Sirius Benefits Of An iPhone Application
There seems to be a lot of excitement surrounding a new Sirius XM application for the iPhone. Sure it’s nice to have another way of receiving the Sirius XM service on a device that has sold millions and will probably sell tens of millions more by Christmas, yet it will probably not result in any new subscribers to Sirius. So what can the iPhone do for Sirius XM?
One possible benefit would be to lower churn. With an oem acceptance rate of approximately 50%, having this option could help to build brand loyalty and increase that number. Consider the starting point of most new subscribers as coming from the local car dealer. Many of the new car offerings include “bundled” Sirius packages; either backseat TV or a Travel Link navigation system. No new car owner wants a big screen in the middle of their dashboard that doesn’t work six months into ownership. These types of offerings increase the likelihood that a consumer will opt to retain the service as the free trials expire. If the customer gets the initial trial period and learns that they can also get the service through their iPhone, it becomes a bundled service.
The iPhone application is similar to having a bundled Sirius package because it is through the subscription to Sirius that the iPhone application will work. When viewed as an overall package that includes Sirius in your car combined with Sirius on the go, it adds value to the consumer and could result in a higher “take rate” and lower churn overall.
The iPhone itself is a marvel of modern science. Content is king however and so far their is no better way to get Howard Stern, the NFL, NBA, MLB, Nascar and a wide world of sports that include everything from soccer to lacrosse, CNBC, Bloomberg and a world of news and talk offerings, Oprah, Martha and all the other celebrity talk channels. Combine all that with the music offerings offered and it just may turn out that Sirius helps to sell more iPhones because of the application than it receives as a result of it.
The end result is that Sirius will add more value to the iPhone by providing content to it. Either way it’s a win-win for Apple and Sirius XM, as Sirius will in fact benefit from it. Now the companies should work together to get an actual application to be included in the iPhone at the point of sale. It’s becoming more and more obvious that consumers would like this option.
Position: Long SIRI
I disagree. This official Apple iPhone/iTouch application will add a significant number of new Sirius XM subscribers. Time will tell the truth without opinion.
I disagree as well. Expect to see an internet-only sub that will add directly to Sirius’s bottom line.
I also disagree, and I’ll be speaking with my wallet. I am a current SIRI shareholder, but have yet to purchase an account. I own an iPhone and will definitely subscribe the moment an app is released. I also think the iPhone (and hopefully other devices to come) capabilities will work perfectly with the a la carte pricing models soon to be released.
Also disagree, I am a shareholder but non subscriber. I am personally waiting for an app for the samsung instinct before I join the ranks of paying customer.
I do agree that it will help sales of iphones if the app were preinstalled…but it will also help sirius xm if preinstalled.
I want to add that it is the user interface of the instinct and iphone that makes the application that much more attractive. Although other certain phones may have had the ability to stream XM as I have read, there is a big difference in the touch screen interaction that makes it more “enjoyable”.
The large screen which lacks “hard” buttons transforms the device from a phone to a music player, like no other phone with a key pad can match.
I am a Sirius subscriber. I currently have it hardwired into my Explorer. For music it doesn’t do much for me as the quality is good at best compared to a CD or even an MP3. I pretty much subscribe to it for the one talk station that I listen to. And beyond that mostly for just one commentator. But he is only on from 12-3 and I’m at work. I can’t listen to him in the truck unless during my lunch break. I’d LOVE to have a Sirius app for my iPhone. I have been checking the Starplayr website almost daily to see if any news regarding it has been posted.
My previous phone allowed me to download a fairly primitive Sirius application but I listened to it NONSTOP at work. It was great!!
If Sirius were not going to be offered on my iPhone I would almost consider getting rid of it. Not that I do not like it but I do not get to listen to it in my truck as much as I’d like to.
I only bought itouch for Sirius. Now that I can’t get it, will return it.
I’m getting the iTouch for Christmas this year and hope I’ll simply be able to stream it through Safari, much like I do on internet explorer. If not I’ll keep an eye out for an application, but I’ll be cancelling Sirius when Howard leaves anyways…
I’ll say this. If there isnt a Sirius app for the iPhone in a few months Im going to cancel Sirius. It’s BS that they dont have one already.