SkyDock Brings Interesting Dilemma
The launch of the SkyDock has begun to create a buzz around the Internet that will continue to resonate when the marketing campaign ramps up. the device is so slick that it has created an interesting dilemma among satellite radio subscribers.
The problem is that the simplicity of the SkyDock installation, in combination with the features it offers and the fact that your cell phone can become your satellite radio have people wondering what to do about their factory installed subscription. Stuart, a SiriusBuzz reader, posed this question in the comments of a recent article:
“I have XM with the Best of Sirius in my 2006 CTS, but the radio does not offer any special features. So, my question is would I need to buy another subscription to use the SkyDock?”
Thus, you can see what many are already contemplating. A factory installed radio is great because Sirius or XM is built right into your dashboard, and the controls are easy to use and familiar. However, once you turn off your car, you leave your subscription there. Skydock offers better functionality than most factory installed radios, and it is something that you can take with you. With the SkyDock aand Sirius XM apps, when you leave the car, your cell phone, and thus your satellite radio, go with you.
Combine the SkyDock app with the Sirius XM Internet radio app, and you can literally catch XM’s 20 on 20 in the car, walking on the beach, or at the gym. This happens because the SkyDock and apps use differing methods to get your music to you. With your car you are limited to a satellite signal. With SkyDock and the apps, you can access the content from satellite, WiFi, or anywhere with cell coverage. Simply stated, consumers now have the ability to carry their Sirius XM with them wherever they go on a device that they carry anyway…their iPhone.
Suddenly the OEM channel, which is a staple of satellite radio growth, may suffer at the hands of a software application and docking station that make Sirius XM content available in more places and in more ways. The company may lose some OEM subscriptions, but those loses are offset by a SkyDock subscription. The consumer gets the benefit of more use of the service, and the company saves some money by avoiding expensive revenue share payments to their OEM partners. The combination seems to be a win for both consumers as well as Sirius XM.
If you happen to like your OEM set-up, no worries. Sirius XM should be launching some great SkyDock options, such as a home dock at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2010. If I had a factory installed satellite radio, I would personally opt for the SkyDock option. Many others are considering the same thing.
Again, you fail to mention that this product is only useful to someone with an XM subscription!
How about actually including USEFUL information amid your cheerleading advertisements?
bah bah…..
news flash…..people already know this is an XM radio. I will cancel a Sirius subscription that I no longer need because I have a SkyDock. Pretty simple solution. Sorry it went over your head.
Dear Mr. Osbourne,
You are deliberately leaving out information that is important to ALL customers.
Potential NEW customers probably do NOT know that this is an XM only product.
You have also misled, albeit unintentionally, by blurring the lines by using Sirius-XM in all your statements and then not making clear that that the SkyDock is XM only.
Sirius-XM has trumpeted the merger ad-nauseam but does NOT make it clear to potential customers that both services continue to operate completely independently and without interoperability.
How about being thorough?
Dear Mr. Bah Bah….
You hide behind a fake email address and cast stones each and every day ad -nauseam. Your agenda is quite clear to any and all who read this site.
1. My name is spelled Osborne, not Osbourne. If you are trying to reach Ozzy, I suggest you try another place.
2. The SkyDock is well known to be an XM product. Somehow you figured it out, thus, 99% of the people out there will know also.
You are barking about something that is a non issue. People know it is an XM product
Whatever Ozzy..
It’s clear you don’t understand what journalism actually is.
However, it is your site and you have the right to say what you want on it, accuracy be damned, even if that is cheerleading instead of useful information.
I won’t waste my time or yours by posting anything here anymore.
Finally. Bah Bah is called out by someone in authority. Thank you.
Bah Bah wants things his way only. Now we are at .63 and so he has nothing to offer but sadness and pain.
Please honor your post and leave forever thank you.
On another note bah bah. Please pony up the 400 bucks I have invested in “our” next rah rah session. Those Rhinestone pom poms are already paid for.
yeah right….boo boo the idiot boy will be back….wait and see. he lives for this.
This is not a reply to “Bah-Bah” but to “SocialRunning…(since this is the only “Reply” thingy I could click with the mouse)
You posted below: “now are at .63…”
If I’m not mistaken a bunch of you were claiming that SiriusFM would be ABOVE $1 by now.
This dog shit stock has been floundering around .60 for some time now.
Fine if you buy a bugzillion shares at .60 & it goes up .70;all and great (SERIOUSLY!!!)
