Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch launched
Plug your iPhone or iPod Touch into the SkyDock, select channel, go!
Sirius XM iPhone/iPod Touch SkyDock car docks are here. Sirius XM, the No.1 satellite radio in the US, today announced its XM SkyDocks, which converts any iPhone or iPod Touch into a satellite radio control panel in your car. The Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch will be available starting this fall starting at a price of $120.
What exactly does the Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch do? The dock fits into the car cigarette lighter/charger adaptor. The Sirius XM SkyDock also charges the iPhone/iPod Touch and is wired into the car’s audio system. The stem of the Sirius XM SkyDock has a satellite receiver inside. Once you slip your iPhone/iPhone Touch into the SkyDock, the iPhone screen turns on, and the control panel of the Sirius XM satellite radio service turns on. Select channel, play, go!
Sirius XM SkyDock photo
The Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch plays the music through the car’s audio system, through a system Sirius calls PowerConnect. You can make and receive calls from the iPhone even when it is connected to the dock, charging or playing music.
Even as the music/program is playing, you can ‘tag’ the program in iTunes with a single touch for download later. SkyDock can also play music already stored in your iPhone or iPod Touch, even if you do not have a radio subscription with Sirius XM. The iPhone or iPod Touch should have operating system version 3.0 to work. The control panel which pops up on the iPhone/Touch screen, can be viewed in portrait or landscape. Accessories for the SkyDock like a magnetic mount antenna can be purchased separately from Sirius.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted preliminary approval for the device, but is still undergoing evaluation, the company said inn a press release.
Sirius already has an internet radio service for iTunes users. The company released an iPhone app this year to tap into the growing popularity of iPhones. However, the iPhone app released by Sirius did not provide some of the most popular channels offered by the radio service like Howard Stern show, Nascar and National Football League. Sirius said it did not have mobile performance rights for some of the popular radio channels, which could be the reason why it did not provide these channels on Apple iPhone app. In total, the iPhone app gave users to about 120 Sirius/XM channels, but not some of the most popular ones.
“XM SkyDock will allow millions of users to add live SIRIUS XM Radio capability to their iPod touch or iPhone while in their vehicle,” said Bob Law, Group Vice President and General Manager, After Market Division, SIRIUS XM Radio. “XM SkyDock makes their favorite programming from XM and ‘The Best of SIRIUS’ available to iPod touch and iPhone users anywhere they drive, coast to coast.”
To use the Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch in your car, you must have an XM subscription for $12.95 a month, which gives you the basic package of XM channels. If you pay an additional $4 a month, you also get the “Best of Sirius” channels too. Best of Sirius includes Howard Stern and his two 24/7 channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, sports play-by-play and the Playboy Radio channel. A large number of XM channels, including Oprah Radio, MLB Home Plate, the PGA TOUR Network, Opie & Anthony, Bob Edwards, Jamie Foxx and Blue Collar Comedy are available on the basic package.
The launch of Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch means that Sirius XM is more keen on working with competition than trying to fight it out. iTunes radio channels have been a big competition to Sirius XM. Now, by launching a product that works with the iPhone, and converts it into a control panel for its satellite radio, Sirius is following the lead of many other gadget makers who decided against taking iPhone head on.
The Sirius XM SkyDock could also be a good choice for iPhone users who dont want to spend much on a separate satellite radio. Sirius satellite radios cost anywhere between $100 and $300, and are rather clunky by any standard, while the iPhone is a sleek and modern device. By hooking it up to the car through the dock, satellite radio users can have a cheaper device with a more contemporary look on their dashboards.
A CNet review of the Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch found the device quite user-friendly, and noted that it avoids clutter on the car dashboard. With more devices and docks coming into the market, the car dashboard is getting increasingly cluttered with navigation devices, music players and iPod chargers. The Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch reduces the clutter by making use of the iPhone/iPod Touch for its control functions.
The Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone/Touch will help the company boost sales. Sirius generates a lot of its revenues from car sales for its satellite radios. With the state of car sales being what it is, Sirius has suffering from poor sales in the last two years.
Sirius is clearly not the first company which has “made use of” the iPhone platform to promote its product. Barely a week back, TomTom launched an iPhone application, which can be used to convert the iPhone to a GPS car navigation system.
Sirius XM Radio was created by the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio in 2007 february. The merger was completed last year, and both companies operate under the holding company called Sirius XM. The merger was controversial at the time because FCC had issued only two licences for satellite radio service, and the merger potentially created a monopoly. As of now, Sirius and XM operate in the US and Canada, with a total radio subscriber base of 18 million users.