Sirius XM Introduces XM SkyDock

[Scott Greczkowski]

SIRIUS XM RADIO INTRODUCES THE FIRST DEVICE TO RECEIVE LIVE SATELLITE RADIO CONTROLLED BY THE iPOD TOUCH AND iPHONE​

XM SkyDock™ allows customers to enjoy live XM and “The Best of SIRIUS” in their vehicles using the iPod touch or iPhone​

NEW YORK—August 26, 2009—SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today introduced XM SkyDock, the first satellite radio controlled by an iPod touch or iPhone. The XM SkyDock is also one of the first products to take advantage of the new hardware control capabilities of iPhone OS 3.0.

Designed for easy use through the existing vehicle audio system, SkyDock has a built-in XM tuner controlled by a free App that users download from the App Store. The App allows control of the XM tuner using the capabilities of the iPod touch or iPhone Multi-Touch user interface. SkyDock will also charge iPod touch and iPhone devices while listening to live satellite radio.

“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.”

Listeners can use their iPod touch and iPhone to listen to all their favorite sports, talk, news, entertainment and commercial-free music programming, including Oprah Radio, MLB Home Plate, the PGA TOUR Network, Opie & Anthony, Bob Edwards, Jamie Foxx and Blue Collar Comedy. For the first time, subscribers can also listen to the complete “Best of SIRIUS” package, including Howard Stern and his two 24/7 channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, sports play-by-play and the Playboy Radio channel, all controlled by the iPod touch and iPhone.

Listeners can also tag songs they hear on XM’s music channels for later purchase from the iTunes Store —including songs on XM's 24/7 artist branded commercial-free channels such as Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, Elvis Radio, Eminem’s Shade 45, The Grateful Dead Channel, B.B. King’s Bluesville, Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Place, Siriusly Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio. Other features include game alerts and sports ticker, artist and song alerts as well as a stock ticker.

The XM SkyDock is a perfect companion to the SIRIUS XM Premium Online App, which allows subscribers to receive SIRIUS XM’s Premium Internet service on their iPhone and iPod touch when they are out of the vehicle and on-the-go, at home, or at the office.

XM SkyDock comes with SIRIUS XM’s patent-pending PowerConnect™ technology, which simplifies Do-It-Yourself vehicle installation, working through the existing vehicle radio and making it easy to move from vehicle to vehicle. An Aux In Cable is a standard in-box accessory to facilitate Aux In connections in vehicles with Aux In capability. SkyDock’s flexible stalk optimizes the iPod touch or iPhone placement in the vehicle. Customers can view the touch-screen interface in portrait or landscape modes. Accessories include Magnetic Mount Antenna and spacers to accommodate the various iPod touch and iPhone product generations.

XM SkyDock is compatible with iPod touch (1st generation), iPod touch (2nd generation), iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. All models require iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

XM SkyDock will be sold in stores and will also be available at www.shop.xmradio.com with an MSRP $119.99 in fall 2009. The XM SkyDock App will be available at the same time.

This device has been granted preliminary approval by the Federal Communications Commission but is still undergoing evaluation by the Commission.

For more information on XM, please visit www.xmradio.com.

 

[Peter Parker]

Stock seems to have rebounded a bit with this announcement.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

This would be a great idea if the Radio ID was stored in the iPhone. But its not, so if you get two of these docks or want to put one in your house you will need a seperate subscription on each dock, to listen to the same service on the same iPhone.

In addition they should have built in a Speaker Phone function in here so if your driving, press a button on the phone and the callers voice goes through your stereo.

 

[Roxor]

Sirius XM must be more optimistic about their company than I am. As soon as my current subscriptions expire next year I will not sign a multi-year contract after they screwed me on the online service. What a way to treat a 6-year customer!!! :rant:

 

[tomcrown1]

Sirius XM must be more optimistic about their company than I am. As soon as my current subscriptions expire next year I will not sign a multi-year contract after they screwed me on the online service. What a way to treat a 6-year customer!!! :rant:

Agreed that is why this accessory may not sell. I will not pay extra to get XM on line premium.

 

[thedamaja]

This would be a great idea if the Radio ID was stored in the iPhone. But its not, so if you get two of these docks or want to put one in your house you will need a seperate subscription on each dock, to listen to the same service on the same iPhone.

In addition they should have built in a Speaker Phone function in here so if your driving, press a button on the phone and the callers voice goes through your stereo.

My thoughts exactly. This doesn't seem worth the cost.

 

[Peter Parker]

Personally I don't think people should be taking calls while driving. Making it hands free is better but it does not solve all the problems.

 

[jhamps10]

Agreed that is why this accessory may not sell. I will not pay extra to get XM on line premium.

I have to differ, because I believe from what I've read is that while it's on the dock it is for all intensive purposes a full color triditional XM receiver. but while it's off the dock, then it will have the internet radio app... I think it will sell, especially in those who may not have XM service and have ipod touches/iphones. I think this app is perfect for ipod touch for the reasons that there would be no phone to interupt the stream.

or at least I hope it sells since I'll admit I want one, it solves a problem I've had with my sirius reciever. having it tethered to my pickup truck. I'll drop my sirius service in a heartbeat and get XM w/ best of sirius in a new york second for something like this where you can have 2 antenna's even if I have to buy 1 off ebay then hook it up through the 12 volt connector.

