Sirius XM App Coming This Week?
The rumor is certainly out there, and has been confirmed by a couple customer support reps — the long-awaited Sirius XM iPhone app will be available for download this Thursday, June 18.
So here’s where the rumor started: members of the support team started sending out emails informing customers the app will be showing up on Thursday, and customer support reps have affirmed these emails are indeed correct. So we are crossing our fingers that they are all on the right page.
If this does come true, expect the download itself to be free though it will include a monthly subscription charge.
I personally believe that in order for the app to be successful enough, Sirius XM should offer the app for free to those who already subscribe to the normal monthly service (as an added perk for people to subscribe), and offer a small monthly charge for those who don’t (perhaps a $4-5/month charge would be sufficient). Even throw in the first month for free to entice customers to stay with the service — and heck, maybe there’ll be enough users of the app that will be impressed and will want to get the regular radio service as well.
I just don’t think too many Sirius XM subscribers who are shelling out $13.99 each month will want to pay any more for the same exact service on their iphone (and we don’t even know if all channels will be offered, or if it will be a limited selection). I’m a XM subscriber and personally have no motivation to pay an additional monthly charge.
What are your thoughts? If you’re already a subscriber, are you willing to pay extra for the iPhone service? Should it be included in the normal monthly cost?
Here is the email:
Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding whether or not there is a SIRIUS iPhone application available. We are here to help! We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us in regards to this matter! We are happy to inform you that beginning June 18th a SIRIUS Internet Radio application will be available at the Apple iTunes App-Store for the iPhone and the iPod Touch! All Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio subscribers will be able to download the application from the Apple iTunes App-Store for free on their device and access the service at no additional cost! Subscribers who are listening to the Basic Online Service for free must first upgrade to the Premium Online Service for $2.99 per month to access the application on the iPhone or iPod Touch.
via TUAW