By Brandon Matthews
Now that Sirius XM (SIRI) has finally put an Apple(AAPL) iPhone app on the market (after just two short years of consumers asking for it), it seems the company may finally be ready to commit to thinking outside the box. The immense popularity of the free app has taken many people within Sirius XM by surprise, and there can be no doubt that it will translate into added revenue as current subscribers upgrade and trial members become subscribers. As CNBC noted, this market could open up a whole new business for Sirius XM. The increase in marketing on billboards nationwide and on Internet sites such as ESPN and CNN is a testament to the fact.
I have been considering what might be Sirius XM’s next move, and I happen to be holding it my hand right now. The G1 is a T-Mobile Smartphone that runs on Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system, which I personally chose over the iPhone. Although there are certainly many more iPhones in circulation than G1’s, the sales rate of these phones is nothing to look over. Apple had the advantage of a two year head start, but the G1’s have been selling like hotcakes ever since their introduction last year with nearly 2 million phones sold already. Message boards around the world have sprung up and the hot topic on those boards has become the Sirius XM iPhone app.
This article is not an ad for the G1 however. It’s about the potential of Google’s Android system and how Sirius XM might use it to grow their subscriber base. Other smart phones that include the android system are now being produced as well such as Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA as well as many others, which is the reason I believe that Sirius XM’s next mobile app will be for the Android phones rather than the Palm (PALM) Pre for example. The G1 is also getting ready for its next upgrade as well to better compete with the iPhone 3Gs.
One very interesting note on the Android system. There is no Pandora as well. In fact the only radio app available is Last FM. Unlike the Apple app which required approval and years of development, the majority of the App code is already written now. In fact, the code can be uploaded right here with only a google account, password and Twenty Five Dollars! You read that right….25 bucks!
I’m sure it will need a little tweaking, but all in all, Sirius XM can strike while the iron’s hot with this app., unless of course they’d like to give the competition another head start.
Position: Long Siri
I hope Sirius can move a bit faster with these new apps. As stated, most of the code should already be written. One new app per quarter is not enough!!! Let’s go Sirius….Thanks Brandon.
Brandon, Do you have contacts at Sirius?
@Jay Fishmanb
Not so much contacts as people who cringe when they hear I’m on the phone…LOL…Why do you ask? If its about the idea, I assure you, they read Satwaves every day. Tomorrow morning Mel will read this and think…25 bucks? Why haven’t we done this yet? That’s why I provided the link…
You honestly think Mel reads SatWaves? I hope that was tongue in cheek. I like your blog and I think it’s a great place to bounce around ideas, but I think SiriusXM takes this blog and all others with a grain a salt. Hell, they sure don’t care for as shareholders, we are unsophisticated and can’t come up with ideas that might actually work better than what they dreamed up.
@Paul
I don’t think. I know.
Brandon,
Is Scott Moritz of Street.com Jim Cramers toy puppet. This is 2nd time he has been on Video mis-leading the American People & World about Sirius Xm Radio.
I have one other question for you.
WHY is Street.com & Motley Fools alaways posting on Yahoo Finance under the stock symbol Siri ( Sirius XM Radio inc ) How can the SEC not follow this trail. Rick Aristotle > Motley Fools > Scott Moritz > Street.com > to > Jim Cramer > to > CNBC > Jack Welch > to > GE
You have written great article after great article the past few months. Brandon, is there time for you to write an article about the news media trail to expose these individuals. It is so clear, hope you will write an article about it so I can link to my 26K followers on Twitter. I will then send to the SEC.
Richard
That’s a pretty bold statement. I hope you are right.
@Brandon Matthews
Moritz is a putz.
@Dick Keane
@Brandon Matthews Brandon, You read my mind. I surely hope they read the comments as well. Do you know how the movie is progressing with the SEC?
P.S. Should I send you e-mails directly or is this okay? Thanks a million. A Fan and A Shareholder, Jay
@Jay Fishmanb
Jay…Either or…
Dick…They write about SIRI because they get web hits. I did just write an article on media manipulation about 2 days ago…look at the Howard Stern article…
Paul…its a fact…nothing bold about it…just telling it like it is…I’ve gotten a few things wrong in my day, and Sirius does not hesitate to let me know when I do…thats how I know…
Keep it coming Brandon…..This is good stuff!!
@mdstden
Thanks. You’d think by now they’d just offer me a job…
@Brandon Matthews They would have to pay you then…. remember Mels trying to cut costs….LOL
@Brandon Matthews
Do you know how the movie is progressing with the SEC? Thanks.
no updates this week…
you all know we have a discussion forum, right?
satwaves.com/forum
Mel if your reading this GOOD JOB WE ALL HAVE YOUR BACK!!
I’ve been taking the Long Island railroad to work everyday for the past 2 years, and today was the first time I saw a SiriusXM poster in one of the cars. It was promoting the Apple itunes app. It was pretty cool to see.
I’d be happy with seeing something as simple as bumper stickers. A simple advertisement on wheels.
I agree! I am also available for a job interview by phone or in person at your convienience. Email me to set it up! Newman@satwaves.com
I am also wandering if there is a possibility to get IN APP ads through google? Might be a bit much, since people are paying for the app. Perhaps a free, ad supported version?
I was called today about the 2 SEC members that are viewing the movie. Another cast member (expert) has been contacted by a person related to the agency. Cross fingers!!!
Sandra Mohr, Director
Brandon,
there is something not clear around SIRI like vs PANDORA like mobile business model.