 

[jhamps10]

This would be a great idea if the Radio ID was stored in the iPhone. But its not, so if you get two of these docks or want to put one in your house you will need a seperate subscription on each dock, to listen to the same service on the same iPhone.

In addition they should have built in a Speaker Phone function in here so if your driving, press a button on the phone and the callers voice goes through your stereo.

hum, interesting that they would not do that. although with a "fall" launch date one could assume that could possibly still come though right Scott? So for example, say you have 2 or even 3 ipod touches in your family, but one dock you would only need 1 subscription? this is what I'm reading in this...

 

[Peter Parker]

Do you need a second sub to listen by WiFi or 3G?

 

[rglore]

The dock needs a subscription but the iPhone/iPod Touch does not, just the opposite of all the other dock and receiver setups.

 

[rglore]

Do you need a second sub to listen by WiGi or 3G?

Don't need the Skydock for WIFI or 3G, this is just to pick up the satellite signal in addition to network streaming. Still need a subscription but it can be a streaming add-on to your existing one.

 

[Peter Parker]

I knw you don't need the Skydock. The question is do you have to pay for two subs to use the Iphone both ways.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I knw you don't need the Skydock. The question is do you have to pay for two subs to use the Iphone both ways.

Yes two seperate subscriptions.

 

[Peter Parker]

Thanks Scott that is what I thought.

 

[jhamps10]

bump as the skydock is now available at Bestbuy and other retailers. Selling for $120, and is getting rave reviews from users on amazon, and on bestbuy.com. Still early in the ballgame, but early reviews are promising on the skydock. I know when I get my ipod touch in a few weeks I'm making 2 stops, 1 to the apple store, and a 2nd stop to Bestbuy to buy the skydock. Even though rumors are going around that the skydock will be available thru apple stores as well.

 

[stimpson]

Just ordered mine from XM for sixty bucks. Will be here Monday. All the reviews look great. I'll give it a shot.

 

[jhamps10]

Just ordered mine from XM for sixty bucks. Will be here Monday. All the reviews look great. I'll give it a shot.

You got yours for $60! Wow first of all how did you get that kind of a steal.

Here is a mini-review of the skydock. Sorry no pics, but you can go here for a lot of pics of the skydock in action: XM Skydock Sat Radio (Review) - Digital Radio Central

but I got mine at Best Buy last week, literally took me 5 minutes to install including looking at the quick start guide. To steal a line from Geico, it's so easy to do a caveman can do it. Also sound quality, just flat out amazing. Plus it will play audio from pandora, slacker, last.fm, and your tunes on the ipod touch and iphone.

you can literally move it from car to car in 2 minutes if you have the antenna in an "unclean" install into the car. to test the sound quality I put the skydock on a station, then put my other Sirius receiver on the same channel. Putting them on different FM frequencies that are total static in my local area. Lets just say this, XM hit the nail right on the head with it's powerconnect FM technology. the skydock literally made the sirius receiver sound like I was listening to AM talk radio, and I was listening to hair nation, I love the skydock's pop-up alerts for artists or songs, and the tag ability for songs to buy via itunes is flawless as well. All in all SiriusXM has a home run in the XMskydock.

Here is an install video from youtube : [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeaaK-eIWo0]YouTube - Sirius XM SkyDock for Apple's iPhone / iPod Touch[/ame]

 

[stimpson]

You got yours for $60! Wow first of all how did you get that kind of a steal.

Here is a mini-review of the skydock. Sorry no pics, but you can go here for a lot of pics of the skydock in action: XM Skydock Sat Radio (Review) - Digital Radio Central

but I got mine at Best Buy last week, literally took me 5 minutes to install including looking at the quick start guide. To steal a line from Geico, it's so easy to do a caveman can do it. Also sound quality, just flat out amazing. Plus it will play audio from pandora, slacker, last.fm, and your tunes on the ipod touch and iphone.

you can literally move it from car to car in 2 minutes if you have the antenna in an "unclean" install into the car. to test the sound quality I put the skydock on a station, then put my other Sirius receiver on the same channel. Putting them on different FM frequencies that are total static in my local area. Lets just say this, XM hit the nail right on the head with it's powerconnect FM technology. the skydock literally made the sirius receiver sound like I was listening to AM talk radio, and I was listening to hair nation, I love the skydock's pop-up alerts for artists or songs, and the tag ability for songs to buy via itunes is flawless as well. All in all SiriusXM has a home run in the XMskydock.

Here is an install video from youtube : YouTube - Sirius XM SkyDock for Apple's iPhone / iPod Touch

Yep 60 bucks. That was directly from XM, but I had to send it back. My cig lighter is right behind my gear shift lever in my truck so the unit was right in the way. I tried to mount it horizontal but it would swing down when i went over small bumps while driving.

 

[DodgerKing]

Since my MyFi died, I was thinking of getting this instead of another portable unit. I already have the on-line and sat subscription. Now I can use both on the same device and take it with me between multiple cars (just need to get additional antennas for the other cars).

Question: On the website it said you can play it through XM transmitter OR Aux (which I do have); can you also play it through BT (fewer cables needed)?