But pal, everyone on the street knows that this company is one of the most mismanaged companies and has one foot in the grave and the other on a banna peel.
There was an article posted just the other day of the top 10 companies to fail in 2009 and SiriusFM was 2nd on the list.
Basically it stated a quality product handled by a a f**ked-up organization.
As a XM subscriber since Feb 2002, I get NO PLEASURE the above paraphrase. You could not have found a bigger supporter of Sat-Rad than me but that was pre-acquistion/merger.
Mel,Greenstein, and dick-heads like them have f**ked up what once was the greatest advancement in radio since the days of “Underground FM”.
Go ahead and defend a service that has gone downhill since the dark days of the acquisition. I’ve not encouraged ONE person to subscribe since I began to notice how shitty the programming has become.
Hey Recondo. As your new psychologist. I feel your pain. Hate the rain. And have never been to Spain.
socialrunning………
So,you’ve “Never been to Spain”
But do you kinda like the music? They say the ladies are insane there and they sure know how to use it. They don’t abuse it,never gonna lose it & I can’t refuse it.
“What does it matter, what does it matter?”
Why buy silverware for at home when you can simply get everybody in the family a Swiss Army knife that has a built in fork, knife and spoon? Toothpick too! Built in OEM has its place just like portable devices do. One version of a product does not cover all bases. But then, why have mutiple shoes when you really only need one pair? Which will it be folks; brown, black or how about Nike’s as the all occasion shoe? LOL
I personally would like to leave my XM with best of Sirius with the OEM install because it is cleaner.
I have a Pioneer inno that I use for a 2nd sub and have the internet feed as an extra.
I just bought a Blackberry for work 2 months ago and would have instead bought an IPHONE if I knew this was coming. I then could have sold my Inno and just used the Iphone with WIFI as a portable and waited for the home dock.
The reason I went with Blackberry is because I have steered clear of Apple since I felt they were a direct competitor to SXM for music, but now with the partnership I have changed my tune about them.
They are on our team now !
Finally Tyler. Thank you. You just gave me woody. I was waiting for that from you to him for a while. You just made me smile. And blah blah, go bore someone else. LOL
The use of the word “woody” in this context concerns me.
HEHEHE.
🙂 Funny.
Spencer,
What is really needed here is a review of the satellite RECEPTION of the the SkyDock. This is by far the most important element of this new product. As you certainly know, the Inno has some issues while docked in a car when outside the reach of a terrestrial signal. If the SkyDock has the same issues, it will bring on nothing but alot of user complaints and negative publicity. I certainly hope thats not the case, but we’ll need to here some user feedback. Hopefully you can provide it.
Dixon…..
The SkyDock uses a standard satellite radio antenna. If you mount it on the roof of your car, you should have no issues. If you decide to put it on your dash, the reception will not be as good in many cases. In Florida, I have used the dash method and had very few issues.
Sorry Dude, but you spelled ‘dilemma’ wrong in the title. You guys aren’t putting out nearly as many articles as you used to, more articles please.
good catch. Thanks
Spencer,
The Inno also uses a standard satellite antenna. I’ve had many problems when no terrestrial signal is within reach. There are obviously other factors.
My wife has an inno and she never has a problem with reception in the car. I think you are talking about outside as a portable device. Yes, with Inno and my XMP3 there is sometimes spotty reception without car mounted antenna. This is not applicable to SKYDOCK because it is only for in the car. Outside the car iphone would use 3g…..However, I just got my XMP3 antenna headphones today! Why did it take about a year for them to make it? lol…Hopefully, my reception will be as good as in the car……..
note…People say you may get cancer from cell phones, bluetooth being on your head a lot……Is there a risk from having a satelite antenna on your head for long periods of time? …lol…..just a thought…
I’m surprised to hear you don’t have an Inno reception problems in the car. Makes me wonder if there’s something wrong with my antenna.
Love the fact that the Skydock brings some excitement to retail but as someone who has xm built in to their car and an iphone – not worth the expense.
Would love to see this sky dock home version that apparently is coming. Here’s where I bet it’ll be so-so…no recording, no pausing allowed.
I’m still using a xm skyfi2 to this day due to the fact I can get up from my desk and pause live programming.
We shall see!
