on land-lines, can be a frustrating experience because Rocketron will have a hard time hearing you.
What kind of news can I get from Rocketron?
Business, sports, entertainment, technology, national and international news are just a few of the categories that Rocketron has available. Just say main menu to hear your choices.
What do you mean by Top 40 News?
Top 40 News is like Top 40 Music. It's always the same stories again and again, recycled every hour -- or every half-hour on a particularly bad day -- no matter what channel you choose on television or radio, whichever newspaper you read. There is no escaping it. There are many reasons why this is happening, and most of them are because of cost-cutting in news-rooms and corporate consolidation among major media companies. But why should that limit your experience of this rich and varied world in which we live? Rocketron is different because it gives you choice. Rocketron goes beyond the newscasts you get on radio and television.
Can I hear news about anything?
Certainly. We get news from over 3,000 sources so whatever your interests, common or unique, you can find it on Rocketron. And it gets even better, because in the coming weeks Rocketron will soon allow you to go online and describe your personalized interests with greater precision. This means that you'll be able to tell Rocketron exactly what news you want to hear and also what news you do not want Rocketron to deliver to you.
What if I don't want to hear about something?
Right now, just say next article to Rocketron immediately moves on to the next story so you don't have to hear anything you don't want. If you do this consistently, Rocketron will notice and stop giving you articles about that topic in the future. In the next few weeks, you'll be able to come to www.Rocketron.com and describe what you want to hear and what you don't. For example, suppose you've moved from New York to San Francisco and you still want to hear about the Yankees but not Mayor Bloomberg, just add "Yankees" to your list of "I Want" keywords and "Bloomberg" to your list of "I Do NOT Want" keywords. It's that simple.
Do I need a computer guy to help me set this up?
Absolutely not! There is nothing you need to download to your computer — or worse, to your phone! The people that built Rocketron constantly ask themselves Will my family be able to use this? We want our brothers, sisters, moms, dads, and grandparents to be able to use Rocketron so you won't find cryptic stuff like “RSS”. In fact, if you simply dial 408-907-2323 and follow the spoken instructions, you'll be up and listening to news in less than a minute.
What if I don't want to use the web site at all?
Not a problem. You can use Rocketron without using the web site. Rocketron will automatically learn your likes and dislikes based on your listening patterns. Every time you skip an article, Rocketron makes note and remembers. In this way, over time Rocketron will gradually learn what you like and dislike. You may choose to begin using the Rocketron web site at anytime. It is purely optional, even though it is definitely the fastest way to fine-tune your Rocketron experience.
How can I change my default HOME CATEGORY?
To change your default topic, say the name of the new category you would prefer. For example, at any point you can say, "NATIONAL NEWS" and then Rocketron will take you directly to that category. (You can also say "MAIN MENU" and then choose from the list of categories that the MENU will offer.) Once you are in the new category, simply say "SET MY HOME CATEGORY" while listening to a news article in that new category.
I have some feedback for you, where do I send it?
We love to hear from our listeners! The easiest way to give us feedback is while you're using Rocketron; just say feedback and record your thoughts. If you prefer email, you can send your feedback to . (Asyncast Corporation created Rocketron and continues to enhance its software.)
How much does Rocketron cost to use?
Nothing. We plan for Rocketron to always offer the features you see here for free.
What do you mean by "treat a phone as a phone"?
Mobile phones are tiny. Unless you have superhero eyes or spent many hundreds of dollars on a phone, reading their screens can be a challenge — if not altogether illegal, dangerous, and impractical — while driving. Our philosophy is that the phone wasn't meant to be a web browser; a phone is just a phone. Phones are meant for listening and talking, not squinting and pecking. When we designed Rocketron, we wanted to make sure that it could be used from any standard mobile phone in a way that lets you keep your eyes and hands free.
Rocketron is genius! Who are the brilliant people behind it?
Why thank you for your kind words. Rocketron is made by the folks over at Asyncast Corporation. This group has the good fortune of having smart people from some of the premier names in Silicon Valley including NetApp, Citrix, Apple, SAP, Hearst, Nuance, Yahoo and AOL. You can see more about Asyncast at www.asyncast.com.