Report: Sirius XM iPhone app finally ready
updated 01:50 pm EDT, Wed June 17, 2009
Sirius XM iPhone app ready
The long-awaited Sirius XM app for the iPhone and iPod touch is finally ready to go, according to The Motley Fool. The company allegedly has sent e-mail notifications that the app will be available tomorrow, although the service will only be available to premium subscribers paying $12.95 per month for Internet-only access or standard subscribers that pay an extra $2.99 per month for the additional web playback.
While competing apps, such as Pandora and Slacker, have been present and well established on the iPhone for some time, the Sirius XM release apparently has been plagued by setbacks. Although the company has not disclosed a full explanation for the delays, the developer, NiceMac, scrapped the StarPlayr project in March after it was rejected by Apple.
The reason for Apple's decision remains unknown, although the existence of a first-party app could have been a contributing factor. The cost structure could be another issue, as subscription-based apps are now supported with the iPhone 3.0 firmware update released on Wednesday.
Considering Sirius XM's financial troubles, the company could be expecting the iPhone app to help turn the situation around. The service still faces tough competition from free products, while many of the revenue-generating content, such as sporting events and entertainment channels, will be missing from the app due to licensing restrictions.
