The Long Awaited Sirius XM iPhone Application Finally Hits the App Store
You have waited patiently for 11 long months, been forced to read countless articles about it’s release, and even watched a home grown Sirius XM app that was ready to go 5 months ago get squashed like a bug but, all of that is over now… the official Sirius XM iPhone is actually available today, for the first time, via the iPhone App Store.
At first glance there is a lot we can learn from the new SiriusXM.com iPhone information page, most importantly that they are offering a free 7 day trial for all new listeners and that the application itself is FREE, something we all knew would be important from the get go. That being said, there are quite a few things that I don’t think a lot of people we necessarily expecting.
The first thing that should jump out at readers is that the new iPhone application is only available in the United States. One would have to assume that this is because of royalty fees and regulations at this point, similar to those that have plagued the international availability of other Internet Radio companies but, it will no doubt be disappointing to those people outside of the country who have been so eagerly awaiting the release.
The most shocking thing about the new iPhone may not be the 120 available channels but instead, the channels which are NOT available. The list astonishingly includes MLB® Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, SIRIUS NASCAR® Radio, and Howard Stern! How could the person who Sirius XM cites as being responsible for bringing in more subscriptions then anyone else not be part of this application? As we sit and wait for more news this is certainly something that will have both investors and subscribers alike scratching their heads disbelief.
Update: The reviews are already flowing into the iPhone app page dedicated to Sirius XM on iTunes and it has not gone without notice that Howard Stern is not available. People are, shall we say, less then pleased. A quick search of twitter for the terms “Sirius Howard iPhone” should give you an idea of the tone being used in the emails which are already flooding into my inbox.
For more information readers can visit siriusxm.com which has apparently, for the time being, been transformed into a stand alone promotional website for the iPhone application
I just got off the phone with Sirius Customer Service. About a 10 minute wait to get through. I have 3 Sirius Accounts and have been a subscriber for almost 5 years now. The music is great, but I listen to the Stern show every day. In March, I updated one of my accounts to a lifetime subscription, which I thought at the time was giving me, not only Free Internet Streaming, but also Premium Online access. Apparently, it was just for the regular online. The guy on the phone was quick to point out that College Football and Howard Stern are not included. I asked him if that was going to change and he said no. He said Howard wanted a couple of million to be included in the App. I asked him if he thought that was worth it and he said we almost went bankrupt and its partly because of how much money we paid him. So I said, don’t you think that Howard is a big reason why people are listening to Sirius, to which he responded Yes, 70% of Sirius Subscribers listen to the 2 Stern Channels. As a subscriber and share holder, I am devastated by this news. You paid Howard once, and he brought you million of subscribers, pay him twice and he will do the same. Regardless, this app should have never come out if Stern was not included. For lack of a better example, imaging if the MLB app did not include the Yankees, or the Red Sox. Stupid decision here. I love the music and content on Sirius, but if I can get similar music on Pandora or Slacker, no need to pay $2.99 a month. I look for Stern to create his own App, which could potentially be the end for Stern on Sirius.
I have a lifetime subscription to XM with the Best of Sirius. I paid for the lifetime subscription in March to lock in free internet. If I get an Iphone, will I have to pay any more fees?
Where is Stern? Will he be added to the Iphone App later?
you cannot get the same music on pandora…everysingle day on hip hop nation and shade 45 i hear new music that just came out, practically just recorded that day, no way pissdora or anything else competes with sxm’s music selection.
I have a hard time believing that it is a “rights” issue with Stern, like it is with the NFL and MLB. He is available on the internet. If I pay for a wireless broadband service, I can plug it into my laptop computer and carry it around and get Stern. The iphone is just a small computer with a wireless broadband connection. Must be some other reason.
I think Sirius/XM will regret not offering Stern. Even if they are cornered to pass down the extra cost so be it, make it available. Investors and people don’t care, figure it out!
This is all smoke and mirrors to attract attention to stern.
(which, I never listen to.) The ONLY reason they want to do this is to bring attention to him, and it’s working. This is just a soft release.
Sorry, but you are dead wrong.
There is NOTHING to be gained by playing with the emotions of your existing customers and disappointing potential customers.
IF, and it’s a big IF, Sirius-XM ultimately makes Stern available on this app, it will be because the backlash against it is overwhelming.
This publicity has done nothing but drive down the stock price and tick people off.
If you have a lifetime subscriber, your $500 wasn’t good enough to run this app.
You also need to pay $2.99 per month to get Sirius on your iPhone or Touch, Stern or no Stern.
I guess it’s over to Pocket Tunes – until SiriusXM sues them to turn off their feed.