I don’t get it…What features does the skydock have that your factory installed doesnt? Ok, you can tag music to purchase fro itunes (WOW)..more money to spend!, you can see stock quotes, sport scores…..That has always been available with XMP3….You would pay $119.00 to be able to tag songs for purchase? As far as taking XM out of the car, I agree. However, why do you need the skydock? You would just get the app and pay for premium radio. Either way, if you want to take the apple device out of the car, you would need premium radio
subscription. So, you have been using XM in your car for months easily…Now, you want to have to attach your iphone to do the same thing? What additional features are you talking about….Stilleto and XMP3 have features that were much better than OEM…Skydock, may look pretty, but is not portable, and in the car offers nothing different of significance. If I were a typical driver who already has XM in the car built in…I would not get the Skydock…I would just get premium internet radio, so I could listen to iphone/ipod out of car…..Your point makes sense only if you have multiple cars…Now you can take the skydock and switch it between cars very easily.. Then some may cancel built in and go for a device (skydock) that is able to be moved from vehicle to vehicle…
i think besides the benefit of getting new subs without having to buy a regular receiver, there also is a benefit of having your Iphone saved songs played thru your car speakers–
I feel the benefit of the skydock is that it allows Iphone/ipod touch users that LOVE apple devices to keep using their loved device to get satelite radio. Aside from consolidation of satelite/iphone, there is no benefit.
1. People can hear there iphone through car speakers for a lot less than $119.00
2. People with an ipod touch/iphone can get satelite radio for a lot less than $119.00 (onyx, stratus 6 is only $79.99, $69.99)
So, the point is the SKYDOCK is great because there are many ipod touch/iphone users that love their apple device and would not want anything else in their car such as a seperate satelite reciever. The skydock combines them into one sleek looking device. It’s good to see the company making devices for all potential customers.
this is a conversation or business challenge for 2006 – SXM will not keep up with internet radio and smartphone capabilities of listening in car, etc. Rooting for you as a stock holder but company has been too reactive for far too long.
This has got to be the funniest thing you’ve ever written. “When the marketing campaign ramps up?” Have you bumped your fucking head. When has SiriusXM ever done anything that remotely resembles a marketing campaign. They don’t have the first clue of the concept. You’re too funny. Do you actually believe this or is it just writers block. You see what the SP did when they launched the skydock on the 18th. Well hold me down. Can’t wait to see it rocket after this “marketing campaign” hits. Stop it, my ribs are hurting from laughing too much.
“SkyDock has begun to create a buzz around the Internet that will continue to resonate when the marketing campaign ramps up.”
I have to agree with you, but it’s a joke of a different sort…. NOBODIES LAUGHING! You would think that they – Sirius/XM management – would take a cue from Apple. Apple sells a ton of product, and it’s not just because their stuff is innovative, cutting edge, and well made; they also sell it because of their innovative, cutting edge and well made ADVERTISEMENTS. This Skydock will be nothing more than a paper weight collecting dust…. if this company doesn’t start getting earnest about promotion/marketing right NOW!!! What in God’s name are they waiting for? Anybody who complains about subscriber and invester dissent is living in a world of make believe. I will say it again – nobody MANIPULATES this company and their stock more than they do. What an apathetic bunch of slugs!
I concur! Concur? Concur!
“SkyDock has begun to create a buzz around the Internet that will continue to resonate when the marketing campaign ramps up.”
FROTFLMAO!
SIRI is now 60 cents and dropping.
When can we expect some sustained growth in pps?
The delisting and reverse split look worrisome if this trend continues.
Steve…..
Grow up already. you were BahbahBooey, and now you have taken the identity of yet another Stern Show personality.
You still use bogus email addresses in registering here.
You said you were not going to waste your time here anymore, yet you take the time to create a new identity and post some more.
You seem to have some serious issues.
Are you saying that a home dock for the SkyDock IS going to be announced at CES, our SHOULD be announced? And would previous consumers of the car SkyDock have to subscribe to ANOTHER subscription to get it to work (my guess is ‘yes’).
Ok. So this is what I’ve gathered from painfully deciphering the marketing releases and Spencer’s uninformative posts:
Skydock is little more than an XM radio replacement for the iPod/iPhone. The ability to move it around is a feature of the normal iPhone App. You still have the satellite antenna, FM modulator, ugly equipment hanging on or around your dashboard and you spent more money with no Stern unless you pay even more money.
Wow.
Oh, and also… I’d like to see you walk the beach with an iPod and listen.
