Sirius XM iPhone app coming this week, says customer support

Just in case a new iPhone model and OS 3.0 weren't enough goodies for this week, Sirius XM support team members are sending emails out announcing the company's long-awaited iPhone / iPod touch app will finally seeing the light of day and will launch this Thursday, June 18th. We just got off the phone with a customer service rep who confirmed the letters are legit, so unless there's some communication breakdown on the corporate ladder, looks like it's really, finally coming. It'll be available as a free download from the App Store, but those who subscribe to the gratis Basic Online Service will have to upgrade to the $2.99 monthly premium plan to have it on the go. We're a bit light on other details -- we can't imagine it being as full-featured as the standalone receivers -- but it's a good bet we'll have all our questions answered before the week is out.

[JerkyChew Posted Jun 17th 2009 9:22AM]

Yeah but if you're on Sirius and not XM, you have to pay for "best of XM" to get O&A, and then pay another $2.99 a month for the iPhone app?

I'm on Sirius and would love to get O&A but I can't bring myself to pay any more than I already do. If they roll ALL SiriXM stations into this app I'd be willing to pay for it, but not if I have to pay for Best of XM as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:43PM]

Damn! Thought I had the first O&A reference. Didn't see the frunkis. ..

[tlauer1 Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:59PM]

Thats too bad

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:43PM]

I wish they had a cheap option for people who only use the iPhone service.

[Gregorian Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:44PM]

Now it just needs to be able to play in the background while you do other stuff.....

[TheSmartOne Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:47PM]

Did anyone notice how there was a "Provider" sign on where "AT&T" is usually supposed to be?

[chilimost Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:46PM]

I sure hope this isn't anything like their craptastic Blackberry app.

[ptrader Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:50PM]

The online apps DON'T stream _every_ station - especially not the sports games. However, they do stream plenty of music and talk stations. I expect the iPhone/Touch app will steam the same stations as the online apps provide.

As I stream XMRO every day at work, I find it very much worth the money. I like Pandora, too, but sometimes I don't want to have to think about the programming.

[ash chapman Posted Jun 16th 2009 9:57PM]

Agreed. It's ridiculous that you actually have to pay more than the PC streaming version for the phone version.

[DjFIL Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:01PM]

Could you stream radio like while driving if the area you are in is well covered by 3G? That'd be awesome for $3.00 per month.

[Chr1stian Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:06PM]

Why would you bother doing that when you can go get a sat radio for under $50?

[DjFIL Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:17PM]

i'm just trying to justify paying $50/mo for a phone plan (50 min + 6GB data)... been used to paying $100/yr credit on pay as you go (at 30c/ min)... i just don't use a cell phone that much. but i would like gps, teathering to laptop, and more.

[SNOOP97DAWG Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:47PM]

SWEET! ill gladly pay for it

[Chr1stian Posted Jun 17th 2009 11:03AM]

So when is this app coming out for the 16 million active BlackBerry users?

[Chaseskip Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:45PM]

Will it work in Canada??

[ZaxCG2 Posted Jun 16th 2009 11:23PM]

Should work wherever there's 3G/Wi-Fi. It doesn't use satellite, just a internet connection. (Unless the 3GS has a satellite transceiver I'm unaware of)

[TripleHelix Posted Jun 17th 2009 9:28AM]

I am wondering the same thing, since we get the Online streaming for free with the regular subscription.
I would soooo love this as streaming is blocked at my work and I could just stream Sirius over 3G and finally be able to maybe hit 2Gb of my 6Gig data plan...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:17PM]

Awesome! Ron and Fez 11 - 3 !

[ZaxCG2 Posted Jun 16th 2009 11:24PM]

I miss Opie & Anthony myself. T_T

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:21PM]

too bad xm/sirius is just as repetitive as fm radio. i can get a sub for free at work and still won't bother. i have to change the station constantly because just like fm, you hear the same 10 songs over and over.

i know quite well the 90's had enough decent songs to fill more than a couple of hours.

[logicbombde Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:55PM]

Anyone can get music anywhere.

The exclusive content is what is the main draw for SatRad

[Down8 Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:29PM]

Everyone pays for online service now - nothing is gratis.

Good thing we let them merge, huh? Not allowed to raise prices, right?

Unless it is charging for formerly free services....

Or unless it is a 2nd radio....

Or....

Or....

And frrrrrrunkis has 6 'R's: http://www.oapedia.com/index.php/Frrrrrrunkis!

-bZj

[Quikboy Posted Jun 16th 2009 10:47PM]

Now hopefully there will be an official native app for us Windows Mobile users. There's already some ways to get it on, but native support would be nice too.

[Gaius Posted Jun 16th 2009 11:14PM]

I already listen to Stern on my iPhone. All you need is the Shoutcast app or any Webradio app that supports PLS files.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:28AM]

This is nice, but when will the app that makes Stern's show not suck come out? You know, the one that will make him actually work Fridays, force him to not take a week-long vacation every other week, fires Artie "Hey, did you hear? I'm a drug addict!" Lange, gets him to dump his vapid, horse-faced, gold-digging wife, stops the endless plugging for his sh-ty pay-cable show, stops the fake phony calls and fake callers, and stops turning his show into "The View" for old men? Stern was the only reason I listened to SiriXM. Now he's the reason I don't. There's no reason to pay for Sirius when you can get Slacker, Pandora, AOL, and torrents for free. F Stern, seriously.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 17th 2009 12:57AM]

It' won't just be 2.99, they fail to include the new royalty charges. I just got this in an e-mail today:

"Beginning on July 29, 2009, a “U.S. Music Royalty Fee” of $1.98/month* for primary subscriptions and $.97/month* for multi-receiver subscriptions will be effective upon your next renewal. "

[MadLogic Posted Jun 17th 2009 5:30AM]

Finally...................long awaited Sirius app, maybe now my stock will rise, lol, *fingers crossed*

But the main reason is now I can finally listen to Howard Stern where ever I am here in the country of beer and schnitzel. Woo FRIGGIN’ hooooooooooooooo!!!

[MerchantMilan Posted Jun 17th 2009 8:28AM]

The $2.99/month Sirius charges isn't just to be able to use this app. It's for the premium internet stream that streams at 128k versus the 32k free stream. The quality alone is worth it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2009 12:27AM]

How come there is no Howard Stern on the iPhone app? I just loaded on my iPhone...what a rip off...come on Sirius...the man reason people want the app is because of Howard Stern...

I will be deleting the app and not paying until Howard is on. Everyone pls start complaining about this app....