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June 17, 2009 10:59 AM PDT

Sirius XM iPhone app expected very soon

by David Carnoy
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Update 6/18, 9 AM EST: Sirius XM indeed launched its iPhone app early this morning. Alas, Howard Stern, MLB and NFL aren't available as part of the package but you can listen to 120 channels on an iPhone over 3G and Wi-Fi (and on an iPod Touch). We'll have full commentary up shortly but needless to say, some folks are already expressing their disappointment.

Rumors of the impending arrival of an Sirius XM iPhone/iPod Touch app have been circulating for several months, but there's now some hard evidence that the app will be arriving as soon as tomorrow, June 18.

TUAW, the "unofficial Apple Weblog," is citing a customer service e-mail that has gone out to Sirius subscribers who've inquired about an app:

    Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding whether or not there is a SIRIUS iPhone application available. We are here to help! We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us in regards to this matter! We are happy to inform you that beginning June 18 a SIRIUS Internet Radio application will be available at the Apple iTunes App-Store for the iPhone and the iPod Touch! All Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio subscribers will be able to download the application from the Apple iTunes App-Store for free on their device and access the service at no additional cost! Subscribers who are listening to the Basic Online Service for free must first upgrade to the Premium Online Service for $2.99 per month to access the application on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

We assume XM subscribers will be offered a similar package, but we're in touch with the Sirius XM PR folks to get all the details, including what channels will be available, as soon as the company is willing to release them. The obvious appeal of all this is the ability to get XM Sirius on the go--or bring it to your home audio system via your iPhone or iPod Touch.

Anybody excited to get their hands on this app?

Additional reading: Sirius XM tuning in to iPhone application.

(Source: TUAW via Engadget)

Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 2 pages (35 Comments)
by formfeeder June 17, 2009 11:31 AM PDT
Yessssssssssssssssssss!!!
Reply to this comment
by jb609jb June 17, 2009 11:40 AM PDT
Hell yeah!
Reply to this comment
by Jahntassa June 17, 2009 12:03 PM PDT
No excitement here. Unfortunately I think i'm going to decline to renew my XM subscription after this pay period. Sirius completely ruined what was once a good playlist and variety for me.
Reply to this comment
by paulimusmaximus June 17, 2009 7:49 PM PDT
Don't do it! I got rid of my sirius subscription in December, and they call me all the time, including 5 (yes, 5) times this week to renew my subscription, and in April they "accidentally" turned it back on and started charging me again. You're better off keeping it and paying for it, it's less of a headache.
by joenoob June 17, 2009 12:32 PM PDT
I was........until I saw that it will cost another $3/mo. Already own Pocket Radio which plays Sirius for sans the premium charge. Now I'm bummed, was looking forward to something like a $10 one-time charge for the app.
Reply to this comment
by eunosroadster June 17, 2009 12:51 PM PDT
for me it's too little too late. I was very unhappy from day one of the actually takeover. I've had both services when they were separate, XM had DJs that didn't talk much and weren't annoying, their playlists were deep, hardly ever heard the same songs unless you were listening to one of the pop channels. Sirius on the other hand had/has very annoying DJs that talk a lot, their playlists are short, you hear the same songs everyday even on the niche channels. I canceled shortly after the merger and they tried their best to keep me as a customer, I wouldn't pay $1.99 for their service, unless they go back to the XM long playlists with deep cuts, and the XM DJs that weren't annoying.
Reply to this comment
by June 17, 2009 12:57 PM PDT
Sirius is sooo last week, with the iPhone, we can just stream Pandora in our cars etc.

Those satellites are better off defending our planet from zombie unicorn and robot dolphin.
by justdaven June 17, 2009 12:58 PM PDT
The reason that they are charging a $/mo for this service is the same reason that they started charging to listen online. The agreement with the FTC that let them merge, also froze prices on subscriptions for 3 years. This is how they are getting around that, by creating new services, and charging for those, as well as charging for stuff they used to give away to subscribers (like listening online).

If people don't buy (many will though), then they will drop the monthly charge...
Reply to this comment
by pase121 June 17, 2009 4:25 PM PDT
Good point justdaven, I hope this tactic cost them enough subscribers that it gets there attention. Then maybe they'll stop charging for it.
by eriknokc June 17, 2009 1:50 PM PDT
Not for $2.99 a month. What a rip off considering they also raised their rates on their additional subscriptions. There are plenty of other free apps and 1 time fee apps that allow you to stream music that is much better.
Reply to this comment
by doni89 June 17, 2009 4:59 PM PDT
I am new to the world of Apple, I Phone and most any info concerning the phone/applications. I would strictly be purchasing the phone as a (new toy)cell/camera/I Pod and wondering if the 3G would suffice instead of the 3GS? I am needing an unbiased critique!

Thanks,
Donna Hill
Reply to this comment
by ywkhgqo June 17, 2009 8:49 PM PDT
donna, it depends on what your needs are. If money is not an object, certainly go with the 3GS. The biggest new feature for the 3gs is the increased speed (around twice as fast). It also includes a video camera with editing abilities, voice commands, and a compass (yawn). The 3Gs also come standard with more memory (16 gb or 32 gb). If money is an option however, the original iphone 3G is certainly still a solid phone that doesn't have much wrong with it. After the 3.0 update that was released today, it received a ton of new features. However, it is limited to 8 GB for $99. That will limit the amount of apps, photos, music etc that you'll be able to put on it. Though the new speed of the 3GS is welcome, slowness was not really a complaint about the iphone 3g. The two different models of phone are aesthetically exactly the same (except the 3gs has a anti-fingerprint coating on it).
Thats about the gist of it. If you need more help, you can message me or one of the cnet editors.

