MNJohn

The dealer told me my on order E320 will be pre-wired for XM radio, but I didn't see it as an option. Anybody know what's the plan?

Thanks,

John

Rob Hephner

It will be Sirius Sat Radio and it should be available very soon.

sf49ers79

the new honda has it.... it a shame for MB huh!!

bmms8

mostly every other car has it i had to get an oil change for a camry at a local toyota dealer, and even the new scions have it and the new prious has keylessgo too i hate it because the locking buttons are exactly the same!! mb really needs to step up for these little things

sf49ers79

nyca

all these "high end" cars getting Sirius are going to be in for a rude awakening, I still say they are going under, and that XM is going to make it since they are getting put into more and more cars. Not sure if XM can buy them out, if the programming is compatible.

pfphipps

XM so far has lost almost a half billion dollars. How would they buy anything?

http://washington.bizjournals.com/wa...3/daily27.html

slipnby

I predict XM will be in MBs in 5 or 10 years. The heads of MB recently announced a new policy where they will test new technology at great length before putting it in their cars. Sirius, will be offered in COMMAND II by MB long after Sirius dies. This offering will demonstrate MB is vaguely aware of new technology. While Chrysler is eating MBs' lunch, MB will closely watch its competition roll out new technology (part of the MB testing program) and cherry pick those technologies that work well in the competition's cars.

On a more serious note:
XM's stock has been on a tear. They can buy Sirius with their stock. As a start up, losses are expected in the early years. Amazon, for example, operated at a loss for many years while its stock zoomed through the roof. Their stock was used to buy the competition.

S55inPA

hey guys,

i don't own either stock.
why is does anyone think that Sirius is going bankrupt?
i know their stock is hovering around 2 dollars but it really
isn't in wide circulation yet.
i'm curious for any input....some of my friends purchased the stock.

slipnby

On the fundamental side: They have very low membership, a poor balance sheet, and significant debt. Membership is needed to reduce debt. Membership numbers do not appear to be rising. Sirius's price is higher than XM to the end user, and Sirius offers nothing to distinguish itself.

On the psychology angle, XM is practically a household word for sat radio. Market penetration is significant for XM compared to Sirius.

On the technical side: Sirius stock has been range bound for a very long time. XM stock has momentum, attraction and interest.

Corey140

Sirius doesn't have any debt. XM does. Sirius is sitting on about $500 million.

drb

According to their balance sheet their Long Term Debt is $670.35M, but you are right about their cash. Meanwhile, Sirius spent $522 for every subscriber it added last quarter. That will eat away the cash. There are 150K subscribers to XM's 1M. Their quarterly losses are outpacing sales by some 25 to 1. The recapitalization last spring that increased shares outstanding more than tenfold has to be offset by subscriber growth but that sign is weak. Further, the average revenue per subscriber figure dropped below $8 from $10.80 due to one-time promotion giveaways according to their reports. This is not a pretty financial picture.

nyca

and look at the trend, XM is going into more and more cars, and the hardware is getting cheaper and smaller, and the monthly costs is less.

The $399 lifetime subscription for Sirius is a sure sign. How could that make sense long term for them?

S55inPA

hey guys,

thanks for the detailed input...it's greatly appreciated.

if Sirius can hang on...i would think their subscriber base will
grow. it seems that the 04 cars are just trickling in to dealer lots.

i wonder what has delayed Sirius from getting to market sooner??

nyca

to be honest, the radio unit itself needs to be a near zero cost item to the consumer, integrated into the stock stereo. they need to run these services like satellite TV, the basic hardware is essentially free. Sirius ought to offer a competitive $9.95 plan to XM, even if it means a few less stations.

GTIDAN

XM just passed the one million mark in new customers while Sirrus has been struggling just to get to 75000 customers. Both have great stations and DJs. It's really a matter of choice.

ME? I have XM and love it.

Corey140

You also have to remember that XM has GM pushing them out. Its rather expensive with that agreement. XM has to pay GM for every new customers. When Sirius can get into more automakers standard like XM, their sales will go up. Also, the new Audiovox PNP2 is only $74 at CC which is pretty cheap.

tsberkey

This is reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyy entertaining! On the W203 boards (where I normally hang out), the discussion for this thread would be about the programming (stations, dj's, etc.) on each service. Over here on the W211 board, it's about stock prices, $ per new user, balance sheets, ... Not saying that one is right or wrong. It's just really a complete culture difference between the two.

Tim

pfphipps

You noticed that too about the 203 board! In fact, this thread sort of proves your point:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ghlight=sirius

I personally think both have some problems to overcome but XM is a little ahead in getting the product out. I think it is interesting that Delphi/Delco (a GM spinoff) is supposed to be making both XM and Sirius products. Talk about staying on the fence! Also, "automotive" partners for both XM and Sirius include Freightliner which is a DB company.

pat a.

Note that if Sirius Radio did become financially not viable, it is likely that the company would be acquired by XM so as to provide XM its subscribers. The XM and Sirius programming would then be common, but over two different transmission infrastructures.

pat a.

Note that if Sirius Radio did become financially not viable, it is likely that the company would be acquired by XM so as to provide XM its subscribers. The XM and Sirius programming would then be common, but over two different transmission infrastructures.