by Demian Russian
When will Sirius XM (SIRI) unleash its highly anticipated Apple (AAPL) iPhone/iPod Touch app? Inquiring minds would like to know. The company has only indicated that the app is still on schedule for a Q2 release. The second quarter ends in just under three weeks, on June 30th. Within this remaining time frame, when can the app’s release be realistically expected?
Apple (AAPL) kicked off its annual WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) with the keynote presentation on Monday. As was widely expected, Apple unveiled their new iPhone, the 3G S, and announced a release date of June 19th. It was also announced that the iPhone/iPod Touch OS 3.0 Software Update will be released two days prior, on June 17th. Based on what is known of this coming software update, it’s easy to assume that the Sirius XM app’s features are 3.0 dependent. Because of this, it is very unlikely that the app would be released ahead of the June 17th 3.0 software update release.
To capitalize on as much free press as possible, Sirius XM will more than likely announce an actual release date for the app some days beforehand. There were hopes that this would have happened at the Apple conference on Monday. While it would have been great exposure for Sirius XM to have had its coming iPhone/iPod Touch app highlighted by Apple during the keynote presentation, there are also reasons why this might have not been the best time and venue. First of all, there were technical difficulties during the demonstration of two apps that took advantage of the new software’s ability to communicate with external devices. I’m sure Sirius XM was glad they weren’t part of that mess. Furthermore, any announcement or release that Sirius XM might have made on Monday would have been more than likely overshadowed by the flood of Apple news flow. Sirius XM’s app announcement would have been a mere footnote below the iPhone headlines. It’s one thing to ride on someone’s coattails, it’s another to be hidden by them.
There also may be impact risk if the app is announced/released on the 17th or the 19th — the 17th being the OS 3.0 release date and the 19th being the new iPhone release date. It will take some time for all of the iPhone/iPod Touch owners to upgrade to the new software, and there also may be glitches in the new software that Apple will need to patch. There may be less risk involved to Sirius XM by waiting until a few days after the 3.0 update and new iPhone is released. Sirius XM needs to time the app’s announcement and release just right for the greatest impact. When will Sirius XM announce/release its iPhone/iPod Touch app? Take a guess…
Disclosure: Long SIRI, no position AAPL
Contact the author: DemianRussian@satwaves.com
iPhone apps are released each Tuesday. The new OS is released on the 19th (which presumably will be accompanied by the first batch of OS3 apps). This leaves only three possible dates. The 17th, 23rd, or 30th. If I were a betting man I would put my money on the 17th. Knowing how things are with SIRI, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being released on the 30th.
Do you really think this much thought is put into the timing ? I don’t.
Unless there is something that caused a delay, they will announce by the end of the quarter like they said. I still would not expect any major advertising by them until November.
Ugh. My timing couldn’t have been worse. I sunk more into Sirius before the conference instead of two other stocks (LVLT) and (ESLR)….which are both up HUGE today. DOH!!!!
Oh well. Screwed again by the Sirius jinx.
I have to say…my loyalty for this stupid stock knows no bounds….and yet It constantly disappoints me.
My instincts in practically every other stock move is dead on. I guess Sirius stock is my “kryptonite” because I’m always off.
Oh well. I continue to hold and hope for a change.
That’s when AAPL releases. SIRI news will hit the wire the day it is approved…which should be any day now. It won’t be approved and released the same day and SIRI holding back approval info is a crime. They will announce it’s approval, give the date of release then issue another wire the day it’s actually released. Then again. We could be looking at a sell on the news sceanrio. If I were shorts, I would cover now, run it up ahead, then set up retailers for a decision on the actual release…possibly slam it down there. Classic Street move. Several possibilities here so dates are still up for grabs.
I guess it will be June 29th, the day of the new Sirius FM-5 Star in the sky. Double news, double impact.
SIRI doesn’t even report earnings on time they seem to file for extensions. I would bet the latter of all the dates.
The call is for SiriusXM marketing – but their PR dept could also use some help. Bloomberg radio interviewed a rep from Pandora.com around 5:30pm EST today. The positives of Pandora broadcasted loud and clear without any interference from terrestrial radio’s NAB hitmen. Mel needs to make appearances on Bloomberg and other news stations to accentuate the positives and subdue the negative press. If Mel is too shy – get the biggest mouth on radio ( Howard Stern) to be Siri’s PR machine! How great would it be to see Howard in an Apple commercial pimpin’ the new iPhone app!
The Duke predicted long ago, before Fathers day (Sunday 21st).
I agree with those above, early, Tuesday 16th.
I’m a little troubled that Flash was not included in iPhone 3GS.
So it’s possible Blackberry will be first in line for the announcements.
Well, ONE thing IS for sure….if for ANY reason the app gets delayed into July….this stock is going to test the pre-bankruptcy lows. Especially after Mel promised it in the 2nd quarter. Not releasing it as promised would be like throwing red meat to the bashers and naked short sellers.
Man. What IS it about this stock that makes it sooo friggin manipulated? Even the lowly LVLT that has close to 7 billion in debt and is right behind Sirius on the shorts favorite list popped 20% today on some news.
If Sirius doesn’t POP on the release of the iphone app….something will officially be fishy in denmark.
I mean…seriously….when will we get a break? Enough already.
Ok…done venting.
I just read that whole article which was nothing but a recap of what happened this week, which just in case you missed it, was absolutely nothing. Why all the speculative articles here? This has been an example of zero added value at its finest.
Are you serious- pre bk lows? NO WAY that happens. THere is just not enough negativity on the horizon to do so. I mean SO WHAT if the iphone app is slightly delayed. I don’t think it will be but even if it is I doubt the SP would go to such lows as you hyperbolically claim. don’t be so extremist. I also don’t think we will get an IPHONE APP POP… in fact I think the pop comes before the announcement and the the announcement news triggers some selling. Big runup til the announcement though…who knows maybe even tomorrow. not pumping just thinking out loud… jmho
Speculative articles to keep some postive SiriusXM information out there to combat all of the MSM negative blitz!IMHO@JohnWills
I don’t think I’m being extremist when I speculated what would happen SHOULD there be a delay in the iphone app. This stock has pretty much stalled in the low 30s. It’s WAITING for a catalyst to MOVE it either way….up OR down. Mel PROMISED an iphone app this quarter. Everyone is waiting. If it isn’t released…watch out below. How can I be sure? Well I can’t. But as a long suffering long…I know the track record. That is how I can venture a guess as how the street will react.
Trust me…I DON’T want this to happen. I’m only anticipating the worst, because I’ve been burned so many times before just expecting good things will happen on good news. If anything, this stock has proved that wether the news is good OR bad…this stock has a tendency to react negatively.
Just preparing myself thats all.
Again…we shall see.
What makes you think there will be a pop BEFORE the announcement? Mel promised the app at the CC….and there was no movement up. Everyone knows its coming…but the stock is blah. People have become so jaded when it comes to this stock that I don’t think it will pop(if it even does) until right AFTER the announcement. People want PROOF when it comes to this stock.
Well…best of luck to all shareholders.
Pop or no pop, not much will happen with this stock until the pop of profit every quarter.
vaporgold
It will be released soon. If you go to the app store and click on power search and then type in Sirius there is a placeholder for developers called Sirius XM Radio Inc.