Interoperable Radio Nears Completion

[David]

SIRI/XM combo radio?????
by: setting_sun04
Long-Term Sentiment: Strong Buy 03/17/06 07:53 pm
Msg: 2390279 of 2390283

From latest 10-K filing:

"We signed an agreement with XM Radio, the holder of the other FCC
license to provide a satellite-based digital audio radio service, to
develop a unified standard for satellite radios to enable consumers to
purchase one radio capable of receiving both SIRIUS' and XM Radio’s
services. We expect the unified standard to detail the technology to
be employed by manufacturers of such dual-mode radios, although we
have no assurances that any manufacturer will build, or that a market
will develop, for such dual-mode radios. The technology relating to
this unified standard is being developed, funded and will be owned
jointly by the two companies. This unified standard is also intended
to meet FCC rules that require interoperability of both licensed
satellite radio systems. In 2005, we substantially completed the
design of a radio capable of receiving both services."

http://edgar.brand.edgar-online.com/fetchFilingFrameset.aspx?FilingID=4271634&Ty
pe=HTML

-yaywhoo serious

[Rich]

How much bad news can XM take?

[J. Fowler]

Rich wrote:
> How much bad news can XM take?
>

It's good news for both companies. If they unify the pricing and share
revenue, both companies could advertise a service with 300 channels. How
could this be bad news?

[Rich]

>>How could this be bad news?

Because the consumer can pick which provider he/she wants and not have
one or the other forced down his/her throat.

Although, churn rates could possibly improve and that would be good.

[LinkedList]

>
> From latest 10-K filing:
>
> "We signed an agreement with XM Radio, the holder of the other FCC
> license to provide a satellite-based digital audio radio service, to
> develop a unified standard for satellite radios to enable consumers to
> purchase one radio capable of receiving both SIRIUS' and XM Radio's
> services. We expect the unified standard to detail the technology to
> be employed by manufacturers of such dual-mode radios, although we
> have no assurances that any manufacturer will build, or that a market
> will develop, for such dual-mode radios. The technology relating to
> this unified standard is being developed, funded and will be owned
> jointly by the two companies. This unified standard is also intended
> to meet FCC rules that require interoperability of both licensed
> satellite radio systems. In 2005, we substantially completed the
> design of a radio capable of receiving both services."
>


Don't get your panties in a wad.

XM announced in mid-05 that they believed a working prototype would be
created before year end. That does not mean one is anywhere near
production, or is even economically feasible.

You still won't be seeing these for 2-4 years yet.

[Veritas]

On 17 Mar 2006 17:48:56 -0800, "Rich" <sirius.rich@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>How could this be bad news?
>
>Because the consumer can pick which provider he/she wants and not have
>one or the other forced down his/her throat.
>
>Although, churn rates could possibly improve and that would be good.
The consumer can make that choice now. The only reason to have a
radio like this would be to use both services.

[David]

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 03:23:56 GMT, "LinkedList" <LL@Nomail.com> wrote:


>You still won't be seeing these for 2-4 years yet.
>
>
I will if the public demands them. There is an FCC stipulation.
How'd they like it if the companies dragged their feet to keep Fronty
happy?

[LinkedList]

> I will if the public demands them.

Yes, that's true. But the public won't demand them. Because the price
will be too high.

I could be wrong, but I just don't see this happening anytime soon.
Economically, there just isn't any incentive to build these devices.

> There is an FCC stipulation.

I do believe the prototype does what they need to do, for now, to be
compliant with that stipulation.

[David]

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 06:34:06 GMT, "LinkedList" <LL@Nomail.com> wrote:

>> I will if the public demands them.
>
>Yes, that's true. But the public won't demand them. Because the price
>will be too high.
>
>I could be wrong, but I just don't see this happening anytime soon.
>Economically, there just isn't any incentive to build these devices.
>
>> There is an FCC stipulation.
>
>I do believe the prototype does what they need to do, for now, to be
>compliant with that stipulation.
>
>
That's just plain nutty. Having a single box solution is definitely
in the top 5 most requested technical improvements.

[H Glazer]

Rich <sirius.rich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1142646536.562387.78640@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> >>How could this be bad news?
>
> Because the consumer can pick which provider he/she wants and not have
> one or the other forced down his/her throat.
>
> Although, churn rates could possibly improve and that would be good.
>

Isn't churn exactly why both companies have been dragging their feet on
interoperability for four years?

[LinkedList]

> That's just plain nutty. Having a single box solution is definitely
> in the top 5 most requested technical improvements.

Don't hold your breath. Neither company will fund development of such a
device beyond meeting the essential requirements of FCC. Without such
funding, such a device is a highly unlikely event at this time.

As to your remark, that's nonsense. Amongst the small number of subscribers
who post here, at yahoo, xm411 and sbs, there may be some interest
(numbering in the hundreds ....), in real life, nobody gives a damn.

In real life, people subscribe to what is in the car they bought. Or they
buy the cheapest receiver, or maybe they like NFL or MLB or Stern or Ophah.

In real life, they're not subscribing to both. Only the most avid
subscribers (the same people who are posting here) would be interested.

[David]

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:23:34 GMT, "LinkedList" <LL@Nomail.com> wrote:

>> That's just plain nutty. Having a single box solution is definitely
>> in the top 5 most requested technical improvements.
>
>Don't hold your breath. Neither company will fund development of such a
>device beyond meeting the essential requirements of FCC. Without such
>funding, such a device is a highly unlikely event at this time.
>
>As to your remark, that's nonsense. Amongst the small number of subscribers
>who post here, at yahoo, xm411 and sbs, there may be some interest
>(numbering in the hundreds ....), in real life, nobody gives a damn.
>
>In real life, people subscribe to what is in the car they bought. Or they
>buy the cheapest receiver, or maybe they like NFL or MLB or Stern or Ophah.
>
>In real life, they're not subscribing to both. Only the most avid
>subscribers (the same people who are posting here) would be interested.
>
>
Ophah Oomphaloompha?

Real life? HAH!

http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48562

[Scott en Aztlán]

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:23:34 GMT, "LinkedList" <LL@Nomail.com> wrote:

>> That's just plain nutty. Having a single box solution is definitely
>> in the top 5 most requested technical improvements.
>
>Don't hold your breath. Neither company will fund development of such a
>device beyond meeting the essential requirements of FCC. Without such
>funding, such a device is a highly unlikely event at this time.

And that's just fine, since the door is now wide open for third
parties to design receivers around the dual-mode chipset.

>As to your remark, that's nonsense. Amongst the small number of subscribers
>who post here, at yahoo, xm411 and sbs, there may be some interest
>(numbering in the hundreds ....), in real life, nobody gives a damn.

Tell me, when is the last time you bought a terrestrial radio that
could receive *only* AM stations or *only* FM stations? I can't even
recall the last time I saw a non-dual-band receiver on a retailer's
shelf.

>In real life, people subscribe to what is in the car they bought.

In real life, people like me who subscribe to Sirius still buy
GM/Acura/Infinity/etc. cars which only have XM receivers available
from the factory. Cars are the perfect vehicle (pun intended) for the
proposed dual-mode satellite receivers. That way, owners can
subscribe to whichever service they prefer, just as they can tune in
either AM or FM stations with the car's regular radio.
--
Official Member of the Rebate Rage Club