Personalized services

[drdroo]

I think the Lynx is the radio of the future (with new updates), but it came out over a year ago- a long time to not offer a new product.

It depends on how you look at what SiriusXM is trying to accomplish. We needed devices that provided Xtra Channels and the EDGE and LYNX were released to do exactly that. Existing hardware couldn't access the extra encoding/spectrum technology. Whether Xtra channels are really worth anything, is a whole other situation.

SiriusXM is here to provide a subscription service. The hardware is just a means to access the service. If there were a technical reason to release new product, they'd do it, but I think the age of incremental hardware upgrades with minor changes is likely dead. It's expensive to develop and tool for a new product.

 

[SIRIUSaboutXM]

It depends on how you look at what SiriusXM is trying to accomplish. We needed devices that provided Xtra Channels and the EDGE and LYNX were released to do exactly that. Existing hardware couldn't access the extra encoding/spectrum technology. Whether Xtra channels are really worth anything, is a whole other situation.

SiriusXM is here to provide a subscription service. The hardware is just a means to access the service. If there were a technical reason to release new product, they'd do it, but I think the age of incremental hardware upgrades with minor changes is likely dead. It's expensive to develop and tool for a new product.

I agree with everything you just said. I don't think SXM is putting out new hardware, I think the launch of Personalized Services is their "next big thing" and this Holiday season would be a great time for it. Since SXM released the plans for SatRad 2.0 in early 2011, every phase has pretty much been delivered on schedule with only Personalized Services remaining.

1st phase in Fall 2011- DVR-like functionality including Start Now, which will allow our IP subscribers to easily time-shift most of our channels by up to 5 hours.

2nd phase last Summer- On Demand

3rd phase later this year- Personalized Services

Real question is what's after that?

 

[Wolf]

SiriusXM’s Personalized Radio – Spotted At CES

A little birdie out at CES says that SiriusXM was quietly showing its version of personalized radio called internally called MyControl. Watch out Pandora, SiriusXM is getting ready to step into your turf. While details are still fuzzy, rumor has it that SiriusXM’s personalized radio will allow listeners to better control their audio experience by letting users make more narrow musical taste selections and perhaps even limit DJ chatter and station bumpers.

SiriusXM personalized radio will be a definite value added service to existing subscribers and could be the start of a service that carries a reach of its own with consumers. The service does stop short of full customization offered by the likes of Spotify and Slacker, but does give users much more control over their listening experience than they currently have. It will be interesting to see if the new SiriusXM, under Liberty Media control, embraces the Internet side of the business as more than a value added proposition.

SiriusXM personalized radio was supposed to launch in Q4. That launch was delayed for unknown reasons, but could include a desire to make the product more robust. I expect to see personalized radio available to consumers sometime in Q1 of 2013. The product is in a beta testing phase now.

UPDATE:

SiriusXM’s personalized radio will carry different branding than MyControl. The name is internal in nature. The feature set and customization is based on the already current expertly curated channel line-up and will enhance the user experience to a level that will help drive the subscription model toward a more feature rich SiriusXM All Access. All Access provides both Sirius and XM based channels as well as SiriusXM Internet Radio. Because SiriusXM’s personalized radio is IP based, subscribers will want to upgrade to a service level that includes SiriusXM Internet Radio in order to utilize personalized radio features. More than ever before, the Internet side of SiriusXM’s service is becoming a catalyst for greater features as well as greater revenue for the company. Stay Tuned!