Isn’t the tomtom dock for the iphone the same thing?? Basically looks the same and offers the same feature of FM transmitter. One could technically use this with their sirius sub, and either the sirius app or pocket tunes to use their iphone in their car.
Or am I missing something here?
Just Curious
TheAbbevilleKid
October 27. Shortsqueeze.com. SIRI shorts down another 7,100,000+ from 89,294,200 to 82,187,100. 7 more trading days to November 5th…3Q earnings for SIRI. 8:00 am conference call.
It’s clear that Sirius XM understood that it’s marketing and advertising would come through its own programming on the radios in the vehicles with the subscriptions. That worked well when auto sales were nearly double where they are today. That is a terrific base strategy for marketing and advertising, but there’s a critical transition that’s taken place. The road for increases in auto sales will be a slow and steady one out of this wild market and economic correction into a new period for the auto industry as the New Three will be leaner and more efficient in costs, and more technologically relevant and competitive. But they’ve brilliantly maneuvered the company into a phenomenal position to be compatible with Apple’s iPhone and iPod, and it’s critical that this be a new superhighway of advertising, exposure, new relationships, and revenue. I understand that Apple has a smart philosophy about not releasing release dates for new products, so perhaps in exchange for a 40,000,000 + and growing consumer pipeline exposure, Sirius XM is of course consistent with that strategy. Apple represents a revolution in technology, advertising, and what it points to -the future. Sirius XM can be a component of that revolution and benefit from it, but despite its liquidity crisis this winter, it is a revolution itself. Satellite radio!!! I’ve driven across this country eight times in the last five years. It’s a transformative experience to have access to the programming you listen to wherever you are. Unfortunately, so many disingenuous articles with blatantly clear ulterior motives have been written recently in an attempt to continue to sabotage the equity price of a stock that hit .05, but that’s come up to .78 through this real economic storm but also through this barrage of nonsense. Not a single article in the last month that I’ve read makes much sense, let alone a legitimate case to NOT own this stock based on where it is in equity price but more importantly because of how the company is positioning itself to take on the challenges ahead for itself -primarily its share dilution and debt restructuring. It really is a revenue growth story and anyone looking long will see that there’s positioning taking place for new media stream for Sirius XM through other mediums, not only in this country, but on a global level. The programming is going to be global eventually. It’s coming. But in the near term, despite near Armageddon, it’s still a growth story today! But once the Skydock is in the Apple stores (It’s already front and center on the Apple Store website, it is imperative that Sirius XM develop a slick, highly exposed ad campaign for itself. It needs to take Apple’s lead here. Also, where are official releases from the company CEO, etc addressing all of the positive changes he and the executives at Sirius XM are accomplishing? The market is a herd. If there is no counter directly from the company to do damage control, all of the bias and manipulation taking place in the marketplace gains subtle leverage and does damage, because so much positioning takes place in the period between quarterly reports. The company needs a face and a voice and a personality and its got to be proactive. It needs to take advantage of momentum. This situation kind of reminds me of a Spaghetti Western in which there are a lot of dishonest cowboys harassing the townspeople. To understand my parallel, imagine all of the writers of the recent false and disparaging articles regarding Sirius XM as the two-dimensional cowboys “the man with no name” has to take out after he comes riding into town. It can be high-exposure advertising, or it can be the CEO releasing a statement related to good things for Sirius Xm, or it can be a terrific quarterly report that points to the promising future Sirius XM is presently beginning to realize, BUT whichever it is, at some point, “the man with no name” needs to ride into town…It’s time to come out of this storm and transform into the promise this company represents.
THANKS CHRIS !! I COULDN’T AGREE MORE. I AM A TRULY BATTERED BUT LOYAL SIRI STOCKHOLDER WHO CAN’T EVEN AFFORD HIS 1st RADIO.
I CAN SEE WHERE THIS COMPANY IS HEADED & WILL PATIENTLY WAIT &
DEFEND THE TRUTHS OF ITS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY HAS THE PERFECT FACE & PERSONALITY. THE SIRIUS DOG (MASCOT) SHOULD COME TO LIFE AND LEAD THE WAY IN IT’S ADVERTIZING DRIVE. THE NEW BELOVED “SNOOPY” AS IT WERE.
In the online Apple store, today, 11/24, there are 27 reviews of the SkyDock with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. And this average was brought down by two BMW owners who gave it 1 star because it doesn’t work in their Bimmers.
Mostly just a succession of 5 star reviews.