At least not clear up to me.
When it comes PANDORA model it is by sure a “streaming” and data consuming one.
So unless you have a real flat rate subscription, you get the app for free but you pay the data traffic you consume or at least you consume data you could use for other tasks.
In Europe for example (I use to leave in Italy) we do not have real flat rate, and I try to avoid data consuming applications.
When it comes to SIRI instead, a mobile platform including a satellite receiver will jump the need to use the mobile network infrastructure.
So you pay for the app but you get the content for “free of charge”.
Seems SIRI has less barriers than PANDDORA when it comes to enter in other markets or when it comes to be consumed under other Mobile Networks Operators.
What is your concern about?
BR
Cheche
Once again Brandon,
Nice job on the article….
I’m hopeful that the company takes advantage of this new momentum to continue a string of new distribution platform intros like the google phone…..
@Sandra Mohr Thank you Sandra. I’ll keep mine crossed as well!
Brandon,
There is no need to develop an app for the Palm Pre….it will work with APPLE app according to alot of techies out there. SO we will get the benefits of the APPLE app with the PRE as well. I hope they are listening to you re the android platform…sooner rather than later would be nice!
Pandora is boring after you have had it for a while. I’ve had it for a year now, and was exited about it at first. I now find it very boring and robotic. I rarely sign in anymore to listen.
Brandon,
love the site , but saying the app is a partneship is a little bit of a reach. We don’t even have any data on the adoption rates , my guess is SIRI will be very lucky to net 10-15 k new subs out of the one million downloads. I love the product , but hate the way management has destroyed the common stock holders with their collective ineptitude. Not having Howard on the app is so fubar it is laughable.
Brandon,
After further review…I take back what I said about an app for the Palm Pre…there is no official app for the Pre from SIRIUS XM…and hacking to get an app to work is not the same as having a working app.
An app for android would be a good move since it’s not a proprietary Mobile OS (like Apple has).
Here’s the issue with all of this, COST. If Sirius is serious about getting subscribers that exclusively use Internet/Mobile apps, then they need to drop their price for new customers… and in order to keep existing customers loyal, perhaps they should offer a smaller rate to add this feature.
7-day Trial + $7/month (for 6 months) for new customers
<$2/month for existing subscribers
If I have to delete your comment again, you will be banned…you know who you are…
ok sorry dont want to be banned.
Sandra, I’m sure you already have tried, but if you could get John Stewart (The Daily Show) to have you on as a guest as a follow up to Jim Cramer’s interview and the airing the video clip on his tactic of short selling, it would serve the public well and help get your film and its message more into the sunlight. Apathy has as much to do with this economic downturn as any other component. Bringing out the truth is the first step to healing a broken system.
@Neal Barkett
Brilliant move. A hearty salute to you sir.
@Neal Barkett
Neal: EXCELLENT idea!!!! Jon Stewart has a huge following. I hope she’s listening. Probably…..
You’re incorrect. There are 12 radio apps on the Android Market. “Radio” with 700+ stations, “Hip Hop Radio” with 200+ stations, “Comedy Radio” with 40 stations, “Rock Radio” with 200+ stations, “OR Radio” with Shoutcast/Icecast, “Streaming Radio”, “A Online Radio”, “Web Radio” with 1400+ stations and the ability to record the songs, “Belgian Waves” which is Belgian radio, “Imeem Mobile” with 20,000 downloadable selections with album covers and artist profiles, and “StreamFurious” with Shoutcast/Icecast. And of course, there is “TuneWiki” which is a superior media player that includes Music maps, Top 50 charts, Shoutcast, Last.FM, music videos and real time streaming lyrics translated into 40 languages.
Sorry dude, your facts are off. Android’s got more than enough selection right now.
LA TIMES today, full page add by Sirius (pg. A-11). It’s an eye-catcher promoting the I-Phone app!
p.s. I still believe that Mel K. is building on his “5 yr. plan” for SiriusXM, that he stated after the tortuous merger ordeal. GLTA.
p.s.s. I also think they are not shooting all their bullets with the I-Phone all at once. Now that they know how popular it can be w/out Stern, that is a valuable metric for them to proceed with the next bullet, i.e. adding Stern. Plus Mel doesn’t want Stern to bloviate during his contract-talks on how he was responsible for all the down-loads!
Did anyone else see the first page inset ad in NY POST today regarding iphone download free trial app. Also giant billboard on the jersey turnpike same ad outside entrance to lincoln tunnel.
All the ads on billboards and papers are great, but theres a reason all the billboards and papers are going out of business– nobody reads them. the pandora ad was on itunes facebook page- sent out to everyone who has friended itunes. The ads on the net are where they will be seen. what happened to the yahoo ad. i saw it the first day the app was released and that was it. sirius needs to start pushing for fb, twitter, my space crowd and the teen crowd. they could care less about stern. The teens and 20s crowd r the ones with the new tech stuff and the expendable cash to spend. especially on music!
having an app on the iphone is hardly a partnership and without Stern on the app who really gives a crap. Yeah it had 1 million dl’s. Its mostly people just checking it out like I did.
#1: Actually, I believe it is a limited partnership. #2: The millions of other non-Stern listeners give a crap. #3: Unless you’ve talked to Mel personally, your last comment has no validity.
Brandon – Why did Sirius launch the iphone application without the content that a large majority of subscribers want to hear – Howard Stern? I’m curious if you have any idea as to the ratinale behind this decision and if it might be changed in the future.