The single biggest complaint, however, about the iphone has been the service. People are for the most part not happy with AT&T's policies, coverage, and voice quality. Its all up to you though.
by schalliol June 17, 2009 8:31 PM PDT
I have a lifetime Sirius subscription on my Audi, but I don't have any info on the activation. Is there any way to get the app based on the valid receiver code?
Reply to this comment
by sting7k June 17, 2009 11:20 PM PDT
Just go to sirius.com and sign-up for your online account with the receiver code or customer number from your original bill. As a lifetime subscriber you get free internet streaming, which means access to the app.
by flyingsosser June 17, 2009 8:35 PM PDT
What I feel is most overlooked is the content that Sirius provides; Talk (Howard Stern), News, Sports (Baseball, Football, Basketball) and last but not least..all genres of music. I like Pandora, its sweet, but it would never give me everything I need.
Reply to this comment
by sting7k June 17, 2009 11:19 PM PDT
Finally, it's like getting another radio.
Reply to this comment
by Ratamaq June 17, 2009 11:23 PM PDT
I know I'm going to sound like the biggest dork here, but XM got me addicted to Cspan. I just renewed my subscription for 3 years for Cspan and only for Cspan. I used to love XM 150 but since Sirius took over and made it rawdog with that lameass DJ they brought with them, it's a pain to listen to in the morning. They shouldve canned his ass and kept Sonny Fox in all his time slots. Now I listen to comedy on Slacker.

I'll download the app to have more forehead slapping moments listening to our ******* politicians come up with evermore creative ways to lie to the people. This will be my last renewal with XM though. I have faith that within three years someone will have for me to get Cspan in my car w/o having to pay a sat subscription for it.
Reply to this comment
by markom911 June 17, 2009 11:51 PM PDT
I really think that Sirius/XM has a bunch of idiots/A$$ holes running the show. Why the hell would you release this app without allowing people to listen to Howard Stern? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? I'm a long time Stern fan and would like other people who haven't heard Stern to give him a chance but noooooo....Sirius/XM wants to run itself into the ground!!! F U Sirius XM!!!
Reply to this comment
by eunosroadster June 18, 2009 4:28 PM PDT
no Stern, contract issues.
by mccald20 June 18, 2009 12:13 AM PDT
I just downloaded the application to my iphone 3G. I signed up for the 7 day free trial. Seems to work nicely, however I have XM with the best of Sirius and added Howard Stern last week. I cant get Stern or XM 102 which covers English Premier League and Champions League.

I also tried downloading to my iPod touch 1st gen. It states that the App only works for 2nd gen Touches? Anybody now why? Upset about this too......:(
Reply to this comment
by markom911 June 18, 2009 12:24 AM PDT
Read my comment above yours!!!
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by goldblm June 18, 2009 2:39 AM PDT
Got the app and it is worthless. None of the Howard Stern channels are included.
Reply to this comment
by scaught78 June 18, 2009 5:08 AM PDT
I agree, the app is totally worthless. No Howard 100 or 101?? Why did they bother, half of their subscribers are there for Stern anyway! I know it isn't a decency issue, because Playboy radio (a pointless station) is included.
by thebasa June 18, 2009 7:26 AM PDT
Pocket Tunes Radio app continues to work on ALL Sirius XM channels
Reply to this comment
by jmarul June 18, 2009 8:04 AM PDT
This is ridiculous!! I can't believe I finally have a legitimate app for the iPhone that I can listen to Sirius on with my premium account I pay for but cant here Howard! Sirius is constantly shooting themselves in the foot.
Reply to this comment
by rcieszkowski June 18, 2009 8:05 AM PDT
No Stern? He alone is Sirius' bread & butter. Without him they're worthless as I can already get all of the music for free from Pandora.

Once Howard's contract with them is up, so is mine.

Epic fail.
Reply to this comment
by yabimocheez June 18, 2009 8:20 AM PDT
With the multitudes of free music options available (Pandora, Slacker, AOL Radio, etc), limited channels, competing applications that offer more channels (Public Tuner Radio), and $2.95 (or $12.95 if you are not a subscriber) monthly fee, I cannot comprehend why Sirius would think this app would be a huge hit. They believe it so much so that it's advertised on their home page as a pop-up. When Sirius first came out with Internet radio it was free to all subscribers. Throughout it's years Internet listening turned itself to a premium service. If Internet radio was still included for all Sirius (and now XM) subscribers then I could totally see this being a huge app even with the channel limitations.

As of current, there really isn't any need to download this app unless you are already a premium subscriber (which only adds Internet listening capabilities), otherwise all the alternative music programs should fit your listening needs.
Reply to this comment
by johnny_ray3g June 18, 2009 9:15 AM PDT
@yabimocheez:

I agree. I don't think this will bring too many new customers but, for someone like myself who already has an online subscription this is a better alternative to buying the bulky recviever unit for the car....
Showing 1 of 2 pages (35 Comments)

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